What are different types of hives?

Hives are an itchy rash or itchy bumps with raised welts over the affected skin. Acute hives or acute urticaria are usually caused by allergic reactions or viral infections. These types of hives due to environmental allergies, food allergy or viral infections are mostly short-lived.

Some people develop hives that last more than six weeks. These are called chronic hives or chronic urticaria. There are different types of chronic urticaria.Chronic hives are rare. About 23 out of every 10,000 adults have chronic urticaria in the United States. In addition, there are different types of chronic urticaria.

What are rare types of hives?

Most types of chronic urticaria have unknown triggers. They are not caused by an allergic reaction or a virus. Chronic urticaria is not contagious.

Chronic urticaria is grouped into two categories:chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU)andchronic inducible urticaria.

Chronic spontaneous urticaria

Chronic spontaneous urticaria is sometimes calledchronic idiopathic urticaria (CIU). When someone has chronic idiopathic urticaria, hives develop without a known trigger.

慢性诱导你ticaria

慢性诱导你ticaria (CIndU) is characterized by hives and/or angioedema. CIndU is a form of chronic urticaria that has a known trigger). The triggers can be either physical stimuli or environmental stimuli.

慢性诱导你ticaria can be further grouped as either physical urticaria or non-physical urticaria based on what causes the chronic hives. (Some of these conditions are very rare.)

Types of physical chronic urticaria (physical hives)

• Dermographismis a form of chronic hives triggered by skin friction such as rubbing, scratching or pressure. This is the most common form of CIndU.
• Delayed-pressure urticariaare chronic hives triggered by sustained pressure to the skin. Symptoms may appear 4-6 hours after contact.
• Exercise-induced urticariaare chronic hives triggered by exercise or sustained physical activity.
• Cold urticariaare chronic hives triggered by skin exposure to cold or cold water. It is typically limited to exposed skin.
• Heat urticariaare chronic hives triggered by exposure to heat.
• Solar urticaria,or solar hives, are chronic hives triggered by sun exposure to UV rays.
• Vibratory urticariaare chronic hives triggered by exposure to vibration.

Types of non-physical chronic urticaria (non-physical hives)

• Cholinergic urticariaare chronic hives triggered by active or passive body warming or excessive sweating.
• 接触荨麻疹are chronic hives triggered by skin contact from an external substance.
• Aquagenic urticariaare chronic hives triggered by direct contact with water.

If you or a loved one are dealing with hives that last for more than six weeks, make an appointment with a board-certified allergist or dermatologist. An allergist or dermatologist can help you:

• find the exact cause for your hives;
• diagnose hives;
• learn how to treat chronic hives;
• learn how to relieve itching;
• learn how to prevent hives.

More information aboutchronic hives.

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Reviewed by:
Purvi Parikh, MD, FACAAIis an adult and pediatric allergist and immunologist at Allergy and Asthma Associates of Murray Hill in New York City. She is on faculty as Clinical Assistant Professor in both departments of Medicine and Pediatrics at New York University School of Medicine.