Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsTypes and CausesUnknown CausesDiagnosisTreatmentPreventionFrequently Asked Questions

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Types and Causes

Unknown Causes

Diagnosis

Treatment

Prevention

Frequently Asked Questions

Hives(also calledurticaria) are itchy, red, and raisedbumps on the skin. Hives can happen for several possible reasons, and they can also seem to appear without cause.Hives usually are not dangerous. They can be short term and disappear within a day, or they can last weeks or longer.

This article covers the types of hives and their causes, how to diagnose hives, how to treat and prevent hives, and when hives can be dangerous.

Types of Hives and Their Causes

There are a few types of hives, each with its own causes.

Acute Urticaria

“Acute urticaria” is the term for hives that last for less than six weeks. Possible causes for acute urticaria include:

2:24Click Play to Learn About the Symptoms of Urticaria or Hives

2:24

Click Play to Learn About the Symptoms of Urticaria or Hives

Chronic Urticaria

Hives that last longer than six weeks are called chronic urticaria. Reasons behind chronic urticaria include:

Chronic hives can last for years but often go away within one to two years.

Physical Urticaria

Dermatographism

“Dermatographism,” meaning “skin writing,” is when hives appear immediately after rubbing or scratching the skin.

Chronic Idiopathic Urticaria (CIU)

When hives last longer than six weeks without any apparent reason, a person might have chronic idiopathic urticaria (CIU). Antihistamines are the first-line treatment for CIU.

When Hives Could Be DeadlyWhile hives are usually harmless, call 911 if your hives occur with any of the following:Shortness of breathSwelling around the throat or mouthRacing heartFeeling light-headed or faintThese may be signs ofanaphylaxis, which can be deadly.

When Hives Could Be Deadly

While hives are usually harmless, call 911 if your hives occur with any of the following:Shortness of breathSwelling around the throat or mouthRacing heartFeeling light-headed or faintThese may be signs ofanaphylaxis, which can be deadly.

While hives are usually harmless, call 911 if your hives occur with any of the following:

These may be signs ofanaphylaxis, which can be deadly.

For chronic hives, a healthcare provider may or may not recommend allergy testing, since environmental allergies are not usually a cause of hives. Diagnosis might also include reviewing the following:

Possible triggers also may be discussed, including:

Diagnosing CIU might include taking a blood test to test for how much histamine your body has. Histamine is a chemical that’s released during an allergic reaction. High amounts of histamine in the blood may be a symptom of CIU if a patient’s history is consistent with it.

If hives require treatment, antihistamine medications are usually the first drug to try. They include but are not limited to:

If chronic hives do not respond to antihistamines, they might be treated with an injection of an anti-allergy medication called Xolair (omalizumab). Xolair does come with a risk of side effects like body aches, nose bleeds, and nausea. The first dose of Xolair can include risk of severe allergic reaction for up to four days.

Delayed anaphylaxis has been reported but is very rare.Treatment will not cure hives but only make symptoms more manageable until the hives clear up on their own.

Summary

A Word From Verywell

Hives can be difficult to live with, especially when they seem to appear for no apparent reason. But it’s important to remember you’re not alone. Most hives do go away on their own, sometimes in a matter of hours to days.

If your hives are chronic, it might help to note when they occur and what may have caused them so you can avoid these triggers in the future. You may also want to take an antihistamine under the guidance of a medical professional like an allergist. If your hives don’t seem to respond to medications and waiting for them to disappear causes undue stress, consider finding support from others living with difficult skin conditions.

Hives typically disappear in about a day. Acute hives can last up to six weeks, while chronic hives can last longer than six weeks. In the case of chronic idiopathic urticaria (CIU), which are chronic hives that seem to have no apparent reason for appearing, hives could take one to five years to clear up for good.Learn MoreWhat Is Urticaria (Hives)?

Hives typically disappear in about a day. Acute hives can last up to six weeks, while chronic hives can last longer than six weeks. In the case of chronic idiopathic urticaria (CIU), which are chronic hives that seem to have no apparent reason for appearing, hives could take one to five years to clear up for good.

Learn MoreWhat Is Urticaria (Hives)?

