What are hives?

Urticaria is the medical name for hives. Hives are itchy, raised, red areas of skin which range in shape and size. They can be a few millimeters to a few inches in diameter. They can form in rings, patches, or in round circles.

Welts (red lesions with a flare at the borders) are one manifestation of hives. Hives can occur anywhere on the body, and are very common the arms, legs, and trunk of the body. Hives are uncomfortable and unattractive.

Hives are known for their tendency to move around, disappearing from one place and reappearing in another. They change size rapidly and move around; often every few hours. This means that the severity of hives can vary throughout the day- you can wake up fine, have a severe case by the afternoon, and then be back to 'normal' a few hours later.

There are few, if any, skin diseases which resolve so rapidly. This can make treatment difficult, especially if your symptoms have disappeared by the time you reach the doctor's office. Most often, though, your doctor can make a diagnosis based on the history of your symptoms and give appropriate medical advice based on that.