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.
Here’s what's included in the price:
Consultation
Answer a few questions about your health so we can get to know you better.
Free 24h delivery
Your treatment delivered in secure packaging, the very next day.
Aftercare
We’ll check in with you regularly to see how your treatment is going.
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.
Who gets hives?
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.
How common are hives?
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.
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.
Hives
What causes hives?
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.
What are the symptoms of hives?
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.
Can hives lead to other problems?
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.
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.
Hives
What medications are there for hives?
For most people there’s no treatment needed for hives as the rash clears up on its own. However, where treatment is required, antihistamines can provide relief from the symptoms.
Hives are usually treated with antihistamines because the condition is caused by raised histamine levels. This treatment can bring down the rash and ease symptoms.
Antihistamines work by blocking the action of histamine which causes hives. Antihistamines can be taken when a hive rash flares up, this can help the skin to calm quicker than it would do without treatment.
Is there a ‘best’ treatment for hives?
Antihistamines are the first line of treatment. If you have chronic hives and antihistamines aren’t suitable for you, sometimes other medications will be prescribed for short periods, like steroids. This is usually avoided where possible as they can cause unpleasant side effects.
If you have severe hives then you may be referred to a dermatologist or a specialist in allergies.
Do hives always need treatment?
Hives don’t necessarily need treatment but they can interfere with living a normal life if not treated. There are self-care strategies to help reduce the effects of hives. Some of these include:
Using a mild and fragrance free soap
Avoiding potential triggers, such as hot or cold water
Using a humidifier, so that the skin doesn’t dry out
Use a cool compress to bring down the swelling caused by the rash
Taking antihistamines at the first sign of a flare up
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.
Hives
FAQ: Hives
Have something specific you want to know? Search our info below, or ask our experts a question if you can’t find what you’re looking for.
Can you get side effects from hives treatment?
Answer:
Antihistamines can effectively manage hives, but like all medicine they can cause mild side effects. These may include drowsiness, a reduced reaction speed or a dry mouth. If you experience negative side effects brought on by the treatment of hives through antihistamines, you should consult your clinician immediately.
Does treatment for hives always work?
Answer:
Antihistamines are a fairly standard medication and work for a lot of people. That being said, they won’t necessarily work for everyone.
One aspect of treating hives requires working out what your potential triggers may be, such as certain foods, medicines, hot or cold water and weather. An effective way to manage hives is through avoiding your trigger, once you have identified it.
Some people develop chronic hives which may require longer term treatment and if antihistamines are ineffective, your clinician can discuss further treatment options. You may also be referred to a skin specialist.
How are hives diagnosed?
Answer:
Hives are usually diagnosed by a clinician examining your rash and asking about your symptoms and what may have triggered them. They may ask you a bit about what your day-to-day activities are. Such as whether you are taking any medications or what your diet is like. They may ask you questions about the severity of the hives and how long it takes for the rash to fade.
There are usually no tests done for hives, unless ruling out other conditions is needed. If your clinician thinks the rash may have been caused by an allergic reaction, you may be referred to an allergy specialist.
If you have been experiencing symptoms for longer than 48 hours, you should consult a clinician, particularly if your rash is disrupting your daily life or causing you distress or worry over what the rash may be.
Why should I buy hives treatment online with Treated?
Answer:
Your health, wellbeing, and happiness is at the forefront of everything we do here at Treated. This means helping you to take control of your own health so that you can make the best choice for you.
Our service includes quick, reliable delivery of treatments to your home. We know that life can get a bit hectic, so if you suffer from chronic hives, we offer a subscription service and will send your chosen treatment quickly and efficiently to your home. We’ll remind you regularly to check that you have enough medication to meet your individual requirements and that it’s the right product for you.
Once you receive your chosen treatment, we’ll check in with you and make sure the treatment is working well. Order online today with Treated and take real action against hives.
Disclaimer: The information provided on this page is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have any questions or concerns about your health, please talk to a doctor.
If there’s a particular treatment or condition you’re looking for, tell us and we’ll look into it for you.
This treatment category isn't suitable for the gender you have selected.
If you made a mistake on the gender selection, you can amend this by pressing 'Cancel' below and changing your gender. If you entered the correct gender but made a mistake on the treatment category selection, you can choose a different category by pressing 'Choose other treatment' below.