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What Causes Hives?
Blog January 19, 2025

What Causes Hives?

Dr. Yeonseung Choe
Dr. Yeonseung Choe
Chief Director

Hives (Urticaria): About This Sudden Visitor

Hello everyone. Today, I'd like to talk about 'hives' (urticaria), a condition many people experience suddenly. Hives are like a warning signal our body sends. The red rash, itchiness, and discomfort that suddenly appear on the skin often strike at unexpected moments.

"Your first outbreak—'What is this?'—You must have been surprised, right?"

Most people who experience hives for the first time are surprised, thinking, 'What is this?' Sudden skin changes can be perplexing, and unexplained itchiness disrupts daily life. What's particularly confusing is the nature of hives, where symptoms appear and disappear suddenly.

Hives: What Are Their Causes?

The causes of hives are incredibly diverse. There are many things our bodies react to, such as food, medication, stress, and environmental factors. Sometimes, it's difficult to pinpoint a clear cause. Hives begin when our body shows an overreaction to a certain stimulus.

Hives from a Traditional Korean Medicine Perspective: A Fundamental Approach

In Traditional Korean Medicine, hives are viewed not just as a skin problem, but also as an imbalance in the body's internal functions. It is seen as a manifestation on the skin due to circulatory disorders of Qi and Blood, and functional imbalances of the internal organs. Therefore, treatment focuses not merely on alleviating symptoms, but on restoring the body's overall balance.

Daily Practices Alongside Treatment

Treatment involves herbal medicine, acupuncture, and other methods, and daily practices are also important. It's good to manage stress and avoid foods or environmental factors that can trigger allergies. Additionally, regular lifestyle habits and a healthy diet greatly help maintain the body's balance.

Life with Hives: Finding Balance Within

Hives can sometimes be a signal from our body, an opportunity to reflect on our lifestyle and habits. It's important to take time to consider what our body and mind truly desire, and how we can live a healthier life.

A Final Message to You

For those suffering from hives, don't struggle alone. Our body and mind are deeply connected, and sometimes small changes can make a big difference. We are here to help you achieve a healthier life. We'd love to hear your story anytime. We wish you a healthy and happy day!

#SongdoHives

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Dr. Yeonseung Choe

Dr. Yeonseung Choe Chief Director

I have met many patients who came after visiting multiple medical institutions and departments for persistent or recurrent conditions. Symptoms normally handled by different specialties—such as abdominal pain, headaches, palpitations, dizziness, and insomnia—may overlap in one person. Sometimes there is no clear improvement despite taking medication for each symptom, and being unwell gradually becomes part of daily life. In these cases, I look beyond individual diagnoses and examine how the symptoms connect and change together. Asking only about the most uncomfortable symptom today does not reveal the full course. I look at when the body first began to change and what happened after illness, surgery, childbirth, or starting and stopping medication. I also review changes in weight, diet, and sleep, then trace which symptoms improved with previous treatment and which remained. Test results, diagnoses, and the course of previous treatment are important for understanding the current condition. Clinical research in modern Korean medicine, physiological and pathological research in modern medicine, and observations recorded in classical Korean medicine texts offer different perspectives on the same body. Rather than fitting a patient into one perspective, I consider what each can and cannot explain and look for clues that connect symptoms and treatment histories that were previously considered separately.

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