Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsCausesDiagnosisTreatmentPreventionFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Symptoms
Causes
Diagnosis
Treatment
Prevention
Frequently Asked Questions
Hives andeczemaboth involve itchy skin rashes and are related to allergies. While they may share some similarities, these two conditions are distinct in their symptoms, underlying causes, and treatment.
This article will discuss the key differences between hives and eczema in their symptoms, causes, diagnosis, and treatment.
Eik Scott / Getty Images
Hives, also calleduticaria, are red, itchy bumps or welts on the body. Most of the time, hives go away within a few days to weeks, but some people experiencechronic hivesthat last more than six weeks. About 20% of people experience hives at some point in their lives.
Hives andeczemaboth involve an itchy rash, but thesymptomsaren’t identical.
Symptoms of HivesRaised, red or flesh-colored, itchy bumps (welts) or patches of skin that blanch (turn white) in the center when pressedWelts (also called wheals) have clearly defined edgesWelts may get bigger and join together to form larger areas of raised skinWelts can go away and reappear within minutes or hours, but not usually for longer than 48 hoursCan arise quicklyWelts tend to come in clusters (some can appear as others fade)Acute hives last from a few hours to a few weeks, but typically resolve within a day or twoChronic hives can last on and off from six weeks to several yearsCan appear on the neck, chest, and any other areas exposed to the trigger irritantCan occur with angioedema (swelling of the deeper layers of the skin)Symptoms of EczemaPatches of dry, itchy skinLooks reddish on lighter skin and may look darker brown, purple, or ashen grey on darker skinSkin swellingScaling skinLichenification (when the skin becomes thick and leathery)Fluid-filled bumps that crust overCan lead to infection, which can include oozingChronic condition that has flare-ups that come and goSymptoms can be minor to severe
Symptoms of HivesRaised, red or flesh-colored, itchy bumps (welts) or patches of skin that blanch (turn white) in the center when pressedWelts (also called wheals) have clearly defined edgesWelts may get bigger and join together to form larger areas of raised skinWelts can go away and reappear within minutes or hours, but not usually for longer than 48 hoursCan arise quicklyWelts tend to come in clusters (some can appear as others fade)Acute hives last from a few hours to a few weeks, but typically resolve within a day or twoChronic hives can last on and off from six weeks to several yearsCan appear on the neck, chest, and any other areas exposed to the trigger irritantCan occur with angioedema (swelling of the deeper layers of the skin)
Raised, red or flesh-colored, itchy bumps (welts) or patches of skin that blanch (turn white) in the center when pressed
Welts (also called wheals) have clearly defined edges
Welts may get bigger and join together to form larger areas of raised skin
Welts can go away and reappear within minutes or hours, but not usually for longer than 48 hours
Can arise quickly
Welts tend to come in clusters (some can appear as others fade)
Acute hives last from a few hours to a few weeks, but typically resolve within a day or two
Chronic hives can last on and off from six weeks to several years
Can appear on the neck, chest, and any other areas exposed to the trigger irritant
Can occur with angioedema (swelling of the deeper layers of the skin)
Symptoms of EczemaPatches of dry, itchy skinLooks reddish on lighter skin and may look darker brown, purple, or ashen grey on darker skinSkin swellingScaling skinLichenification (when the skin becomes thick and leathery)Fluid-filled bumps that crust overCan lead to infection, which can include oozingChronic condition that has flare-ups that come and goSymptoms can be minor to severe
Patches of dry, itchy skin
Looks reddish on lighter skin and may look darker brown, purple, or ashen grey on darker skin
Skin swelling
Scaling skin
Lichenification (when the skin becomes thick and leathery)
Fluid-filled bumps that crust over
Can lead to infection, which can include oozing
Chronic condition that has flare-ups that come and go
Symptoms can be minor to severe
Hivesand eczema are bothrelated to allergies. While they have similar triggers in some cases, the causes of the conditions can differ.
