Hives are itchy, raised welts (wheals) that appear suddenly on the skin. They can arise from many causes and often resolve on their own, but they may recur and affect daily comfort and activities.
Hives are superficial, itchy swellings on the skin that are red or skin-colored and may form rings, patches or irregular shapes. Individual wheals often fade within hours but new ones can appear. Hives are described as acute when they last less than six weeks and chronic when they persist beyond that timeframe.
The main feature is intensely itchy, well-defined raised lesions. Lesions can change shape and location quickly. Some people develop deeper swelling of tissues (angioedema), which causes more diffuse puffiness under the skin. While single episodes can be short-lived, hives may recur over days to weeks or become a longer-term problem.
Many factors can provoke hives, including viral or other infections, certain foods, medications, insect bites, physical triggers (cold, heat, pressure, sunlight) and emotional stress. Underlying allergic or autoimmune conditions may contribute in some cases. In many people no clear trigger is found.
Seek urgent care or emergency services if you experience breathing difficulty, throat tightness, difficulty swallowing, fainting or signs of low blood pressure — these may indicate a severe reaction. For recurrent, frequent or persistent hives lasting more than six weeks, start with a primary care clinician who can assess and refer to Dermatology or Allergy/Immunology if specialized evaluation is needed.
Identifying and avoiding known triggers can reduce attacks. Practical measures that often help include wearing loose, comfortable clothing, using gentle skin cleansers, keeping the skin moisturized and applying cool compresses to relieve itching. Keeping a diary of foods, medications and exposures during flare-ups can help clinicians identify patterns.
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