COPING WITH Hives

Urticaria is a raised, itchy rash, usually allergic but not serious, says Dr Gill Jenkins

- Dr Gill Jenkins

Urticaria has many names, including hives, weals, welts and nettle rash. You will notice raised red bumps or larger flat areas called plaques. They start suddenly as an itchy or stinging rash, which can move and change shape anywhere across the body.

Bumps can also occur in the mouth, throat or ears, or on the tongue, and last from a few hours to a day before they fade.

A similar, but more serious condition, called angioedema, occurs with swelling under the skin, and is more often around the face, eyes and lips, as well as the genital area. It can affect the tongue, lips, throat or lungs, causing breathing difficulty.

The cause of hives and angioedema is a release of histamine, a body chemical produced by specialised cells in the blood system. It occurs in response to contact with chemicals or other perceived threats to the body.