Hives
Acute hivesare often the body’s reaction to an irritant, which can include allergic reactions. This causes the body to releasehistamineand other chemicals into the blood stream, leading to itching and other symptoms.
The cause of chronic hives is not well-understood.
anand purohit / Getty Images
Any irritant can trigger hives, but common ones include:
It’s common to be unable to pinpointwhat caused the hiveswhen there isn’t a known allergy.
Eczema
Triggers for eczema flare-ups are similar to those that trigger hives, including:
When to Contact a Healthcare ProviderFor some people, allergic reactions can causeserious symptoms.Call 911 (or your local emergency number) if there is:FaintingShortness of breathTightness in the throatTongue or face swellingWheezingCall a healthcare provider using their non-emergency number if the hives are severe, causing discomfort, and are not responding to self-care measures.Eczema also requires a visit to a healthcare provider if there is a sudden change or worsening of symptoms, if it isn’t responding to treatment, or if there are signs of infection, including:FeverAffected areas (or around them) are red and warmThere are pus-filled bumpsAreas on the skin that look like cold sores (fever blisters)The herpes simplex virus, which causes cold sores, can cause a serious illness in children with eczema, calledeczema herpeticum. If your child’s rash is worsening rapidly, seek medical help immediately, as early treatment is important.
When to Contact a Healthcare Provider
For some people, allergic reactions can causeserious symptoms.Call 911 (or your local emergency number) if there is:FaintingShortness of breathTightness in the throatTongue or face swellingWheezingCall a healthcare provider using their non-emergency number if the hives are severe, causing discomfort, and are not responding to self-care measures.Eczema also requires a visit to a healthcare provider if there is a sudden change or worsening of symptoms, if it isn’t responding to treatment, or if there are signs of infection, including:FeverAffected areas (or around them) are red and warmThere are pus-filled bumpsAreas on the skin that look like cold sores (fever blisters)The herpes simplex virus, which causes cold sores, can cause a serious illness in children with eczema, calledeczema herpeticum. If your child’s rash is worsening rapidly, seek medical help immediately, as early treatment is important.
For some people, allergic reactions can causeserious symptoms.
Call 911 (or your local emergency number) if there is:
Call a healthcare provider using their non-emergency number if the hives are severe, causing discomfort, and are not responding to self-care measures.
Eczema also requires a visit to a healthcare provider if there is a sudden change or worsening of symptoms, if it isn’t responding to treatment, or if there are signs of infection, including:
The herpes simplex virus, which causes cold sores, can cause a serious illness in children with eczema, calledeczema herpeticum. If your child’s rash is worsening rapidly, seek medical help immediately, as early treatment is important.
Hives aretypically diagnosedthrough avisual examination.Occasionally a skin biopsy (removal of a sample to analyze in the lab) or blood tests may be done to confirm an allergic reaction.
Testing for a substance suspected of causing the allergic response may also be done, but specific allergy testing doesn’t tend to be useful for most cases of hives.
There’s no specific test for eczema. Typically, a healthcare provider will:
Treatment for eczema tends to be more complex and ongoing than forhives. Both conditions involve trying to identify and avoid triggers.
Acutehivescan go away on their own, but there are some measures you can take to reduce symptoms such as itching, swelling, and discomfort.
Sometimesmedical treatmentmay be necessary under the guidance of a dermatologist, allergist, or healthcare provider. This may include:
If you have a severe reaction, particularly if there is throat swelling and/or airway blockage, you may need to have an emergency shot ofepinephrineor steroids.
The keystone ofeczema treatmentis skin care and moisturizing. In addition, it’s important to keep the skin hydrated during flares and in between.
Fragrance-free ointments or creams with a higher oil content should be applied at least one to three times a day. The best time to moisturize is right after a warm (not hot) bath or shower and gently patting dry.
