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On HALO

9 hours ago

Like an Itch That Couldn’t Be Scratched, My Hives Kept Coming Back

As told to Erica RimlingerThe hives first appeared when I was in my early 20s, following a trip to the laundromat. Putting on my newly clean clothes, a rash perfectly outlining the shape of my bra and underwear formed. Shocked and incredibly itchy, I called my mom, who guessed I used too much detergent in my laundry or was having an allergic reaction. She recommended an antihistamine, which didn’t even take the edge off the never-ending itch.Unable to sit down or tolerate clothing touching my angry, red welts, I called the Ask-a-Nurse hotline my health insurance required. After an hour on hold...