Things to know:

• Raised itchy bumps (red or skin-colored) and blanching are some of the common symptoms of hives.
• Blanching is when a red hive turns white when it was pressed from the center.
• Hives can appear on any area of the body, can change shape, move around and reappear in a short span of time.
• There are two types of hives, one are short-lived (acute) and the other are long-term (chronic).
• None of them is actually life-threatening. However, if you experience any swelling in the throat or any other sign that disturbs breathing then you must immediately consult a doctor and look for emergency care.
• Chronic hives normally appear daily for more than six weeks and are inherently itchy. Each of them lasts within a day’s time and do not bruise or leave any scar.

Common triggers include:

Rubbing or scratching – the most frequent cause of physical urticaria.

Pressure or constriction – Also known as delayed pressure urticaria can appear in body parts under constant pressure like the belt area, soles of your feet etc.

Change in temperature –

Cold urticaria can be caused by sudden exposure to low temperatures followed by re-warming. Higher body temperature urticaria is caused due to a spike in the body temperature after work-outs, hot showers or anxiety.

Solar urticaria occurs within a few minutes after excessive sun exposure.

In cases, where hives show up for more than a month’s time or if they have reappeared over time, one must see a skin specialist or an allergist. The specialist will study the history of your health and conduct a few physical exams to determine the causes and suggest treatments or therapies for you. Treatments for hives range from cool compresses to prescription antihistamines and other drugs, such as anti-inflammatory medications and medications that may modify your immune system and relieve itching.

Also, where vasculitis may be the cause, your doctor will conduct a skin biopsy and send it to a dermatopathologist for examination under a microscope. Vasculitis is the inflammation of the blood vessels. These changes can disturb blood flow and result in organ and tissue damage, if not diagnosed timely.

Treatments include:

• Antihistamines
• Leukotriene Receptor Antagonists
• Mast Cell Stabilizers
• Biologics