If symptoms don’t respond to over-the-counter (OTC) moisturizers and home treatments, your healthcare provider may suggest options such as:
Hives and eczema can’t always be prevented, but learning to avoid the things that trigger them can be helpful in reducing episodes.
If you can determine the cause of your hives or eczema, such as a particular food, avoiding that trigger will reduce the likelihood of havinga flare-upor episode. If you can’t avoid your triggers, try to manage them, such as keeping your house cool and using gentle soaps and detergents.
In most cases,chronic hivesare not allergy-related, so allergy testing tends not to be useful.
Summary
Bothhivesand eczema cause itchy, red patches on the skin, but they are distinct conditions.
Irritants and allergens such as certain foods, animals, chemicals, weather, and emotional stress can trigger hives or an eczema flare-up if you are sensitive to them.
Avoiding triggers is the best way to manage hives and eczema, but that isn’t always possible. If a reaction happens, acute hives usually go away with minimal treatment, butchronic hivesand eczema often require a treatment plan.
If your symptoms are severe, particularly if you are having trouble breathing, seek emergency medical attention.
Learn MoreCauses and Risk Factors of Urticaria (Hives)
Learn MoreEczema (Atopic Dermatitis) Is Not Contagious
10 SourcesVerywell 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.South Florida ENT Associates.Hives & eczema.Family Allergy & Asthma.Skin allergy.American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.Skin allergy.American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.Allergic skin conditions.Gaudinski MR, Milner JD.Atopic dermatitis and allergic urticaria.Immunology and Allergy Clinics of North America. 2017;37(1):1-10. doi:10.1016/j.iac.2016.08.016National Eczema Association.Eczema in skin of color: what you need to know.National Institutes of Health.Scientists identify unique subtype of eczema linked to food allergy.MedlinePlus.Hives.Anne Arundel Dermatology.Hives versus rashes: know the difference.Nemours KidsHealth.Eczema (atopic dermatitis).
10 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.South Florida ENT Associates.Hives & eczema.Family Allergy & Asthma.Skin allergy.American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.Skin allergy.American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.Allergic skin conditions.Gaudinski MR, Milner JD.Atopic dermatitis and allergic urticaria.Immunology and Allergy Clinics of North America. 2017;37(1):1-10. doi:10.1016/j.iac.2016.08.016National Eczema Association.Eczema in skin of color: what you need to know.National Institutes of Health.Scientists identify unique subtype of eczema linked to food allergy.MedlinePlus.Hives.Anne Arundel Dermatology.Hives versus rashes: know the difference.Nemours KidsHealth.Eczema (atopic dermatitis).
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.
South Florida ENT Associates.Hives & eczema.Family Allergy & Asthma.Skin allergy.American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.Skin allergy.American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.Allergic skin conditions.Gaudinski MR, Milner JD.Atopic dermatitis and allergic urticaria.Immunology and Allergy Clinics of North America. 2017;37(1):1-10. doi:10.1016/j.iac.2016.08.016National Eczema Association.Eczema in skin of color: what you need to know.National Institutes of Health.Scientists identify unique subtype of eczema linked to food allergy.MedlinePlus.Hives.Anne Arundel Dermatology.Hives versus rashes: know the difference.Nemours KidsHealth.Eczema (atopic dermatitis).
South Florida ENT Associates.Hives & eczema.
Family Allergy & Asthma.Skin allergy.
American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.Skin allergy.
American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.Allergic skin conditions.
Gaudinski MR, Milner JD.Atopic dermatitis and allergic urticaria.Immunology and Allergy Clinics of North America. 2017;37(1):1-10. doi:10.1016/j.iac.2016.08.016
National Eczema Association.Eczema in skin of color: what you need to know.
National Institutes of Health.Scientists identify unique subtype of eczema linked to food allergy.
MedlinePlus.Hives.
Anne Arundel Dermatology.Hives versus rashes: know the difference.
Nemours KidsHealth.Eczema (atopic dermatitis).
Meet Our Medical Expert Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
What is your feedback?
