Hives

On this page

Basics

• Summary
• Start Here

Learn More

• Related Issues
• Specifics
• Genetics

See, Play and Learn

• Images
• Health Check Tools
• Videos and Tutorials

Research

• Statistics and Research
• Clinical Trials
• Journal Articles

Resources

• Find an Expert

For You

• Children
• Teenagers
• Patient Handouts

Summary

Hives are red and sometimes itchy bumps on your skin. An allergic reaction to a drug or food usually causes them. Allergic reactions cause your body to release chemicals that can make your skin swell up in hives. People who have other allergies are more likely to get hives than other people. Other causes include infections and stress.

Hives are very common. They usually go away on their own, but if you have a serious case, you might need medicine or a shot. In rare cases, hives can cause a dangerous swelling in your airways, making it hard to breathe - which is a medical emergency.

Start Here

• Hives (Urticaria) (Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America)
• Hives (Urticaria) (Logical Images)
• Hives and Angioedema (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish
• Hives: Overview (American Academy of Dermatology)

Related Issues

• Allergic Skin Conditions (American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology)
• Medications and Drug Allergic Reactions (American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology) Also in Spanish
• Sun Allergy (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish

Specifics

• Cold Urticaria (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish
• Exercise-Induced Urticaria (American Academy of Family Physicians) Also in Spanish

Genetics

• Genetics Home Reference: PLCG2-associated antibody deficiency and immune dysregulation (National Library of Medicine)
• Genetics Home Reference: vibratory urticaria (National Library of Medicine)

Images

• Photos & Graphics: Urticaria (Hives) and Angioedema (American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology)

Health Check Tools

• Skin Allergy Quiz (American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology)

Videos and Tutorials

• Virtual Allergist (American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology)

Statistics and Research

• Simplifying Effective Treatment of Chronic Hives in Children (American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology)

Clinical Trials

• ClinicalTrials.gov: Urticaria (National Institutes of Health)

Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)

• Article: Approach to the Patient with Hives.
• Article: Serum amyloid A levels in acute and chronic urticaria.
• Article: Ligelizumab for Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria.
• Hives -- see more articles

Find an Expert

• American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology
• Find a Dermatologist (American Academy of Dermatology)
• Find an Allergist/Immunologist (American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology)
• National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases

Children

• Help with Hives (Nemours Foundation)
• Hives (American Academy of Pediatrics) Also in Spanish
• Hives (Urticaria) (Logical Images)
• Hives (Urticaria) (For Parents) (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish

Teenagers

• Hives (Urticaria) (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish

Patient Handouts

• Angioedema (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Hives (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish