The Mysterious Hives of Menopause

By the time most women have reached their forties and fifties, they are exhibiting the physical changes which accompany menopause. Menopause can bring emotional turmoil as well, but it is the physical symptoms which can make the menopausal years so traumatic for millions of otherwise well-balanced and happy women. And among the most distressing symptoms are the hives of menopause.

Increasing Occurences

The hives of menopause are a mystery to medical science, which has yet to provide an explanation for their appearance. Yet the hives of menopause seem to be affecting more and more women, and they can erupt in only small areas, or they can cover the entire body. The hormonal changes which occur during menopause could be at least one factor in the appearance of the hives.

The Stress Factor

Pharmaceutical companies have developed skin creams specifically to relieve the itching and inflammation of the hives of menopause, but there is a school of thought that the hives may be aggravated by stress. Those women plagued by the hives of menopause have nothing to lose by reducing their stress levels as much as possible, but even that does not promise an immediate end to the condition. It can take months to eliminate the hives of menopause and the other menopausal symptoms.

There are some women, however, who experience the hive of menopause only once, while others have a chronic case of hives known as Urticaria. If the hives are a single occurrence, they will shortly clear up without intervention. Urticaria, on the other hand, can last up to six months.

The hive of menopause can range in size from tiny red patches to those with the diameter of a half-dollar. Severe cases of the hives of menopause can lead to a condition known as Angiodema, which causes edema of the hands, eyes, and lips.

Other suspected contributors to the hives of menopause are food allergies; many women change their diets suddenly as they attempt to alleviate their symptoms. They may be eating some food for the first time, not realizing that they are allergic to them. A serious case of the hives of menopause really deserves the attention of your doctor so that you can try to determine and remove its cause. The best way to conquer the hives of menopause is to eliminate their causes, and that may be difficult.