Angioedemais a condition of swelling under the skin, and it can occur with or without hives (which are itchy). Angioedema can be deadly if it appears around the throat, and it’s advised to seek medical attention quickly in such cases.Learn MoreWhat Is Angioedema?

Angioedemais a condition of swelling under the skin, and it can occur with or without hives (which are itchy). Angioedema can be deadly if it appears around the throat, and it’s advised to seek medical attention quickly in such cases.

Learn MoreWhat Is Angioedema?

Learn MoreHow Urticaria (Hives) Is Treated

Learn MoreSymptoms of Urticaria (Hives)

12 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.MedlinePlus.Hives.American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.Hives (urticaria) and angioedema overview.MedlinePlus.Autoimmune diseases.Global Allergy & Airways Patient Platform.Forms of urticaria.National Organization for Rare Disorders.Urticaria, physical.Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.Hives that won’t go away: the basics of CIU.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Hives: diagnosis and treatment.MedlinePlus.Histamine: the stuff allergies are made of.American Academy of Dermatology Association.10 ways to get relief from chronic hives.MedlinePlus.Omalizumab injection.Kim HL, Leigh R, Becker A.Omalizumab: practical considerations regarding the risk of anaphylaxis.Allergy Asthma Clin Immunol. 2010;6(1):32. doi: 10.1186/1710-1492-6-32Tarbox JA, Bansal A, Peiris AN.Angioedema.JAMA. 2018;319(19):2054. doi:10.1001/jama.2018.4860

12 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.MedlinePlus.Hives.American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.Hives (urticaria) and angioedema overview.MedlinePlus.Autoimmune diseases.Global Allergy & Airways Patient Platform.Forms of urticaria.National Organization for Rare Disorders.Urticaria, physical.Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.Hives that won’t go away: the basics of CIU.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Hives: diagnosis and treatment.MedlinePlus.Histamine: the stuff allergies are made of.American Academy of Dermatology Association.10 ways to get relief from chronic hives.MedlinePlus.Omalizumab injection.Kim HL, Leigh R, Becker A.Omalizumab: practical considerations regarding the risk of anaphylaxis.Allergy Asthma Clin Immunol. 2010;6(1):32. doi: 10.1186/1710-1492-6-32Tarbox JA, Bansal A, Peiris AN.Angioedema.JAMA. 2018;319(19):2054. doi:10.1001/jama.2018.4860

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.

MedlinePlus.Hives.American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.Hives (urticaria) and angioedema overview.MedlinePlus.Autoimmune diseases.Global Allergy & Airways Patient Platform.Forms of urticaria.National Organization for Rare Disorders.Urticaria, physical.Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.Hives that won’t go away: the basics of CIU.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Hives: diagnosis and treatment.MedlinePlus.Histamine: the stuff allergies are made of.American Academy of Dermatology Association.10 ways to get relief from chronic hives.MedlinePlus.Omalizumab injection.Kim HL, Leigh R, Becker A.Omalizumab: practical considerations regarding the risk of anaphylaxis.Allergy Asthma Clin Immunol. 2010;6(1):32. doi: 10.1186/1710-1492-6-32Tarbox JA, Bansal A, Peiris AN.Angioedema.JAMA. 2018;319(19):2054. doi:10.1001/jama.2018.4860

MedlinePlus.Hives.

American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.Hives (urticaria) and angioedema overview.

MedlinePlus.Autoimmune diseases.

Global Allergy & Airways Patient Platform.Forms of urticaria.

National Organization for Rare Disorders.Urticaria, physical.

Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.Hives that won’t go away: the basics of CIU.

American Academy of Dermatology Association.Hives: diagnosis and treatment.

MedlinePlus.Histamine: the stuff allergies are made of.

American Academy of Dermatology Association.10 ways to get relief from chronic hives.

MedlinePlus.Omalizumab injection.

Kim HL, Leigh R, Becker A.Omalizumab: practical considerations regarding the risk of anaphylaxis.Allergy Asthma Clin Immunol. 2010;6(1):32. doi: 10.1186/1710-1492-6-32

Tarbox JA, Bansal A, Peiris AN.Angioedema.JAMA. 2018;319(19):2054. doi:10.1001/jama.2018.4860

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