Why do hives appear on the skin? These are the surprising facts you might not know.

Anti-hives creamAnti-itch serums
Hives, or known as urticaria, are itchy, raised welts that are found on the skin. They’re usually pink, red, or flesh colored on lighter skin and may be flesh colored or slightly lighter or darker than your skin tone on brown or black skin.

At times they sting or hurt. In the majority of cases, hives are caused by an allergic reaction to a medication or food or are a reaction to an irritant in the environment.
Symptoms

Symptoms of chronic hives include:

– Batches of welts, called weals, that can arise anywhere on the body.
– Welts that might be red, purple or skin-colored, depending on your skin color.
– Welts that vary in size, change shape, and appear and fade repeatedly.
– Itchiness, also called pruritus, which can be intense.
– Painful swelling, called angioedema, around the eyes, cheeks or lips.
– Flares triggered by heat, exercise or stress.
– Symptoms that persist for more than six weeks and recur often and anytime, sometimes for months or years.

Finding relief: Treatment options

The first step in getting treatment is to figure out if you actually have hives. In most cases, a doctor will be able to determine if you have hives from a physical exam. Your skin will show signs of the welts that are linked with hives.

A doctor may also perform blood tests or skin tests to find out what may have caused your hives — especially if your hives were the result of an allergic reaction.

You may not need prescription treatment if you’re experiencing a mild case of hives not related to allergies or other health conditions. In these circumstances, a doctor might suggest that you find temporary relief by:

taking antihistaminesTrusted Source, such as diphenhydramine ( Benadryl) or – cetirizine (Zyrtec)