Hives: Who gets and causes
Who gets hives?
Hives are common. Anyone can get them.
What causes hives?
An allergic reaction can trigger hives. Things that 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.