How does hives feel

This content does not have an Arabic version. Overview Hives on white skin Open pop-up dialog box Close. Hives on white skin Hives may be accompanied by angioedema, which can cause swollen welts that appear reddish on white skin.

Hives on brown skin Open pop-up dialog box Close. Hives on brown skin Hives, also known as urticaria, causes itchy welts that may be triggered by exposure to certain foods, medications or other substances. Angioedema Open pop-up dialog box Close. Angioedema Angioedema may cause large welts below the surface of the skin, particularly around the eyes and lips.

Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic. Share on: Facebook Twitter. Show references Hives. American Academy of Dermatology. Accessed April 25, Hives urticaria. American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. Khan DA. Chronic urticaria: Standard management and patient education. Goldsmith LA, et al. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. June What is Psoriasis? What do hives look and feel like? Hives Urticaria What causes or triggers hives? Types of hives What do hives look and feel like?

What are the risk factors for hives? How are hives diagnosed? What is the treatment for hives? Can hives be prevented? What other conditions may mimic hives? NEXT What are the risk factors for hives? Back to top. Find this interesting? Hives are red raised bumps or welts on the skin. Hives or urticaria is a common skin reaction to something like an allergen a substance that causes allergies. The spots can appear anywhere on the body and can look like tiny little spots, blotches, or large connected bumps.

Individual hives can last anywhere from a few hours to a week sometimes longer , and new ones might replace those that fade. Hives that stay for 6 weeks or less are called acute hives; those that go on longer than 6 weeks are chronic hives. In some cases, a person has hives and angioedema, a condition that causes swelling around the eyes, lips, hands, feet, or throat.

Very rarely, hives and angioedema are associated with an allergic reaction that involves the whole body or anaphylactic shock. The red welts of hives happen when mast cells in the bloodstream release the chemical histamine, which makes tiny blood vessels under the skin leak. The fluid pools within the skin to form spots and large welts. This can happen for a number of reasons. But in many cases the cause is never found. Most often, hives are associated with an allergic reaction, which can make the skin break out within minutes.

Common allergies include:. Hives due to physical causes such as pressure, cold, or sun exposure are called physical hives. It can be hard to figure out what causes chronic hives, though it's sometimes linked to an immune system illness, like lupus.

Other times, medicines, food, insects, or an infection can trigger an outbreak.