After eating some big, juicy strawberries, you decide to walk to
your friend's house. Just as you're turning the corner, you
notice reddish bumps and patches on your arms and chest. What
are these itchy welts or blotches on your skin? Should you turn
around and head home? What Are Hives? Hives are pink or red
bumps or slightly raised patches of skin. Sometimes, they have a
pale center. Hives usually itch, but they also can burn or
sting. Hives can occur anywhere on the body and vary in size and
shape. They can be small like a mosquito bite or big like a
dinner plate. Hives also might look like rings or groups of
rings joined together. Hives can appear in clusters and might
change locations in a matter of hours. A bunch of hives might be
on a person's face, then those might go away. Later, more may
appear on a person's arms. Hives are common — between 10% and
25% of people get them at least once in their lives. They are
usually harmless, though they occasionally can be a sign of a
serious allergic reaction. (S