Hives

Hives, or urticaria, are itchy, raised welts that can appear anywhere on the body. Each welt usually fades within a day, but new ones can keep appearing. Hives that come and go for more than 6 weeks are called chronic hives.

Short-term hives are often caused by an infection, medicine, food or insect sting. Chronic hives often have no clear trigger, but they can still be controlled with treatment.

Signs and symptoms

• Raised, itchy welts that change shape or move around
• Welts that turn white when pressed
• Swelling of the lips, eyelids or hands, called angioedema

Get emergency care right away if you have trouble breathing or swallowing, or swelling of the tongue or throat.

How we treat it

• Finding triggers: a careful history and, when useful, blood tests
• Antihistamines: often at higher doses than on the package, under your provider's guidance
• Biologic injections: such as omalizumab for chronic hives that do not respond to antihistamines
• Other prescription medicines for hard-to-control cases

Where it is offered

Hives Q&A

Related care

• Contact dermatitis and skin allergies
• Drug rashes
• Chronic itch and prurigo nodularis
• Biologic and injectable treatments