The most common cause of hives on the hands is touching something that causes an allergic reaction. A person can be allergic to one of hundreds of chemicals and foods he or she interacted with throughout the day, which caused itchy red welts to appear. Another common cause of hives on the hands is bug bites or stings, whether the person felt the insect or not. For example, it might be very obvious that a person was stung by a bee, but not so obvious that he or she was bitten by a tick. Both of these everyday bugs can cause hives in some people.
When a person has hives and does not know the cause, the first thing he or she should research is whether a new chemical was touched. Lotions, makeup, and shampoos are commonly applied on skin and perfectly capable of causing hives in some people. In addition, clothing detergents, fabric softners, and room sprays are also possible hive causers used by millions of people worldwide. One of these things might be the root of the problem if they are new and were never tried before, because it can take an allergen to just one ingredient to trigger hives. Still, even if these products are not new, the hives sufferer could check the bottle or company website to see if the formula changed recently to include a potential allergen.
Foods can also cause hives on the hands, even if a person does not have an obvious reaction when eating the food. Sometimes, just touching eggs, peanuts, and shellfish is enough to trigger a hives reaction. People can also be allergic to the chemicals on some foods, like pesticides on unwashed fruit. If a new food was touched or eaten, the food might be to blame for the hives and should be touched or eaten with caution the next time.
Another common cause of hives on the hands is insect or bug bites. Bugs are everywhere and will generally sting or bite when feeling threatened or, in some cases, when hungry for blood. Even if a person did not notice a bug, there is still some possibility that it was there. The hives caused by a bug should fade and disappear within an hour or two.
Lastly, there are many other causes of hives on the hands, but allergens and insects are likely the root cause of most cases. Still, some cases of hives are idiopathic, meaning the cause is unknown. In these cases of hives on the hands, the cause might never be known.