Hives (Urticaria) Quiz
Check your symptoms and
find possible causes with AI for free
Worried about your symptoms?
Start the Hives (Urticaria) test with our free AI Symptom Checker.
This will help us personalize your assessment.
By starting the symptom checker, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use
Red rash
Rashes
Itchy
There is a sore on the side
Redness of the skin
Red skin rash all over the body
Feeling stressed
Not seeing your symptoms? No worries!
What is Hives (Urticaria)?
An itchy, allergic rash with red bumps, also known as "hives". The causes are broad, ranging from foods and medications to viral infections and bee stings. In most cases, the rash disappears within 24 hours, however medical attention is needed if there is facial swelling or breathlessness.
Treatment of Hives (Urticaria)
Treatment usually involves antihistamines to stop the allergic reaction. Severe cases (e.g. swollen lips and eyes or breathlessness) may require emergency medical care. It is important to identify and avoid the cause of the allergy in the future.
Reviewed By:
Unnati Patel, MD, MSc (Family Medicine)
Dr.Patel serves as Center Medical Director and a Primary Care Physician at Oak Street Health in Arizona. She graduated from the Zhejiang University School of Medicine prior to working in clinical research focused on preventive medicine at the University of Illinois and the University of Nevada. Dr. Patel earned her MSc in Global Health from Georgetown University, during which she worked with the WHO in Sierra Leone and Save the Children in Washington, D.C. She went on to complete her Family Medicine residency in Chicago at Norwegian American Hospital before completing a fellowship in Leadership in Value-based Care in conjunction with the Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management, where she earned her MBA. Dr. Patel’s interests include health tech and teaching medical students and she currently serves as Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Arizona School of Medicine.
Yukiko Ueda, MD (Dermatology)
Dr. Ueda graduated from the Niigata University School of Medicine and trained at the University of Tokyo Medical School. She is currently a clinical assistant professor at the Department of Dermatology, Jichi Medical University, and holds several posts in the dermatology departments at Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Komagome Hospital, University of Tokyo, and the Medical Center of Japan Red Cross Society.
Content updated on Dec 8, 2024
Following the Medical Content Editorial Policy
Was this page helpful?
Tell your friends about us.
We would love to help them too.
Think you might have
Hives (Urticaria)?
Try a symptom check testHow Ubie Can Help You
With a free 3-min Hives (Urticaria) quiz, powered by Ubie's AI and doctors, find possible causes of your symptoms.
This questionnaire is customized to your situation and symptoms, including the following personal information:
Biological Sex - helps us provide relevant suggestions for male vs. female conditions.
Age - adjusts our guidance based on any age-related health factors.
History - considers past illnesses, surgeries, family history, and lifestyle choices.
Your symptoms
Our AI
Your report
Your personal report will tell you
✔ When to see a doctor
✔︎ What causes your symptoms
✔︎ Treatment information etc.
Diseases Related to Hives (Urticaria)
FAQs
Q.
Is It Bed Bugs? Why Your Skin Is Reacting and Medical Next Steps
A.
Itchy, red bumps can be from bed bugs or from lookalikes like hives, mosquito or flea bites, contact dermatitis, or scabies, and while lines or clusters on exposed skin raise suspicion, confirmation depends more on finding live bugs or telltale stains and shells; there are several factors to consider, with key details below. For next steps, use gentle care with cold compresses, OTC hydrocortisone or an antihistamine, avoid scratching, and seek medical care if you have severe swelling, blisters, infection signs, fever, or allergic symptoms; consider a pest inspection if you find evidence of bed bugs, with more guidance below.
References:
* Reindl, M., & Elston, D. M. (2020). The medical management of bed bugs. *Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology*, *82*(6), 1481-1488.
* Poterucha, T. J., et al. (2018). Cutaneous reactions to bed bug bites: a systematic review. *Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology*, *78*(1), 162-171.
* Kolivand, M., et al. (2023). Differential diagnosis of arthropod bites and stings. *Journal of Cutaneous Medicine and Surgery*, *27*(1), 74-87.
* Doggett, S. L., et al. (2014). Bed bugs as a public health concern: a review of current science and literature. *Annual Review of Entomology*, *59*, 233-253.
* Goddard, J., & deShazo, R. W. (2009). Bed bugs (Cimex lectularius) and clinical manifestations of their bites. *JAMA*, *301*(13), 1358-1366.
Q.
Reacting to Everything? Why Your Body is Overreacting: Histamine Relief Steps
A.
Histamine intolerance can make you feel like you are reacting to everything because your body cannot clear histamine fast enough, causing skin, digestive, headache, nasal, and flushing symptoms; there are several factors to consider, and you can see more below. Short term low histamine eating, gut support, reviewing medications, cautious use of DAO or antihistamines, and stress reduction can help, but severe reactions need urgent care and look alikes like chronic hives can change the plan, so review the complete details below to choose the right next steps with your clinician.
