What should you know about hives on torso?

The chest, back, and abdomen can develop welts where sweat, friction, tight waistbands, or bedding warm the skin. A single welt may fade while another appears, and the pattern can look different from one episode to the next. Hives are also called urticaria; read about [Hives](/conditions/urticaria/). Itching is common, while swelling around the eyes or lips points to deeper swelling that should be taken seriously.

Wear loose, breathable clothing and keep the room comfortably cool. A cool compress may soothe itching; avoid hot water, vigorous rubbing, and fragranced products on the affected area. Note recent illness, exercise, emotional stress, foods, medicines, and contact with detergents or fabrics. Ask a pharmacist or clinician whether [Antihistamine Treatment](/treatments/medical-dermatology/oral-antihistamine-therapy/) fits your health history. Do not combine medicines unless advised.

Seek emergency care for swelling of the tongue, lips, mouth, or throat, breathing difficulty, wheezing, trouble swallowing, faintness, or confusion. These symptoms may accompany [Angioedema](/conditions/angioedema/) and can worsen rapidly. Arrange a clinical review for repeated episodes, a rash that stays fixed in one place, bruising, pain, fever, or skin that blisters or peels.

Does the changing shape of these welts fit urticaria? Could heat, pressure, an infection, or a medicine be contributing? What should I use during a flare, and when would you consider a specialist review?