What Is Urticaria?
3. What Do Hives Look Like?
Hives appear as swollen bumps on the skin with surrounding skin appearing red. When pressed, the center of the hive turns white in a process known as blanching. The bumps or plaques show up suddenly and are usually caused by external stimuli or triggers. The body reacts to these stimuli by producing histamine, and in response to this chemical, blood plasma is released, forming hives.
In addition to their appearance, hives cause itching, burning or stinging. It is not uncommon for several small patches of urticaria to spread and connect into larger sections of hives with persistent scratching. Therefore, it is best to avoid itching and scratching. Instead, work with an allergist to determine known triggers, so you can avoid them in the future, reducing the risk of another outbreak.
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