References:
* Hrubisko, M., Danek, V., & Plzak, J. (2021). Histamine Intolerance—The More We Know the Less We Understand? A Narrative Review. *Nutrients*, *13*(7), 2419. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34201382/
* Schink, M., Naumann, A., Blaut, M., & Hammer, T. (2020). Histamine and Microbiome in Histamine Intolerance. *Metabolites*, *10*(9), 379. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32971842/
* Kovacova-Hanuskova, E., Buday, T., Gavliakova, S., Plevkova, J., & Mokry, J. (2021). Histamine, histamine intolerance and the role of the gut microbiome. *Microorganisms*, *9*(8), 1709. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34442220/
* Schnedl, W. J., & Enko, D. (2021). Histamine Intolerance Originates in the Gut. *Nutrients*, *13*(4), 1262. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33924151/
* Comas-Basté, O., Sánchez-Pérez, S., Veciana-Nogués, M. T., & Latorre-Moratalla, O. (2020). Histamine Intolerance: The Current State of the Art. *Biomolecules*, *10*(9), 1319. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32942661/
Q.
Always Inflamed? Why Your Body Overreacts to Histamine + Medically Approved Next Steps
A.
There are several factors to consider. Many “always inflamed” symptoms actually come from histamine being released too often or cleared too slowly, most commonly due to allergies or chronic hives, sometimes histamine intolerance or hormone and stress effects, and rarely mast cell disorders; see below for how each cause differs and why that matters. Medically approved next steps include getting a proper diagnosis, using second generation antihistamines when appropriate, tracking and reducing triggers, a short-term low histamine diet with professional guidance, stress and sleep support, and urgent care for breathing trouble or throat swelling. For complete guidance, decision points, and red flags that can change your next steps, see below.
References:
* San Mauro Martin I, et al. Histamine and histamine intolerance. Clin Transl Allergy. 2019 Feb 1;9:14. doi: 10.1186/s13601-019-0261-2. PMID: 30678589; PMCID: PMC6354676.
* Schnedl WJ, Enko D. Histamine Intolerance: The Current State of the Art. Biomolecules. 2021 Apr 29;11(5):622. doi: 10.3390/biom11050622. PMID: 33917892; PMCID: PMC8143336.
* Akin C. Mast Cell Activation Syndrome: A Review. Clin Rev Allergy Immunol. 2021 Oct;61(2):167-177. doi: 10.1007/s12016-021-08871-3. PMID: 34200707.
* O'Mahony L, et al. Histamine Signaling in Allergic Inflammation. Front Immunol. 2019 Jul 9;10:1537. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.01537. PMID: 31339396; PMCID: PMC6632420.
* Zirk M, et al. Treatment of Histamine Intolerance: A Systematic Review. Nutrients. 2022 Jul 28;14(15):3092. doi: 10.3390/nu14153092. PMID: 35930006; PMCID: PMC9370005.
Q.
Constant Itch? Why Cetirizine Calms Your Histamine Storm & Medical Next Steps
A.
Cetirizine calms histamine driven itch and hives by blocking H1 receptors, providing once daily, less drowsy relief and serving as a first line option for allergies and urticaria; there are several factors to consider, and the complete guidance is explained below. It does not cure the cause or replace emergency care, so seek urgent help for swelling of the lips, tongue, or throat, trouble breathing, chest tightness, or fainting, and speak with a clinician if symptoms persist beyond six weeks, itch occurs without rash, or cetirizine is not helping; key details on alternative causes, trigger control, dosing cautions in pregnancy, kidney disease, and children, and when to escalate care are outlined below.
References:
* Simons FE. Cetirizine: a second-generation H1-antihistamine for the treatment of allergic diseases. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2011 May;127(5 Suppl):S1-37. doi: 10.1016/j.jaci.2011.02.007. PMID: 21536294.
* Kostecki J, Hadas E, Reich A. Itch: A Histamine-Dependent or -Independent Phenomenon? Clin Rev Allergy Immunol. 2019 Jun;56(3):364-375. doi: 10.1007/s12016-018-8724-4. PMID: 30267156.
* Ständer S, Weisshaar E, Mettang T, et al. European guideline for the management of chronic pruritus. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2018 Jul;32(7):1066-1083. doi: 10.1111/jdv.14794. PMID: 29676571.
* Ma Z, Ma H, Zhang C, et al. Efficacy and safety of cetirizine for treatment of chronic urticaria: a systematic review. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2021 Jun;35(6):1273-1282. doi: 10.1111/jdv.17066. PMID: 33580517.
