Urticaria (hives) is characterised by pink or white raised areas of the skin resembling nettle rash which are usually itchy.

• About 20%¹ of people will be affected during their live time.
• In chronic urticaria the rash can last for 6-12 months. 

Cause

• Caused by the release of histamine.
• Allergy is not a common cause with specific triggers often not found. 
• It may be triggered by contact with an allergen e.g. specific foods, sun exposure. 
  

Treatment

If the trigger is known, avoidance is the best management.

The action of treatment is to suppress the symptoms rather than provide a cure.

• Antihistamine tablets: To block the effects of the histamine.
• Oral steroids: For severe flares of acute/chronic urticaria.
• Immunosupressants: In severely affected patients not responding to the above.

^{1 https://www.britishskinfoundation.org.uk/urticaria-and-angioedema}