Urticariais the medical term for hives.
Sometimes hives are confused for other skin conditions such aseczemaorrosacea, but their appearance and cause set them apart.
There are specific characteristics that help you identify hives.
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For instance, they often have well-defined borders.
Hives also tend to cause itching and discomfort that’s worse at night.
An abnormal immune response causes blood vessels to leak fluid into the middle layer of skin, called thedermis.
Raimo Suhonen / DermNet / CC BY-NC-ND
Hives are the result.
They can change shape, move around, meld, disappear, and reappear over short periods of time.
Hives most often appear in the evening or early morning just after waking.
Get our printable guide for your next healthcare provider’s appointment to help you ask the right questions.
What Causes Hives at Night?
Hives are sometimes worse at night.
Hives may also seem itchier at night, when there are fewer distractions.
Acute vs.
Acute hives last for less than six weeks, while chronic hives persist beyond six weeks.
Acute urticariais more common in children and young adults.The majority areidiopathic, meaning that the cause is unknown.
Chronic urticariais often idiopathic and can recur over the course of months or years.
In half of the cases, no cause was found.
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Symptoms by pop in
The look and location of hives can vary based on the cause.
The appearance can sometimes give a clue as to the cause but not always.
Anaphylaxis affects many organ systems at once and can be life-threatening if not treated as an emergency.
Hives are one of the possible features of anaphylaxis and will typically be severe.
Most cases will resolve within a few hours to several days.
If they last for more than a week or worsen, see a doctor as soon as possible.
Get our printable guide for your next healthcare provider’s appointment to help you ask the right questions.
Symptoms include a raised, discolored, itchy, welt-like rash with well-defined borders.
The location, timing, and look of the rash can provide clues as to what is causing it.
They are often accompanied byangioedema, a similar condition that causes the swelling of deeper tissues.
This causes blood vessels to dilate and leak fluid into the middle layers of skin.
Sometimes there is no known cause.
This depends on the cause.
Hives often go away on their own spontaneously and quickly.
Other cases may be persistent or recurrent.
Chronic urticaria is defined as daily hives lasting for more than six weeks.
Depending on the severity, your doctor may prescribe over-the-counter or prescription antihistamines to reduce itchiness and swelling.
Immunosuppressants like cyclosporine are also sometimes used off-label.
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