* Tey HL, Yosipovitch G. Chronic Pruritus: A Review of Differential Diagnosis and Treatment. Am J Clin Dermatol. 2019 Feb;20(1):103-118. doi: 10.1007/s40257-018-0389-7. PMID: 30478799.
Q.
Is it possible to get an eyelid rash caused by hives around the eyes?
A.
Yes, it is possible to develop an eyelid rash caused by hives (urticaria) around the eyes. Hives can lead to localized swelling and redness, which may manifest as a rash on the eyelids. Understanding the causes and characteristics of this condition is important for effective management.
References:
Hine AM, Waldman RA, Grzybowski A, Grant-Kels JM. Allergic disorders of the eyelid. Clin Dermatol. 2023 Jul-Aug;41(4):476-480. doi: 10.1016/j.clindermatol.2023.08.002. Epub 2023 Sep 15. PMID: 37574152.
Guin JD. Eyelid dermatitis: experience in 203 cases. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2002 Nov;47(5):755-65. doi: 10.1067/mjd.2002.122736. PMID: 12399770.
Moreira J, Gonçalves R, Coelho P, Maio T. Eyelid Dermatitis Caused by Allergic Contact to Acrylates in Artificial Nails. Dermatol Reports. 2017 May 29;9(1):7198. doi: 10.4081/dr.2017.7198. PMID: 28603598; PMCID: PMC5452630.
Q.
How can I tell the difference between hives and eczema by looking at pictures?
A.
Hives and eczema are two distinct skin conditions that can appear similar but have different characteristics. Hives are typically raised blotches of red skin that are very itchy and occur all over the body. Eczema, on the other hand, is generally scaly red patches of skin at stereotypical places on the body.
References:
Schettini N, Corazza M, Schenetti C, Pacetti L, Borghi A. Urticaria: A Narrative Overview of Differential Diagnosis. Biomedicines. 2023 Apr 4;11(4):1096. doi: 10.3390/biomedicines11041096. PMID: 37189714; PMCID: PMC10136346.
Sohn A, Frankel A, Patel RV, Goldenberg G. Eczema. Mt Sinai J Med. 2011 Sep-Oct;78(5):730-9. doi: 10.1002/msj.20289. PMID: 21913202.
Frazier W, Bhardwaj N. Atopic Dermatitis: Diagnosis and Treatment. Am Fam Physician. 2020 May 15;101(10):590-598. PMID: 32412211.
Ubie is supervised by 50+ medical experts worldwide
Our symptom checker AI is continuously refined with input from experienced physicians, empowering them to make more accurate diagnoses.
Ubie is recognized by healthcare and tech leaders
“World’s Best Digital
Health Companies”
Newsweek 2024
“Best With AI”
Google Play Best of 2023
“Best in Class”
Digital Health Awards 2023 (Quarterfinalist)
Which is the best Symptom Checker?
Ubie’s symptom checker demonstrated a Top-10 hit accuracy of 71.6%, surpassing the performance of several leading symptom checkers in the market, which averaged around 60% accuracy in similar assessments.
Link to full study:
https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2024.08.29.24312810v1References
Saini SS, Kaplan AP. Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria: The Devil's Itch. J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract. 2018 Jul-Aug;6(4):1097-1106. doi: 10.1016/j.jaip.2018.04.013. PMID: 30033911; PMCID: PMC6061968.
https://www.jaci-inpractice.org/article/S2213-2198(18)30290-3/fulltextRadonjic-Hoesli S, Hofmeier KS, Micaletto S, Schmid-Grendelmeier P, Bircher A, Simon D. Urticaria and Angioedema: an Update on Classification and Pathogenesis. Clin Rev Allergy Immunol. 2018 Feb;54(1):88-101. doi: 10.1007/s12016-017-8628-1. PMID: 28748365.
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12016-017-8628-1Maurer M, Fluhr JW, Khan DA. How to Approach Chronic Inducible Urticaria. J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract. 2018 Jul-Aug;6(4):1119-1130. doi: 10.1016/j.jaip.2018.03.007. PMID: 30033913.
https://www.jaci-inpractice.org/article/S2213-2198(18)30265-4/fulltextAntia C, Baquerizo K, Korman A, Bernstein JA, Alikhan A. Urticaria: A comprehensive review: Epidemiology, diagnosis, and work-up. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2018 Oct;79(4):599-614. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2018.01.020. PMID: 30241623.
https://www.jaad.org/article/S0190-9622(18)30139-7/fulltextSaini S, Shams M, Bernstein JA, Maurer M. Urticaria and Angioedema Across the Ages. J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract. 2020 Jun;8(6):1866-1874. doi: 10.1016/j.jaip.2020.03.030. Epub 2020 Apr 13. PMID: 32298850.
https://www.jaci-inpractice.org/article/S2213-2198(20)30329-9/fulltext