I was suffering from urticaria and chronic hives for a full year. After a ton of home experiments, I figured out the cause. The answer is laundry detergent residue stress hormones.

Now before you think this is some advice you have already read a thousand times. Trust me, you haven't. Please give me a chance to explain. The residue is practically invisible. Unless you use an excessive amount of laundry detergent, it's virtually odorless. The technique is to start fresh and clean properly.

1.) from my research, your skin is an extension of your liver. Imagine your liver can handle 100% toxins. Assuming you drink alcohol and the level is already at 80%. It doesn't take that much more residue chemicals on your clothe to max out that threshold. The question comes down to how much toxin is already in your system that day.

2.) the recovery part is tough. Even if you know its the detergent residue, changing one brand to another wont cut it. I have determined that close to 80% of the residues can never be clean. Even if you use the organic brands.

3.) go shopping immediately, buy enough clothes from underwear to outerwear for at least 1 full week. Submerge them in cheap white vinegar for the entire 1st week before 1st use. Wear only these clothes. Pre-rinse machine once before putting clothes in. Then wash them only with baking soda. After full rotation, rinse twice.

4.) buy 1 bath towel for after taking showers. Same drill, baking soda, vinegar, rinse. Do not wipe hard with this towel. This is a must since your skin touch this first after showers.

5.) buy new bedsheets, pillow cases and blankets. Same drill, baking soda, vinegar, rinse. Make sure you wipe mattresses clean before putting on new sheets etc. Use paper towels to be thrown out, not some cotton towel which is no good on reuse.

6.) in all cases, hang everything! Your dryer is contaminated with detergent residue. If you must use it, wipe it like crazy with water. This is by far the hardest area to clean. If you share machines with others, you must convince them not to use detergent anymore.

7.) I have done blood tests, x-rays, fasting examinations. These show nothing. Don't waste your time.

8.) antihistamine is no cure. Its not even a fix. Take it only to buy time. My #1 choice is allegra since it does not cause drowsiness like other brands.

9.) doctors work 9 to 5. They have a thousand patients and hives problem is low on their priority list. You however have to deal with it 24x7. Act now, and ignore them.

10.) hard furnitures push detergent chemicals deep into your skin starting with the buttocks area when you sit. Pressing your back against a chair back panel will eventually get you hives in your back for example. Use only soft chairs and spread your weight around. Stand up every once in a while. Clean your house where your body contacts.

11.) cutting down on mental stress is the hardest part. Nothing is more tense than having a breakout. Trust me, I know. Go easy, sleep early? Do whatever works.

12.) pressure urticaria? What a fancy name for detergent residue around elastic waist bands. No doubt this is one tough area to scrub clean even manually. Wear clothes very loosely.

13.) I have recorded my own diet for 1 year, and it's no coincidence that higher calorie food makes it easier to have more hives. Low calorie means you still can have it though.

14.) exercising with clothes having detergent residue is one of the worst thing you can do. I don't care how much you sweat.

15.) before putting on clothes, use moisturizers. Why? Because it gives your skin 1 layer of protection. 1 layer is better than no layers. I prefer curel moisturizer.

16.) touching the residue is not going to raise immediate hell. It will take probably 4 to 5 hrs before it sips into your skin. Ask yourself how many hours after you take a shower before the itch begins. This number of hours should be consistent if you wear the same clothes multiple days and the hives will affect the same spot.

Ok I am done for now. So many tried and failed, and end up living with urticaria for 5 to 20 years. The residue spreads like invisible wild fire. If you can show the dedication, then this is your answer. I had no more major breakouts after the second week. Minor and easy to tolerate breakouts after a month. If you share laundry machines with others, it may take you alot longer. Please let me know what your think, as I am sure everything above makes sense. I am thinking of launching a free-for-all website with even more info.