Your skin sometimes speaks louder than words when something’s wrong, and hives are its way of shouting for attention. These raised, itchy welts appear when your mast cells – your body’s microscopic security guards – overreact and release histamine into your skin. The result? Those familiar red or skin-colored patches that can range from pencil-eraser size to large, map-like areas.
What’s particularly interesting about hives is their transient nature. Individual welts typically vanish within 24 hours, but new ones may emerge elsewhere, creating a moving puzzle on your skin. For some, this annoying condition lasts less than six weeks (acute urticaria), while others battle it for months (chronic urticaria) with no clear explanation.
The triggers can be surprisingly ordinary – from that handful of peanuts you ate to the cold wind on your face. Even emotional stress or a viral infection can bring them on. While antihistamines remain the first line of defense, understanding your personal triggers is the real key to keeping these unwelcome visitors at bay.
