Six Common Questions About Urticaria: What You Should Know About Hives
Is Sudden Red Itchy Skin Urticaria?
Typical urticaria appears as raised red or pale wheals with clear borders and strong itching. A single wheal usually fades within 24 hours and does not leave scars, but new wheals may continue to appear.
Urticaria is an immune or allergic reaction rather than an infectious disease. It is not contagious.
Red wheals · Itching · Food triggers · Medication triggers · Cold or heat · Stress
Why Does Urticaria Happen?
The causes can be complex. Common triggers include seafood, nuts, milk, eggs, antibiotics, aspirin, infections, cold exposure, heat, pressure, sunlight, emotional stress, and autoimmune factors.
About half of patients may not find a clear trigger. In clinical practice, doctors may also distinguish cold urticaria, cholinergic urticaria, and other physical urticaria types based on symptom patterns.
- Seafood, nuts, milk, or eggs
- Antibiotics or aspirin
- Infection
- Cold, heat, pressure, or sunlight
- Stress or autoimmune factors
- Avoid known triggers
- Wear loose cotton clothing
- Do not scratch
- Avoid hot water washing
- Keep a symptom and diet diary
How Is Urticaria Treated?
Second-generation non-sedating antihistamines are usually the first-line treatment. Severe acute attacks or chronic refractory urticaria may require dose adjustment, combination treatment, or biologic therapy under medical supervision.
"Do not judge urticaria only by how the skin looks. Recurrent or severe hives should be managed with professional guidance."