Hives Causes

Vitamin B-12 is often singled out as a cause but if this is correct why is it the first remedy used

There are actually, however, both vitamins as well as minerals that in the vast majority of cases can help slow down or even prevent this condition, but there are some cases, even though they are very rare, where some vitamins may actually trigger them.

In fact, vitamin B-12 is often singled out as the one vitamin that may trigger this condition; however, you have to ask yourself if this is true, why is it used in injectable form to treat very severe cases of hives?

What is it?

To fully understand the potential connection between hives causes and vitamins, it is very helpful to understand exactly what they are, the different types, the symptoms, as well as the causes and which nutrients can help and why they help.

Hives are a skin reaction that can result in red and very itchy welts that rise up from your skin and can range in size from very small spots to large blotches. This condition is also commonly referred to as urticarial, and is often confused which another similar condition; angioedema.

Although angioedema is similar, it is different in that it affects deeper layers in your skin, where this condition primarily affect your outer most layers.

In the vast majority of cases, either one of these forms will run their course without causing much damage or permanent marks or scars without any type of treatment. If they become chronic or severe enough, they will be treated with antihistamine medications and this is where the connection between hives causes and vitamins begins.

However, angioedema, which will generally affect the areas around your eyes and lips, can also affect your tongue and throat, and if this situation does develop, it is considered to be life threatening. The reason for this is very simple; it can easily cause your airways to become blocked which could than cause you to lose consciousness.

Symptoms:

The connection between hives causes and vitamins continues with the symptoms, which will be different between the two types. Hives will in most all cases begin with swelling, also referred to as wheals, and will be either red or white in color. They can also be very small or quite large, and can also cover only small areas of your body or very large areas.

They may then begin look they are moving, which is very troubling when you see this sign. What is actually occurring is that as soon as one of these wheals resolves itself, another one will erupt just as quickly, giving you the impression that they are moving.

As all of this is developing, the most famous of the symptoms begins; itching. However, this will be an itching that you will never forget as in most cases it will be very intense. In rare cases, you may also experience a sensation of burning or stinging.

This form is usually acute, meaning that it will only last for only few days, but it can also become chronic and could last for several months or even years in some cases.

Angioedema is very similar to this condition with one exception; it affects the deep layers of your skin as well as the tissues that are located directly below it. However, they can also affect the lining of both your throat as well as your intestines.

In the vast majority of cases this form will attack the areas on your face around your lips, mouth, and eyes. However, it can also affect your hands and feet.

The first symptom with this form will be welts that will have three distinct features; they will be firm, large, and very thick. They will also cause your skin to swell, but they can also be extremely painful and very hot. In fact, if you have ever had this form, it is perhaps better described as feeling like the affected areas are literally on fire.

If this form becomes severe enough, it can easily lead to a difficulty in both breathing and swallowing. This form generally will occur totally separate from hives; however, it can also occur at the same time which can be a very dangerous situation.

Hives Causes:

The connection between hives causes and vitamins continues with the list of potential causes. Both forms are the result of something that has sent signals to your immune system to produce a skin or tissue reaction that will stimulate your mast cells to release what is referred as histamine.

In some cases, your immune system may be able to actually identify what is causing this reaction, and if it can, it generally reacts by stopping it and eliminating both forms.

However, this is much easier said than done.

The list of potential hives causes start with an allergic reaction that will include certain foods, medications, or allergens. The most common foods that trigger this condition are shellfish and peanuts, but in some cases, milk and eggs may also trigger it.

Common medications can also trigger it such as aspirin, ibuprofen as well as naproxen, which are found in Aleve, as well as some blood medications. Exposure to pollen, direct contact with animals, as well as insect stings may also trigger either form.

Hives and Vitamins:

The connection between hives causes and vitamins begins with vitamin C, but also includes B-6, as well as five minerals. The most common medications that are used to treat either form will include anti-histamines for one very simple reason; to control or slow the release of these chemicals in your body.

Although the medical community has not fully accepted vitamin C in slowing this release, there have been several recent studies that have demonstrated that this nutrient can directly impact the release of histamines into your blood supply.

In fact, one study has shown that it can lower the levels in just a matter of a few days by functioning as a cofactor of DAO, which is also known as Diamine oxydase.

This is the enzyme that breaks down histamine in your blood and stomach, but it also depends on another vitamin, B-6, to function properly, and this is the next connection between hives causes and vitamins.

If your system is deficient of B-6, this enzyme becomes virtually useless. Just like higher quantities of vitamin C will lead to lower levels of histamine in your blood, higher levels of B-6 also makes this enzyme much more powerful.

When they are combined in the correct amounts, they can be just as effective it not more so than any anti-histamine.

However, there are also five minerals that can be very effective as well; magnesium, calcium, copper, zinc, and manganese. Magnesium is very important in histamine metabolism and if you are deficient of this mineral, it can increase the amounts that are sent to your tissues and this also weakens the activity of DAO.

It has been suggested that calcium helps to flush or secrete histamine from your blood, and copper is now being considered as yet another player in the DAO process. Zinc and magnesium are also beginning to emerge as very strong players at slowing or inhibiting the histamine that is released from your mast cells.

Summary:

For years the connection between hives causes and vitamins has been just the opposite in that in very rare cases, B-vitamins can cause this condition if taken in very large quantities.

If you suffer from this condition in the chronic form or if you want to prevent it from ever reoccurring in the acute for, maybe it is time you tested these nutrients for yourself.

Natural Treatments for Hives Causes

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