Hi guys, I was wondering if anyone has had a similar experience or if someone out there can just help me out?  I started a raw food/vegan detox almost two months ago.  Almost a month in I started getting a rash.  It still hasn't gone away and I'm pretty sure they are hives.  The rash is mostly contained to my abdoman, neck, and back.  There are probably 20 or so hives spread over that area.

I am going through something similar.  Started vegan diet (low sugar / low caffeine but not completely out) two months ago & yesterday my skin felt kind of dry / itchy.  Woke up last night to hives on the inside of my arms & legs.  Still have a few here & there on my stomach, arms and head.  What the!?

I am a vegan newbie, but suffered from a bout of hives a few years ago. Turns out I am histamine intolerance so have to avoid foods that are high in histamine, and those that are histamine producing. Sucks cause that means nothing fermented...no miso, shoyu, vinegar and it also limits lots of fruits and vegetables. So I guess what I'm saying is it could be from something you are eating...have you introduced anything new lately, or have you started using new skincare products?

I haven't introduced anything new...just eating a lot more of certain things...doing a high raw diet so lots of nuts, bananas, citrus fruits, kale...

But I've never had any issues prior.  Always good clean skin.  The rash is all over my stomach, chest, back, groin area, and neck.  It's not on my legs or arms at all.  I am going to see a ND soon if it doesn't begin to clear up.  Hmmmm....  I am still hoping that it is some sort of detox because the rash is contained to where there are lymph nodes, where i've lost the most fat thus far, and around the organs that filter toxins.  Who knows.  It turned up about 2 weeks into my detox...

REALLY hope it's not a food allergy!!!

The location of your hives makes me think of shingles.  Is it itchy or painful?  Have you been exposed to anyone with chicken pox lately?  I got this when I took my daughter to get her varicella vaccine -- a live virus.  I picked up her discarded gauze pad and must have touched the virus.  It went away after about a month.  Just a thought.  Also, nuts can be allergenic, and even if you weren't allergic to them before, if you are eating a lot more of them this could be it.  Good luck finding out.

Hi Rachel, 
If what you have is actually hives then by definition it is resulting from a food or ingredient that you are consuming. Nuts are not uncommon as is soy and some of the ingredients in vegan substitutes for dairy and meat. You could try eliminating these things either one at a time or all at once.
Luckily, hive tend to clear up quickly after youve eliminated the "culprit" , which may be a food that is considered healthy but not a good thing for you.
Good luck, Justin

Try to keep a food journal for a couple of weeks so you can figure out what's in your daily intake and do an elimination diet where you remove the common culprits (like soy, wheat, sugar).  See if your hives go away. 

Hives usually don't stick around for too long, unlike eczema, and they go away quickly within the day when you take a benedryl or two.  If the hives still remain after the antihistamines, it could be eczema (I have it and it sucks) or something much more nightmare-ish...

I once thought I had an ongoing case of hives and they turned out to be BEDBUGS!!!