I started out with just red patches that burned and itched on my forearms. That went away and I started getting random hives on my legs first thing in the morning. The random hives turned into full blown hives on my legs in a couple of weeks. Now (a few months later) I've been waking up with hives literally from my toes to my eye lids. Huge red welts that itch like mad. I had allergy tests and came back with no allergies at all, not even dust. My doctor suggested Claritin - no effect. Reactine - no effect, Benadryl - no effect and it makes me sleepy. Now I'm trying the Reactine again with Zantac as an H2 blocker, and we'll see if that helps.

I was at work, cleaned up some water from the floor, fish tank water, at first it was my right ear that began to itch and swell now a good part of my body including bottom lip , eyes and face, don't know what happend.

I have been suffering from hives this year since the 27th of May. The last two years I did not have any hives, but this year, it is unbearable. I write down everything thing that I eat, and drink. Then the hives would start very late at night, between 12 midnight until the later part of the morning. I take Benadryl, I use creams, rubbing alcohol. It is very unbearable and frustrating. I'm reluctant to go to an allergist because the last time I went to an allergist, they wanted to give me shots and did not know what I was allergic too.

I have always had hives growing up, since the age of 4. I lived in Chicago, Ill during those episodes. My mother moved us to Texas by the time I was 9 to see if it was the weather or the food that would cause the reaction. Oddly enough in Texas I did not have a reaction at all. We had such a fun time hive free. Now in my 30's live in California and still no reactions. Recently I had to travel to the United Kingdom for work, and guess what? I broke out in hives from head to toe! I am allergic to Benadryl and cannot take anything containing it. To relieve some discomfort due to the itching I would sit in a cold tub of water. When I saw my boss in the morning for work, he could see my hives and swollen lip. He offered me an antihistamine and it helped. I took a Zantac and the itching stopped and the hives went away. The hives can really stop you in your tracks. So, if you travel always take the necessary things you might need even if it has been years since a last breakout.

The hives first appeared on my legs only, then just arms and legs and now they are everywhere, even the palms of my hands and the soles of my feet. The itching is nearly unbearable. I have had every skin test, lab test, skin biopsy, and even X-rays all to no avail. I have tried everything from Benadryl to Decadron without relief. These spots have changed my life! I get them from heat, pressure, stress, and fatigue. The only area that I can find continuous relief is the soles of my feet when soaked in very cold water.

I took lamisil and started experiencing hives. My grandmother told me to use powder to calm the hives. The powder works instantly. After putting the powder on I also took a Benadryl. With the combination of the powder and the Benadryl I am dealing with the hives. I have not had them for six weeks.

I started getting hives when I was 15 and now I am 23 and they still are here they go away for awhile and then they come back in full force my lips eye's and hands, feet. I have tried every method in the book and nothing works for me except for Prenazone which is very hard to get cause of the long term affect but it is the only thing that works for me and my mom had them for 12 years and one day they just went away I went to so many doctors and no one knows what the cause is except for maybe I inherited it from my mother so the way I look at it is I got 7 years down and hopefully only another 5 to go.

I get a bad case of them every year, around this time of year, the first time I am out in the sun for an extended period of time. This year it was my daughter's soccer tournament. I use sunscreen religiously all year, and change brands often, so I don't think it could be an allergy to any particular sunscreen, cosmetic, food, etc. I think I may be allergic to sun. Oddly enough, the hives are always in the same places - big patches covering my forearms (top only) and smaller patches on my upper arms (also the top only), and a big patch on my upper chest. They have never been on my legs or my face or my torso. It starts out as tiny hard bumps under my skin - it almost feels like grains of sand under my skin. The next day the area is red and very hot and the bumps begin getting bigger. They spread out and become fluid-filled blister-like bumps. They are bright red and quite hot to the touch, and I begin to feel like I have a fever. Topical Benadryl and calamine lotion help a little. Taking Benadryl helps a little. What feels the best to me is to soak in a plain water, tepid bath for as long as I can stand to. The blister spots are starting to rupture and dry up, and actually feel better at this stage - the itching is less intense and the heat is starting to go away. In another day or so, I will start using a scrub and a heavy-duty moisturizer. The patches where the hives occur will look discolored for several months. Each time this happens I wonder if I should start on a preventative course of Benadryl when I know I will be out in the sun for the first time. Then I forget and it happens again. I am ready to move to Ireland, where it is virtually impossible to get a sunburn.