Hives rashes usually get better within a few minutes to a few days. You can often treat hives yourself.
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
- 1: White skin with hives rash.
- 2: White skin with hives rash.
- 3: Hives rash on light brown skin.
- 4: Hives rash on light brown skin.
- 5: Hives rash on light brown skin.
- 6: Dark brown skin with hives rash.
Detailed image description, image 1.
This image shows the hives rash on the leg and hand of a child with white skin. The rash does not appear on their groin, in the top left of the photo.
The skin on most of their thigh is pink, raised and bumpy. At the side of their thigh, close to their hand, are deep creases in the skin.
Their hand is pink with some red patches between their thumb and finger and on their fingertips.
Blue striped material is in the bottom right corner of the photo.
Detailed image description, image 2.
This image shows the hives rash on the leg, arm and hand of a person with white skin.
Small, slightly raised pink spots cover their leg. Some spots are close to others and some are further apart.
The same spotty rash spreads along the side of their arm and across the top of their hand. The knuckles and fingertips are red.
The person's black T-shirt is at the top of the image. Their arm and hand are resting on their leg.
Detailed image description, image 3.
This image shows the hives rash on the knee of a person with light brown skin. The skin is slightly darker brown where the rash is.
There are many skin-coloured bumps on and around the knee which vary in size from around 2mm to 1cm. The larger bumps look like blisters. Some bumps are very close together in groups.
There's a blue background in the top right of the photo.
Detailed image description, image 4.
This image shows the hives rash on the cheek, chin and neck of a person with light brown skin.
There are about 50 raised bumps in different shapes and sizes.
Some of the bumps are small circles and others are larger, uneven shapes. Most are close together in groups, but some are further apart. The bumps are a lighter brown than the surrounding skin and look puffy, like blisters.
In the lower left of the photo is the person's yellow T-shirt and black necklace.
Detailed image description, image 5.
This image shows the hives rash on the thigh and hip of a child with light brown skin.
There are about 20 patches of pink skin in different shapes and sizes. The patches are mainly flat and vary in size from around 1cm to 8cm.
Some patches are close to or join others, while some are further apart with normal skin surrounding them.
Some patches are bright pink. Others are lighter pink with a darker pink border around the patch.
There's a long, dark pink patch spreading from their groin to their hip.
Detailed image description, image 6.
This image shows the hives rash on the thigh of a person with dark brown skin.
There are many raised patches of skin in different shapes and sizes very close to each other. They range from around 5mm to 5cm.
The skin near the left knee also has raised lines, like scars. The skin on the inside of the thigh is smooth.
The rash is the same colour as the person's skin tone.
There is a black background on the left side of the photo.
If you're not sure it's hives
Look at 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.
Non-urgent advice: See a GP if:
- the symptoms 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)
Immediate action required: Call 999 or go to A&E now if:
- you're wheezing
- you get tightness in your chest or throat
- you have trouble breathing or talking
- your mouth, face, lips, tongue or throat start swelling
You could be having a serious allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) and may need immediate treatment in hospital.
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: 13 April 2021
Next review due: 13 April 2024