One of the best ways to find out if you have hives (besides seeing a doctor of course) might be to compare your symptoms with others. Here are pictures of hives on the skin to help you along. Urticaria is another name for hives, which can show up anywhere on the body. People of all ages can get hives including babies and small children.
Being able to recognize what hives look like will help you move forward with diagnosis, and prevent future breakouts for you or a loved one. As the saying goes “A picture is worth a thousand words”. Let’s get started with our 26 pictures of hives on the skin!
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This content was created for informational purposes only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health providers with any questions you may have regarding any medical condition or concern.
1. Hives
This arm is inflamed with small bumps or welts of hives. Although this is a rendered image, I found it to be beneficial as a visual representation of urticaria.
2. Hiving Arm
You can see that this person’s arm is inflamed with multiple welts caused by hives.
3. Left Arm Blotchy Hives
This person’s arm is covered with blotches caused by her urticaria.
4. Post-Waxing Hives On Leg
Hives can be caused by a multitude of triggers, in this case, it was after this person got their legs waxed.
5. Right Leg Skin Patterns From Hives
Hives commonly cause irregular patterns and can move around to different areas of the skin.
6. Left Leg Raised Welts From Hives
Another picture of hives from the same user as number 5. This photo shows additional details of her welts.
7. “Ouch” Hive Welts
I am not sure how they scratched their arm to cause these welts, maybe dermatographism, which we will define further down the list.
8. Swelling Over Knees
The swelling is taking over the knees and part of the shins.
9. Excessive Wheals From Hives
You will notice large wheals on this person’s thigh; the raised swelling is very red and blotchy. I am curious about what caused such a reaction.
10. Cold Exposure Can Cause Urticaria
Exposure to cold weather can give you hives, as seen in this photo on the hand.
These hives developed from being exposed to a frigid environment.
11. Cold Exposure Hives Continued
Here is the other hand which shows hives and welts from cold exposure.
12. Hives From Cold Moving Up Arm
From another angle, you can see that the hives are moving up the arm from the person’s cold exposure.
13. Hives On Wrist
The underside of the wrist is showing us hives in great detail. As you can see the individual hives as well as swelling and redness in the area.
14. Urticaria Chronica
This image shows us Chronic Urticaria (CU) which has surfaced on the abdomen (trunk) and chest area.
15. Pruritic Erythema (Skin Redness)
Although not titled as “hives”, skin redness (pruritic erythema) root cause could be hives; as it is just the medical term to describe the redness of the skin.
16. Round Red Patches On Hand
Also classified as pruritic erythema, this image shows a hand with round, red patches.
17. Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria
These hives were classified as “Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria” and have taken over the trunk, stomach, and ribs of this individual.
18. Hives On Feet
Dark red hives are noticed on the top of the foot, including on the toes. This solidifies that hives really can show up anywhere on your body.
19. Hives On Feet Continued
Here is another angle showing the hives on both feet to include all but the last digits (pinky toes).
20. Left Foot Closeup Urticaria
Deep red colored hives on the top of the foot closeup.
21. “Physical Urticaria”
Long scratches of hives on the skin running down the forearm are seen in this image.
22. “Physical Urticaria – Dermatographism”
This condition of dermographia develops hives when the skin is scratched.
The Cleveland Clinic defines this condition as: “Dermatographism is a common, benign skin condition. People who have this condition develop welts or a localized hive-like reaction when they scratch their skin. It can also happen when the skin is exposed to pressure or rubbing.”
This condition is also called skin writing, dermographia, or “dermatographic urticaria”.
23. Hives Covering Forearm And Palm
This right arm is showing classic hive symptoms of welts, and redness, and not of a specific shape or location.
24. Chronic Idiopathic Urticaria
Chronic Idiopathic Urticaria (CIU) means that there is not a known cause/or is spontaneous.
25. Large Wheals Caused By Hives
The underside of this forearm is showing very large raised wheals as well as smaller hives in the surrounding area.
26. Hives On Left Arm
These hives vary in size and shape just below the wrist, and were caused by exposure to grass.
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27. Hives on Trunk
This image is described by the ower as acute viral urticaria. There are many blotchy wheals around the belly button that spread to the back.
28. Skin Writing Urticaria
Skin writing urticaria happens when an object touches the skin and irritates it. This dermatographic urticaria was completed by using the tip of an empty ink pen.
29. Urticaria Pigmentosa
Urticaria pigmentosa is in the hives’ family. According to MedlinePlus, this condition produces itchy hives from the skin rubbing on itself or something else. This image looks as if the person was sitting down and the skin was touching itself, causing hives.
30. Urticaria from Viral Infection
These stomach hives show elevated plaques of skin. The suspected cause, in this case, was a virus infection.
31. Hives on the Back
This person had an allergic reaction which resulted in hives all over their back and shoulders.
32. Forearm Hives and Welt
Although hard to see, this forearm shows raised welts from some sort of allergic reaction.
33. Urticaria Annulare on Palm
According to NCBI, this condition causes urticaria like papules. This was the palm of a 60-year-old gentleman, the rash was itchy, but disappeared in twelve hours on its own.
34. Hives on Woman’s Back
The back and arms of this lady show hives and raised welts all over, in great detail.
35. Cholinergic Urticaria
This picture is showing cholinergic urticaria welts on the trunk. According to Medscape, cholinergic urticaria is also called “heat bumps” which may be caused by heat or sweat.
Final Thoughts
Hopefully, you now have a better understanding of what hives on the skin look like and how they can spring up anywhere on the body.
Next, be sure to check out the 11 Top Causes for Hives on Skin, to learn more about hives (urticaria) or the Top-Rated Hives Treatments on Amazon to find the best products to use with hives.
Do you have pictures of hives that you would like to share? If so, please reach out to me (Chris) at: admin@allergypreventions.com
