Allergic Hives or urticaria, are red, itchy bumps near the surface of the skin. Like many other allergies, they are the result of overproduction of histamine and any reaction can be caused by a wide variety of things. In many cases, skin hives are the consequence of a food allergy. Eggs, peanuts, shellfish, milk and other foods can cause hives. The bumps are not generally painful but the itchiness is uncomfortable and the hives can become worse by scratching.

The range of symptoms associated with common allergies is as vast as the types of allergic reactions themselves. Nevertheless, several are common. Identifying them correctly is the first step to proper treatment. A a small number of airborne allergens, such as pollen or certain mold spores, tend to produce certain symptoms.

Over two thirds of all homes have pets. Yet, official estimates of those who are allergic to animals reach as high as 10%. That is a guarantee of a lot of potential allergies. But there are several effective strategies for dealing with those facts.

If you suffer from an allergy to dust mites, you may think that normal household dust is the cause of your suffering. However, dust in itself is not generally an allergen, even for sensitive folks. It is dust mites that are the common cause of allergic reactions since they live on the small particles that are in everyone's home.

During much of the year, plants produce pollen. Mold knows no season and may occur anytime. Plants release pollen in order to fertilize other plants. Not all of those particles reach their intended targets. Some enter the airways of people. The same goes for mold, which can find its way into the nose or mouth through many routes. Pollen and mold allergies need to be treated separately since what reduces one will effectively increase the other.