What causes hives, and what's a good way to get rid of them?

Hives/Allergy Relief

• Cedar Fever Is Coming To Town
  “Cedar Fever” is a term given to allergies associated with cypress and juniper tree pollen. The scientific family name for these trees is “cypressaceae”. Although these allergies are typically thought of affecting people in Austin Texas and Santa Fe New Mexico, many people are affected each winter in Arizona as well. The common sympto […]
• Allergy Shots or Drops: Besides the Obvious, is there a Difference?
  What are the treatment options for documented allergic disease?  If you do not know what the facts are, the answers can be very confusing.  When treating hay fever or allergic rhinitis, asthma and sometimes eczema, there are three main categories of treatment options.  First, one should always try and avoid any offending allergy triggers.  Second, [...]
• DO I HAVE A COLD…. OR MIGHT IT BE ALLERGIES?
  The fall season is here and along with that comes a common comment heard in our office….. “I don’t know if I have a cold or allergies but I feel miserable.” The symptoms of colds and allergies often overlap and have a similar presentation. This article is going to look at some of the differences [...]
• Eosinophilic Esophagitis, what is it?
  Lately the media has been paying more attention to food allergies, and for good reason.  Food allergies are increasing in America, and we are not sure why.  One such food allergy issue is eosinophilic esophagitis.  This is a medical condition that occurs when the esophagus becomes inflamed with eosinophils, which are white blood cells associated [...]
• Valley Fever: What In The Haboob Am I Talking About?
  Who can forget the Great Haboob on July 5, 2011? Beyond all the mess that was left behind to clean up, what else did that big dust cloud give us?  It gave the car wash industry a tremendous boost.   The Haboob has also blown in concerns over an upsurge in cases of Valley Fever.  What [...]
• Have you heard about the New Test for Asthma?
  Exhaled nitric oxide (eNO) is a new test you may he asked to complete in your clinician’s office if you have symptoms of asthma. This test is receiving wide spread attention from pulmonary and allergy specialists because it offers an easy and noninvasive means to directly monitor airway inflammation. Why is it important to be [...]
• Vitamin D and Allergies and Asthma
  Vitamin D seems to be all the rage these days. You can hear about it around the water cooler at work, in your physician’s office, and store shelves seem to be brimming with vitamin D supplements. Currently, there are several studies that suggest vitamin D may play a role in allergies and asthma, but definitive [...]
• Take Two Asprin and Call Me in the Morning… UNLESS YOU ARE ALLERGIC TO IT
  We all know someone who is “allergic” to a medication. Many times that person is not having a true allergic reaction but either a side effect to the drug or just an adverse reaction. This is also the case with aspirin or the related non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAlDS) such as ibuprofen or naproxyn. There is [...]
• Avoiding Allergy Triggers
  Now that spring has arrived, we are all enjoying the warmer temperatures of the season and spending more time outdoors. With that comes higher pollen counts and an increase in allergic symptoms. Allergic disease affects 50 million Americans and is the 5th most common chronic condition in the United States. Allergic disease can develop at [...]
• Tips For Reducing Springtime Allergy Symptoms
  Allergists from the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI) have some tips for reducing allergy symptoms this spring. I thought they were excellent and worth sharing… Enjoy! Do: 1. Wear glasses or sunglasses when outdoors. Covering  your eyes keeps pollen and other irritants away from this sensitive area, which reduces itchiness and re […]