Hives are a condition which causes bumps on the surface of the skin that can be white or red and itchy. The rash is known as urticaria. There are many different causes for hives, including water, friction, temperature and sunlight.
Hives can be both short-lived, and chronic. Order hives treatment online today and take real action.
Hives are a rash caused by an overload of the chemical histamine. They are also clinically known as urticaria. They can be acute and short-term, lasting less than six weeks, or chronic and long-term.
Another type of hives, known as ‘urticaria vasculitis’, causes blood vessels within the skin to inflame. In this case, the rash can last longer than a period of 24 hours and can be extremely painful and cause bruising of the skin.
Hives can be distressing and disrupt daily life and sleep, so it’s important to seek treatment if your symptoms haven’t alleviated within 48 hours.
Just about anyone can get hives, but people with allergies are more likely to develop them, usually when exposed to an allergen. They are also more common in the 20-40 years age group, and hives are twice as common in women.
Acute hives are also more common in adolescents and children, impacting about 3% of children, and in those with atopy.
Hives are quite common, affecting up to 20% of the population over their lifetime. Hives are more common when you’re in your forties, though the peak age for getting them is between 20 to 40 years old.
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Acute hives usually develop in response to a trigger, like being exposed to something you’re allergic to, or by catching a viral infection like a cold or flu.
We don’t always know why chronic hives happen, but it’s often a combination of several factors. Hives occur when something triggers the body to produce a high level of histamine which is sent to the skin, causing your blood vessels to open up, swell and itch.
Sometimes hives can be caused by an allergic reaction to particular foods, such as milk, eggs or shellfish. Hives can also be brought on by reactions to insect bites, latex, particular drugs like Penicillin and vaccines. They can also appear in response to the skin coming into contact with something, like pressure or an irritant. Common examples include hot or cold water, sitting or lying down for long periods of time and even wearing tight clothes.
The most common symptom of hives is a red and itchy rash. This rash can affect any area of skin on the body. Small areas, which are raised from the surface of the skin (called weals), look like blisters and cause itching. Each weal is usually around 1-2cm across, but can vary from case to case.
Some people may experience a small cluster on one part of the body, but in other cases, weal’s can form over different parts of the body, and can be separate or join up to form bigger ones. They are often round, but can take other shapes as well.
Most people with hives don’t suffer from any other side effects. However, in some cases a condition called ‘angio-oedema’ can appear at the same time as the hives. This condition causes fluid to leak into deeper tissue underneath the skin causing it to swell. This swelling can appear anywhere on the body but is more common on the lips, eyelids and genitals.
If you have hives, you should try not to scratch them. If you break the skin, you risk it becoming infected or scarring. Hives can be distracting or painful but most cases are mild. In severe cases, the tongue and throat can become swollen and can cause difficulty with breathing which would need immediate medical attention.
How we source info.
When we present you with stats, data, opinion or a consensus, we’ll tell you where this came from. And we’ll only present data as clinically reliable if it’s come from a reputable source, such as a state or government-funded health body, a peer-reviewed medical journal, or a recognised analytics or data body. Read more in our editorial policy.
How we source info.
When we present you with stats, data, opinion or a consensus, we’ll tell you where this came from. And we’ll only present data as clinically reliable if it’s come from a reputable source, such as a state or government-funded health body, a peer-reviewed medical journal, or a recognised analytics or data body. Read more in our editorial policy.
An approach to the patient with urticaria. Clinical & Experimental Immunology, 153(2), pp.151–161.
Chronic urticaria. Indian Journal of Dermatology, [online] 56(6), p.622.
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Chronic urticaria. Indian Journal of Dermatology, [online] 56(6), p.622. Available at:
An approach to the patient with urticaria. Clinical & Experimental Immunology, 153(2), pp.151–161. Available at:
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