What are the symptoms of hives?

Individual welts may be pink, red, or close to the surrounding skin tone. They can be small or merge into broad irregular areas, and the centre may look paler than the edge. Pressure, heat, cold, exercise, infection, medicines, foods, or contact with an irritant can precede an episode, although a trigger is not always found.

Itching is common, and burning or stinging can occur. Swelling deeper under the skin, especially around the lips, eyelids, hands, feet, or throat, is called angioedema. Hives that keep returning over a longer period may need assessment for chronic hives.

Keep the skin cool, avoid rubbing, and choose loose clothing. Record foods, medicines, infections, heat, pressure, and activities around the onset so a clinician can look for a pattern. Do not stop a prescribed medicine without advice, even if you suspect it is involved.

A clinician may recommend oral antihistamine treatment and, in selected severe situations, a short course of oral corticosteroid treatment. Treatment choice depends on age, other medicines, pregnancy, and the symptoms involved.

Call emergency services immediately for hives with trouble breathing, wheezing, throat or tongue swelling, faintness, confusion, or difficulty swallowing. These symptoms can indicate a serious allergic reaction. Seek prompt medical advice when individual marks stay fixed in one place, become painful or bruise-like, or come with fever or joint pain.

Ask whether the pattern fits hives or another skin rash, whether swelling suggests angioedema, which triggers are worth recording, and which treatment is safe with your existing conditions and medicines.