If you’ve experienced a sudden outbreak of itchy, raised bumps or patches on your skin, you’re likely familiar with hives, also called urticaria. About 20% of people get hives at some point. Hives can be alarming, but they’re not contagious, and they usually aren’t serious. Of course, this doesn’t make them any less itchy or uncomfortable.
Hives often resolve on their own. When they don’t, they often can be managed with a combination of nonprescription medications and lifestyle measures. Some hives may require stronger treatments or even emergency care in some situations.
With hives, a skin reaction causes raised patches to appear suddenly. These welts are often very itchy and can vary in size, sometimes joining together to form larger areas of swelling. On white skin, hives typically appear pink or red. On Black or brown skin, they may appear slightly lighter or darker than your natural skin color.
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