Can Hashimoto's Cause Hives? What You Need Autoimmune Progesterone Dermatitis: Causes & Foods to Avoid Some amount of stress is a good thing (eustress). But too much of a good thing (sudden acute) or for too long (chronic), can really affect our immune system. And we all know negative stress (distress) Our patient came in with a story we hear way too often: She had hives and mild lip swelling after drinking a protein shake twice. She didn't realize it had soy.