Hives on legs can be caused by reactions to fabrics or dyes, insect bites, sweat, or unknown reasons. Testing for irritants and changing clothing or cleaning methods can help. Severe symptoms can occur in some cases, but most hives disappear within hours to a day.
Some common causes of hives on legs are reactions to fabrics or dyes, insect bites, and sweat. If a person is wearing new pants or has tried a new detergent and has hives, they may be allergic to a dye or other chemical. Insect bites can also cause this reaction, especially if the person has recently been outdoors or appears to have an infestation of some kind in their home. Sweat can also cause hives during exercise, sports, or even doing nothing on a hot day. Some cases of hives are classified as idiopathic, meaning that there are no known cases.
The chemicals on a person’s pants or socks can cause irritation to the skin on their legs, causing hives. This situation often occurs due to a reaction to dyes, detergents and fabric softeners on clothing. Some ways to test for these problems include changing clothes, removing contaminants from clothing, and switching to an irritant-free cleaning method. The clothing itself can irritate the skin for other reasons as well; unsuitable clothing, especially worn when traveling or exercising, can cause hives in the legs.
Insects, such as wasps, ants, and bees, can cause hives wherever they bite or sting. The bites aren’t always noticed, so people sometimes attribute their symptoms to other causes. Insect and insect bites can cause severe symptoms, such as anaphylactic shock, in some people, as well as milder symptoms such as hives in others.
Some people find that sweating causes hives, sometimes leading to the belief that they are allergic to their own sweat. In some cases, sweat rubs against your clothing, irritates your skin, and eventually causes hives. Other cases, however, may have little to do with the sweat itself. A person may actually be sensitive to the soap or lotion they use, and perspiration spreads it across the skin. Some people react to a food or drink that irritates the skin when they sweat.
In some cases, urticaria is idiopathic, meaning medical professionals aren’t sure of the root cause. Often, the underlying problem is never found or, in the most extreme cases of hives, the patient is found to have an overactive immune system. Most cases of hives are mild and disappear within hours to a day, and exploring the root cause is not considered a priority in these cases.
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