If you apply pressure to a hive, it will temporarily lose its color. They can be as small as a pencil eraser or as big as a dinner plate. When hives occur deeper in the skin and swelling occurs, this is called angioedema . The areas involved are usually the lips, eyelids, or genitals. Hives are very common.
Women have urticaria almost twice as often as men.
There are two types of urticaria, defined by how long the attacks last and how often they occur. In cases of acute urticaria, the cause often can be identified. If you have hives, it is important to discuss with your dermatologist all the products you have been using in order to help the dermatologist determine the cause. Infections can also cause hives. Respiratory infections caused by viruses are a common cause of hives in children.