What Are Hives?

Hives are allergic skin reaction that causes raised, red, itchy welts on the surface of the skin. Welts can appear on any part of the body and depending on severity they can spread, increase in size and join together to cover large areas of skin.

They are often caused by allergic reactions to a variety of substances. Stress, sun exposure, pet dander, meditations, pollens or illnesses can often trigger flareups. In most cases hives don’t leave any long-lasting or permanent marks and typically require minimal treatment. See our treatment video for more information.