Pictures of Hives to Help Identify a Rash

How to Recognize the Different Types

Hives, also known as urticaria, are a type of skin rash with raised, red, itchy bumps or welts. They can affect people of any age on any part of the body. Causes include stress, viral or bacterial infections, food or latex allergies, medications, and physical stimuli such as heat, cold, or exercise. Hives may also be idiopathic (meaning of no known cause).

Hives may be acute (sudden and severe) or chronic (persistent or recurrent). They can also be generalized (widespread) or localized (limited to a certain area). These characteristics can help a healthcare provider narrow the possible causes.

This article offers a gallery of pictures of hives with a discussion of the different types and characteristics of each. It will also explain why different hives develop and how to treat them.

A person with hives on their skin

SYMFONIA / Getty Images

Acute Hives

Acute hives are common and tend to be harmless. Technically, acute hives can last up to six weeks, though they typically resolve within a few days and may be "once-off" events.

In many cases, the cause of acute hives is unknown. However, the most common cause of acute hives is a viral infection, although any type of infection can cause hives. Allergic reactions to allergy-causing substances (known as allergens) such as foods, medications, pet dander, insect venom, and contact with plants (especially grass) can also cause acute hives.

When your body comes into contact with an allergen it triggers an immune response in which an antibody called immunoglobulin E (IgE) is released into the bloodstream, instigating allergy symptoms affecting the skin and other parts of the body.

But there are also immune reactions that don't involve IgE that can also cause acute urticaria. These include certain infections and diseases.

IgE-Mediated Causes
  • Airborne allergens, like pollen

  • Food allergens, like peanuts

  • Contact allergens, like latex

  • Drug allergies

  • Insect bites

  • Parasitic infections

Non-IgE-Mediated Causes
  • Bacterial infections

  • Fungal infections

  • Viral infections

  • Lymphoma (a type of blood cancer)

  • Autoimmune diseases, like lupus

Acute urticaria can often be diagnosed by reviewing a person's medical history, current medication use, recent infections, changes in lifestyle or environment, or a family history of hives. The timing, location, and severity of symptoms are also factored in. Allergy tests may be ordered to help identify allergens you may be sensitive to.

But, even with these evaluations, the cause may still be unknown.

Acute hives can be generalized and localized. Generalized hives are more often seen with allergens that are ingested, like food or medications. Localized hives are more commonly seen with contact allergens.

The hives may also look spongy due to the rapid build-up of fluid the beneath the surface of the skin. This is because IgE-mediated allergic reactions involve a chemical called histamine that causes blood vessels under the skin to dilate (widen) and release fluid into surrounding tissues.

Close-Up of Spongy Hives

Heather L. Brannon, MD

Acute hives are commonly treated with second-generation H1 antihistamines that help relieve swelling and itching. Over-the-counter (OTC) options include:

First-generation H1 antihistamines, which tend to cause drowsiness, may be prescribed if symptoms are severe and interfering with your sleep. This includes Benadryl (diphenhydramine).

Not all cases of acute hives are harmless. Those that are sudden and severe may be associated with anaphylaxis, a potentially life-threatening, whole-body allergy. If not treated as a medical emergency, anaphylaxis can lead to shock, coma, heart or respiratory failure, and even death.

girl with hives
Jennifer Strong

When to Call 911

Call 911 or rush to your nearest emergency room if you develop signs and symptoms of anaphylaxis, including:

  • A sudden, widespread outbreak of hives or rash
  • Shortness of breath
  • Wheezing
  • Irregular heartbeat
  • Sudden, severe diarrhea
  • Shallow, rapid breathing
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Dizziness or fainting
  • Swelling of the face, tongue, or throat
  • A feeling of impending doom

Chronic Hives

Hives
anand purohit / Getty Images

Where acute hives last for less than six weeks, chronic hives are those that persist for more than six weeks and/or recur frequently over months or years. By definition, chronic hives are visible at least twice per week for more than six weeks.

Chronic hives tend to be localized, although some cases may be generalized (particularly with cholinergic urticaria). The hives commonly appear as splotchy welts with raised edges and well-defined borders. They tend to be less spongy than acute hives.

Chronic urticaria is poorly understood and is thought by many to involve an autoimmune response. This is when the immune system reacts to otherwise harmless stimuli and launches an attack against its own cells and tissues. With chronic urticaria, the target of the assault is the middle layer of the skin, called the dermis.

Females are affected by chronic urticaria more than males. People also tend to have co-occurring atopic (allergy-related) conditions like asthma, eczema, and allergic rhinitis (hay fever).

There are various types of chronic urticaria characterized by their underlying trigger:

  • Cholinergic urticaria (induced by heat, stress, or exercise)
  • Cold urticaria (occurs when skin is rewarmed after cold exposure)
  • Pressure urticaria (caused by things like tight belts or standing too long)
  • Aquagenic urticaria (caused by exposure to water)
  • Solar urticaria (caused by exposure to sunlight)
  • Vibratory urticaria (caused by exposure to vibrations)

Chronic Idiopathic Urticaria

The cause of chronic hives is usually unknown. Studies suggest that between 80% and 90% of cases are idiopathic. Even with an extensive diagnosis, a cause may never be found.

Females tend to be affected more than males. People with chronic hives also tend to have other atopic (allergy-causing) conditions like asthma, eczema, and allergic rhinitis (hay fever).

Chronic hive treatment usually begins with OTC antihistamines like Benadryl and Pepcid (famotidine). Severe cases may require oral corticosteroids like prednisone or an even stronger injectable prescription medication like Xolair (omalizumab).

Dermatographism

Appearance of the word "Dermatographia" on a human arm 15 minutes after the letters have been traced with a blunt object on the skin. A type of urticaria or "hives", also known as dermatographic urticaria, dermatographism, or "skin writing".
R1carver/Wikimedia Commons/CC-BY-SA-3.0

Dermatographism is a form of pressure urticaria in which hives will form along the lines of trauma wherever the skin is scratched, rubbed, or roughly stroked. The term "dermatographism" literally means the ability to write on the skin.

The cause of dermatographism is unknown, but it is thought to be directly induced by mast cells that are situated just under the surface of the skin. These immune cells will degranulate (break open) whenever there is a perceived threat, releasing histamine into the skin.

Dermatographic hives—like many chronic hives—tend to be less spongy and more well-defined because the release of histamine is limited to the skin (unlike many allergies in which histamine is released throughout the body).

In most cases, dermatographic hives will clear on their own within 15 to 30 minutes. In extreme cases, the itchy, red welts may persist anywhere from a few hours to a few days.

Under normal circumstances, treatment is not needed because symptoms are typically short-lasting. Instead, efforts may be focused on preventing scratching or abrasion.

Summary

Hives (urticaria) are a type of rash that causes raised, red, itchy bumps or welts. Hives may be acute, appearing quickly and usually resolving quickly on their own. Or, they may be chronic, lasting for more than six months and/or recurring frequently over months or years.

There are many possible causes of hives, including allergies, infections, stress, cold, vibration, exercise, and even scratching. Chronic hives are often idiopathic, meaning of unknown origin, and may develop spontaneously for no apparent reason.

Hives are ultimately caused by an abnormal immune response in which inflammatory chemicals, including histamine, are released into the bloodstream and tissues. Antihistamines may be used to relieve the swelling, redness, or itchiness of hives. Many cases clear on their own without treatment.

7 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
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  7. American Osteopathic College of Dermatology. Dermatographism.

By Heather L. Brannon, MD
Heather L. Brannon, MD, is a family practice physician in Mauldin, South Carolina. She has been in practice for over 20 years.