If you’ve noticed itchy or raised bumps appearing on your skin, only to disappear within 24 hours, you may have experienced allergic reaction hives, or immunologic contact urticaria. Hives can develop when the body releases histamine. Histamine is an inflammatory chemical that protects you from infection. But sometimes your body releases histamine when there’s no real threat. This happens during an allergic reaction.
Allergic reaction hives can appear on any part of the body and cover both large and small areas of skin – depending on the severity of the reaction. Usually, the longer a person is in contact with an allergen the more severe their hives are.
Healthcare providers tend to treat allergic reaction hives with antihistamines. But treatments can differ depending on severity. Anything that you’re sensitized to has the potential to cause hives. But if you have an allergy, avoiding your allergen can be an effective way to prevent hives and other allergy symptoms from developing.