Who gets hives?
Hives are common. Anyone can get them.
What causes hives?
An allergic reaction can trigger hives. Things that trigger commonly trigger an allergic reaction include:
- Foods: Fruits (especially citrus fruits), milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, and shellfish
- Medicines
- Insect bites and stings
- Animals
- Pollen
- Touching something to which you are allergic, such as latex
- Allergy shots
Other causes of hives are:
- Infections, including colds and infections caused by some bacteria or fungi
- Some illnesses, including a type of vasculitis, lupus, and thyroid disease
- Exposure to sun (solar urticaria), heat, cold, or water
- Exercise
- Stress
- Pressure on the skin, such as from sitting too long
- Contact with chemicals
- Scratching the skin
Hives can happen within minutes of exposure to the trigger. Or you can have a delayed reaction of more than two hours.
Learn more about hives: