Urticaria
Symptoms
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Itching - Swelling of the surface of the skin into red- or skin-colored welts (called wheals) with clearly defined edges
The welts may get bigger, spread, and join together to form larger areas of flat, raised skin.
They can also change shape, disappear, and reappear within minutes or hours.
The welts tend to start suddenly and go away quickly. When you press the center of a red welt, it turns white. This is called blanching.
Signs and tests
Your doctor can tell if you have hives by looking at your skin.
If you have a history of an allergy, then the diagnosis is even more obvious.
Occasionally, skin or blood tests are done to confirm that you had an allergic reaction and to test for the substance that caused the allergic response.
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