Urticaria is a condition of the skin in which very itchy lesions develop. These lesions are often referred to as hives. Their appearance is alike to a mosquito bite, with a raised paler central area and surrounding redness. The lesions of urticaria can be tiny or very large, affect a single part of the body or multiple areas and last minutes or hours.

Many people who develop urticaria also develop swelling of the deeper tissues. This is often uncomfortable and may take a few days to resolve. This swelling is known as angioedema and can be dangerous when it affects the airways.

Urticaria and angioedema usually resolve without leaving any marks or scars on the skin. Very painful lesions and changes in skin colour or scarring after lesions resolve are not ‘typical’ and should be assessed by your allergist.