Post Punk Kitchen Forum

AAARRRRGGGGG. For the past week, I've been getting hives in the evenings when I get home from work. On my lower back and sides, mostly. I don't know if it's because of something I ate at lunch, or if it's something in my (new) apartment. Anybody ever deal with this?

For a while I was getting some hives when I sweated a lot after working out, mostly where my skin had a lot of contact with my shirt. It seems to have stopped though... not really sure what the issue was. My ex had issues with laundry detergent though (to the point where we had to make sure everyone in our building was using tide or something hypoallergenic). What brand are you using?

Can you think of anything new that your lower back and sides touch?

Hives can also be a reaction to stress and panic. Anything new stressing you out?

I wash my clothes with Dr. Bronner's. I have for a while.

New stuff: YEAH. We just moved to a new apartment. So there's new stuff URRWHURR. I'd say it could be the washing machines in our building, but the shirt I'm wearing today hasn't been washed here. I was skeptical of our futon, like maybe it got dusty in the move or something, so I wasn't going to sit on it at all today, but of course I forgot and was on it for about twenty minutes.

Stress and panic? Oh, sure. Two books due, the job is getting in the way, moving, etc. etc.

So I reckon I'll avoid the couch for REAL, up the vitamins, and try to relaaaaaaax. Oi.

Id worry about some kind of bug causing it. like bed bugs.

i get hives on my face and arms when stressed out so you have my sympathy.
the cause varies and doctors, in my case, were little to no help so pick up some calamine aloe lotion to soothe the area and try not to scratch in the meantime.

I assure you that that's not the case. Bed bugs bite. They don't give you hives. And we don't have bed bugs. The old neighborhood didn't have them and the new building doesn't have them. We're suuuuper diligent about that sort of thing. Whoooooa boy.

I'm leaning toward stress and/or dust. The heater thingies in each room need to be vacuumed. Yes.

I had a similar experience to vegimator, when I was living in Germany there was a really humid summer and I think my gym shorts reacted with my sweat or something so whenever I wore them I'd get hives on the sides of my thighs (so hot!). It only happened a few times, and hasn't happened since. I used unscented laundry detergent just to be safe, because most scented things make my skin freak out, too.

My mom gets hives from her grass/tree/life allergies on her trunk. Are you living in a new part of the country with different plants?

erm. many people do get hives from them and its not a cleanliness issue. but, i believe you!

I know it's not a cleanliness issue. I just don't even sit on a train seat without a obsessive look around. And I've looked up friends' houses on bed bug report websites. I ain't trying to catch no BUUUUG.

Hi. I'm paranoid. Nice to meet--WHOAAAAA, what are you doing with your hand all outstretched like that? You want me to what? SHAKE it? I don't think so, buddy.



Well, I was living in Austin until seven months ago, and we just had a pretty quick weather shift here in New York, so maybe it's a seasonal/allergy thing. My office is like a freaking tuberculosis ward. Lungs hacking up all over the place. Maybe this is my reaction.

My mother gets hives as a reaction to food intolerances. It sounds like you've already figured it out to be stress, but if it persists, is there anything you eat regularly? Or something that is a consistent ingredient in your meals?

I don't want to admit it, but I've been eating tomato-y soups at lunch mmmmost days that I've experienced this. If I'm developing an allergy to tomatoes, I'm going to FLIP OUT. I'll have a better idea on the weekend, because I won't be going to the soup place near work. Then again, it most likely wouldn't take five or six hours for a food-triggered reaction to happen. Maybe?

Arg. Please don't be tomatoes.

I just moved to Brooklyn in June and my insane allergies actually went away. I'm sorry you're having the opposite reaction. If you have insurance, I'd go see an allergy doctor. I remember doing this when I was a teenager and they tested me for dozens of allergens (including foods) by just putting light scratches on my back. I don't think it was bothersome at all... unless it was insanely traumatic and I blocked it out.

Quite possible.

if you do notice that hte tomato-y soups are connected to your hives, all is not lost. they are probably using commercially grown, highly fertilized tomatoes/canned toms. I can't do these myself in large amounts. I found that these, and other foods that are overdosed on nitrogyn give me hives, but gently grown versions (most organics, but sometime hothouse toms still get me) are fine to eat.

i hope you get rid of those hives!