WOMAN'S WORLD (4.24.24) Stress Hives Can Be Itchy and Embarrassing — Here’s How to Speed Relief and Block Flare-Ups
- Tina Gomez
- May 16
- 1 min read
Stress hives can be uncomfortable, but in most cases, they’re not a major cause for concern. The hives will usually clear up on their own within a day or two. For some people, though, stress hives may continue to flare up off and on over time. If you’re still seeing hives after six weeks, you may be dealing with chronic urticaria.
If your hives haven’t fully subsided after a week, or they’re interfering with your day-to-day life, let your doctor know. “Stress hives should be addressed if they cause severe personal or occupational disability, and especially if they persist for longer than 6 weeks,” says Quynh-Giao Sartor, MD, a board-certified dermatologist with Westlake Dermatology in Houston, TX. Your doctor may want to rule out other possible causes for your hives, such as an allergic reaction or contact dermatitis from a new skincare product.
