Is there a difference between Eczema and hives?!
Question:
Is there a difference between Eczema and hives?
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Answers:
Yes they are two different skin conditions, both of which I have the misfortune of experiencing.
Hives is a name applied to red patches that are result of your immune system going into overdrive, basically meaning you're having an allergy.
Your body produce histamines when you're having an allergy resulting in red itchy bumps called hives. For this you will have to take antihistamines. Hives can appear as a single small patch to groups all over the body, and in severe cases, on the scalp, palms and the bottoms of your feet as well.
Fortunately in most cases, hives will go away within a few days to a few weeks without leaving scars. Sometimes a few months to a few years. Hives may accompany other conditions which may be serious like the swelling of the throat which you would need emergency help with.
Needless to say, to avoid getting hives, avoid the allergens.
As for eczema, it's not as dangerous or itchy as hives, but it is more difficult to treat because it's a chronic condition on which you have to stay on top of.
Like hives, the severity of the condition varies, but eczema doesn't accompany life-threatening conditions.
They look different too, eczema are rough patches that usually start off red and then turn brown. Both hives and eczema may ooze.
I don't know what the cause for eczema is so I went to eczema.org and I found this: "The causes of eczema are many and varied, and depend on the particular type of eczema that a person has. Atopic eczema is thought to be a hereditary condition, being genetically linked. It is proposed that people with atopic eczema are sensitive to allergens in the environment which are harmless to others. In atopy there is an excessive reaction by the immune system producing inflamed, irritated and sore skin. Associated atopic conditions include asthma and hayfever. Other types of eczema are caused by irritants such as chemicals and detergents, allergens such as nickel, and yeast growths. In later years eczema can be caused by a blood circulatory problems in the legs. The causes of certain types of eczema remain to be explained, though links with environmental factors and stress are being explored."
Anyway, with hives you would have to use skin-cooling products for relief whereas with eczema you would have to keep your skin moisturized and avoid hot water and strong products*, both of which will dry your skin making irritation worse. *soaps with perfumes, products with acids, etc.
Scratching will only spread eczema and hives, but are not contagious. Hope this helps.