Hives can sometimes be a symptom of or be mistaken for other skin problems. Similarly, certain conditions and other things can trigger hives. The following are related to hives for at least one of these reasons:

• Allergies Acute hives (hives that go away quickly) oftentimes occur as part of an allergic reaction. The trigger could be certain foods, medicines, fabrics, pollen, animals, or insect bites. They can appear anywhere on the body. Sometimes they’ll appear within minutes of exposure to the allergen, and other times they may not appear until hours later. (3)
• Exercise Some people experience hives during physical activity. Exercise-induced hives are oftentimes accompanied by flushed skin, itchiness, and difficulty breathing. (18)
• Psoriasis This common skin condition results in red patches in areas where skin cells build up. The irritated area might look like hives, but one way to tell between them is to look for silvery scales on the skin, which is a feature of psoriasis, but not hives. (19)
• Stress Stress can sometimes manifest itself as hives on the body. (3) If you’ve experienced hives as a result of allergies, you’re more likely to see them pop up during stressful times. (20)
• Cellulitis This potentially serious bacterial infection is marked by red, swollen skin that feels warm and painful. Be careful not to brush off symptoms of cellulitis as hives. Cellulitis can become life threatening if left untreated. Be on the lookout for a fever and a rash that’s spreading quickly. (21)
• Irritated Skin A mild case of hives will look very similar to irritated skin. How can you tell the difference? Track how long the irritation sticks around. Hives usually go away within 24 hours, though new hives may take their place. (22)
• Eczema Eczema, a chronic skin condition that generally begins at infancy, also can be mistaken for hives. A key difference is where the rash appears. Eczema tends to occur on the face, elbows, and knees and may look scaly, whereas hives can occur anywhere on the body. (23)
• Rosacea Rosacea typically appears on the face and looks a lot like acne. The red bumps are different from hives in that they may contain pus, and your skin may feel warm and tender. (24)

More than 50 percent of cases of chronic hives are believed to occur alongside an autoimmune disease. (25) The following autoimmune diseases can trigger chronic hives:

• Type 1 Diabetes Long-lasting chronic hives could be an early indicator of type 1 diabetes. (26)
• Lupus It’s not very likely, but lupus can cause hives, possibly because of the existence of certain antibodies, sunlight, or response to some medications. Hives typically will go away within 24 hours, but if they last longer, it could be a condition called urticarial vasculitis. (27)

Hives are an extremely common immune response that can affect anyone, developing in around 1 in 5 people at some point. Hives appear as red or skin-colored welts that feel itchy, annoying, and occasionally painful.

Keeping track of what might trigger hives for you — including (but not limited to) stress, certain foods, animals, or medications — can be key in preventing them. Hives often last 24 hours, so an OTC antihistamine or cold therapy can help, but see a doctor about long-lasting or multiple hives along with breathing problems, as they may need to prescribe a steroid medication.