Urticaria (hives)
Disease Information
In-Depth
Which foods commonly cause hives?
Which medications commonly cause hives?
- Penicillin
- Sulfa
- Anticonvulsant drugs
- Phenobarbital
- Aspirin
What else can cause hives?
- Scratching or stroking the skin, or wearing tight-fitting clothes that rub the skin. (called dermatographism)
- Exposure to cold air or water
- Exposure to sunlight or even light-bulb light
- Some hives recur with no known cause-this is called chronic urticaria
What is angioedema?
Angioedema is an allergic reaction that causes swelling deeper in the layers of the skin. It most commonly occurs on the hands, feet and face (lips and eyes).
