Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat Hives Look LikeCausesComplicationsWhen to Get HelpTriggersTreatment
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
What Hives Look Like
Causes
Complications
When to Get Help
Triggers
Treatment
Pinpointing the exact cause of hives can be difficult, especially when they appear suddenly or for no apparent reason. Most rashes are self-limiting, meaning that they will resolve on their own without treatment. When treatment is needed, it tends to be simple. In many cases, an over-the-counterantihistamine or corticosteroidwill suffice.
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Urticaria, or hives, is a common skin rash. Hives can be acute (short-term) if present for less than six weeks. Chronic (long-lasting) hives are present for six weeks or longer.Several features characterize hives, including:
What Is the Difference Between a Rash and Hives?
Hives on the stomach can occur for a variety of reasons. Sometimes, the cause of the hives is unknown.
Possiblecausesinclude:
Stomach hives can cause complications such asangioedema, a deep-seated tissue swelling most commonly affecting the face, lips, tongue, throat, and eyelids.Abdominal cramps, swelling in the lining of the eyes, and difficulty breathing are also symptoms.
If you are concerned your hives may be angioedema, speak with your healthcare provider. They may refer you to anallergist, who can help diagnose and treat both conditions.
When to Seek Immediate Medical Attention
If you have hives with any of the following symptoms, go to your nearest emergency room immediately:
These symptoms, along with the hives, may indicateanaphylaxis, a severe allergic reaction that can be deadly. Call 911 immediately if you are experiencing symptoms of anaphylaxis.
You should also see your healthcare provider if hives on the stomach are recurrent or don’t resolve. There may be an underlying cause for your hives that needs to be diagnosed and addressed.
Diagnosis
If you have recurrent hives on your stomach, it’s important to pinpoint your triggers. In addition to a physical exam, your healthcare provider may suggest some other tests to diagnose the cause of your hives, including:
Treatmentof stomach hives includes a combination of self-care and medications.
Self-Care
There are several self-care strategies you can employ to help cope with your hives, which include:
Medication
In addition to self-care, some medications may be used to resolve and control your hives symptoms. These medications include:
Summary
8 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Liu X, Cao Y, Wang W.Burden of and trends in urticaria globally, regionally, and nationally from 1990 to 2019: systematic analysis.JMIR Public Health Surveill. 2023 Oct;9(1):e50114. doi:10.2196/50114
World Allergy Organization.Urticaria.
American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.Hives (urticaria).
Kanani A, Betschel SD, Warrington R.Urticaria and angioedema.Allergy Asthma Clin Immunol. 2018;14(Suppl 2):59. doi:10.1186/s13223-018-0288-z
American Academy of Dermatology Association.Hives: diagnosis and treatment.
The American Academy of Dermatology Association.Hives: self-care.
Schaefer P.Acute and chronic urticaria: evaluation and treatment.Am Fam Physician. 2017;95(11):717-24.
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