Sometimes I have clients who are losing their minds because they can’t figure why they keep getting hives. They’ve had allergy testing but just can’t figure out what to do. These chronic, itchy, bumpy conditions have solutions as my guest today tells us all about. Dr. Kara Fitzgerald is a mentor, a teacher, and a brilliant practitioner. She not only sees patients but also teaches clinicians. With a postdoc in nutritional biochemistry and laboratory science, Dr. Kara is the author and editor for case studies in integrative and functional medicine. She’s the co-author of the e-book the Methylation Diet and Lifestyle, she’s on the faculty at the Institute of Functional Medicine and has her own practice in Connecticut. As Dr Kara explains, hives are caused high histamine, which is often the result of an allergic reaction, but not always. We discuss identifying the most common allergies so you can eliminate those. We also examine non-allergic factors of hives, like autoimmune disease, and how to mitigate those. There are steps you can take to counter the histamines that flood your system and cause these uncomfortable reactions. What steps do you take to treat hives? Let me know in the comments!   In this episode What hives are and why it’s so bothersome Common resolutions to hives What mast cell activation is and how it leads to hives What you can do to help lower your histamine load in the face of a hives outbreak Labs to ask your doctor to run if you have chronic hives   Quotes “It’s up to us to figure out two things. One - we want to figure what the triggers are, and two - we want to balance the immune system so we stop having those reactions altogether.” [3:45] “A low histamine diet is probably going to be the best for someone who’s got some gut disturbance.” [8:08] “As soon as you go on a good supplement, a good antihistamine immune balancing supplement protocol and work on your diet, you’ll be able to step away from relying on those medications.” [14:04] “Treating your gut, taking botanical antihistamines, lowering overall inflammation, and changing your diet. If you respond to those, that’s your diagnosis and your cure.” [16:05]   Links Be sure to enter our incredible launch contest to win over $500 of skincare goodies! Find Dr. Kara Fitzgerald online Follow Dr. Kara Fitzgerald on Instagram | Twitter | Facebook Methylation Diet and Lifestyle Institute of Functional Medicine   Check out the full show notes here! Keep up with everything The Healthy Skin Show here! Follow The Healthy Skin Show on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram