Hives (2024)

Check if it's hives

The main symptom of hives is an itchy rash.

The rash can:

be raised bumps or patches in many shapes and sizes
appear anywhere on the body
be on 1 area or spread across the body
feel itchy, sting or burn
look pink or red when affecting someone with white skin; the colour of the rash can be harder to see on brown and black skin

Here is an image gallery with images and detailed descriptions. Select an image tab to get the bigger version of the image and to access the description.

1: White skin with hives rash (thumbnail). 1
2: White skin with hives rash (thumbnail). 2
3: Hives rash on light brown skin (thumbnail). 3
4: Hives rash on light brown skin (thumbnail). 4
5: Hives rash on light brown skin (thumbnail). 5
6: Dark brown skin with hives rash (thumbnail). 6

If you're not sure it's hives

Find out about other rashes in babies and children.

A pharmacist can help with hives

A pharmacist can give you advice about antihistamine treatment to help a hives rash.

Tell the pharmacist if you have a long-term condition, because you might not be able to take antihistamines.

This treatment might not be suitable for young children.

Find a pharmacy

Non-urgent advice: Ask for an urgent GP appointment or get help from NHS 111 if:

symptoms of hives do not improve after 2 days
you're worried about your child's hives
the rash is spreading
hives keeps coming back (you may be allergic to something)
you also have a high temperature and feel unwell
you also have swelling under your skin (this might be angioedema)

You can call 111 or get help from 111 online.

Immediate action required: Call 999 if:

your lips, mouth, throat or tongue suddenly become swollen
you're breathing very fast or struggling to breathe (you may become very wheezy or feel like you're choking or gasping for air)
your throat feels tight or you're struggling to swallow
your skin, tongue or lips turn blue, grey or pale (if you have black or brown skin, this may be easier to see on the palms of your hands or soles of your feet)
you suddenly become very confused, drowsy or dizzy
someone faints and cannot be woken up
a child is limp, floppy or not responding like they normally do (their head may fall to the side, backwards or forwards, or they may find it difficult to lift their head or focus on your face)

You or the person who's unwell may also have a rash that's swollen, raised or itchy.

These can be signs of a serious allergic reaction and may need immediate treatment in hospital.

Find your nearest A&E

Treatment for hives from a GP

A GP might prescribe menthol cream, antihistamines or steroid tablets.

If hives does not go away with treatment, you may be referred to a skin specialist (dermatologist).

You cannot always prevent hives

You get hives when something causes high levels of histamine and other chemicals to be released in your skin. This is known as a trigger.

Triggers can include:

eating certain foods
contact with certain plants, animals, chemicals and latex
cold, such as cold water or wind
hot, sweaty skin from exercise, emotional stress or eating spicy food
a reaction to a medicine, insect bite or sting
scratching or pressing on your skin, such as wearing itchy or tight clothing
an infection
a problem with your immune system
water or sunlight, but this is rare

Try to find out what triggers hives for you, so you can avoid those triggers, if possible. This may help prevent an episode of hives.

Page last reviewed: 26 April 2024
Next review due: 26 April 2027