Managing Hives in Kids
Skin ConditionsHives

How to Manage Hives in Kids

How to Manage Hives in Kids
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Updated on February 17, 2026
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Hives are very common in kids and can occur for several reasons, ranging from allergies to infections. “Many, if not most, children will experience hives at least once in their life,” says Ashanti Woods, MD, an attending pediatrician at Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore. Here’s everything parents should know about managing them.

What Do Hives Look Like?

Hives in children look no different from those in adults. They’re simply red, raised blotches or welts that can appear anywhere on the skin.

Fortunately, they’re not contagious, and they can disappear as quickly as they appear — usually within 24 hours, says Adam Friedman, MD, a professor and the chair of dermatology at the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences in Washington, DC.

Similar to adults, hives in kids occur in response to some trigger or allergen, often appearing within two hours of exposure.

 Common allergens include foods, spices, fragrances, topical products like soaps and lotions, pet dander, medications (commonly antibiotics), and insect bites, Dr. Woods says. Other causes include infections (like strep throat or many childhood viruses like the common cold), illnesses, stress, physical pressure, extreme temperature changes, exercise, and scratching.

But kids are more likely to experience hives due to food-related causes than adults are. “It’s more common that kids’ hives are related to food than adult hives, making it more likely that kids will require allergy testing,” says Sarina Elmariah, MD, MPH, PhD, a board-certified dermatologist and an assistant professor at the University of California in San Francisco.

Milk, eggs, peanuts, wheat, and soy tend to be some of the most common food allergens, Dr. Friedman adds. Because kids often outgrow food allergies, they’ll probably also outgrow the accompanying hives.

When to Worry About Hives in Children

It’s natural to worry if you see hives on your child. “They can be really big welts, which can scare parents,” says Anthony M. Rossi, MD, a dermatologist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City.

In some cases, there’s merit to that worry. After all, hives in some kids require emergency care. A food allergy can trigger a severe allergic reaction called anaphylaxis, which can be life-threatening. To recognize anaphylaxis, look for symptoms such as difficulty breathing, swollen throat, rapid heartbeat, and dizziness or fainting.

But another condition called angioedema also requires emergency care. This condition causes the eyes, lips, hands, feet, and genitals to swell, which could also cause breathing issues. “If your child is wheezing or having trouble breathing, you need to seek immediate medical care,” Dr. Rossi says. At the hospital, your child will need an epinephrine injection to help treat it, Woods says. It may also be wise to consult with a pediatric allergist to learn the triggers.

Can You Treat Hives at Home?

If your child has hives that aren’t accompanied by the above symptoms, it’s okay to treat them at home. The main goal will be to help your child feel better, as hives can be extremely itchy and uncomfortable. The hives themselves will usually go away on their own and won’t pose further risk to the child in the absence of those other symptoms. Here are some home remedies you might try.

Take Over-the-Counter Antihistamines

To help quell the itch and provide some relief, the best defense is an over-the-counter antihistamine like diphenhydramine (Benadryl) or cetirizine (Zyrtec). That should block or prevent the release of a chemical called histamine that’s largely responsible for the reaction itself and the itching that accompanies it.

 Dosage of antihistamines is based on weight and age, so follow label instructions, Rossi notes.

Try to Prevent Scratching

Scratching is a natural response, Dr. Elmariah says, but it can cause hives to break, putting your child at risk of infection. To prevent this from happening, you can dress your child in clothes that cover the hives so they’re less likely to scratch the itch. Another itch-buster is cold therapy. Place a cool washcloth or cold pack on the hives to help reduce the itchiness (unless their hives are triggered by cold temperatures).

Do Proper Bath Care

To further relieve itching, the American Academy of Dermatology recommends bathing your child in lukewarm water and colloidal oatmeal, limiting the bath to the recommended time on the package.

 But avoid bubble baths and scented lotion. After bathing, moisturize your child’s skin with a gentle cream or lotion. You might also want to dress your child in loose-fitting clothes and adjust the temperature in your house, as heat and cold, in some cases, can aggravate hives.

As you’re trying these remedies, take notes. These will come in handy if your child develops hives again. Write down what time you noticed the hives, what activities your child was doing, and what your child was eating over the previous day, which may help you identify a trigger, Rossi says. You should also note how you treated the hives, how your child responded to that treatment, and how long the hives lasted. If you think you’ve pinpointed a potential trigger, make sure your child isn’t exposed to that trigger again.

When to See a Healthcare Provider

If your child continues to get hives, make an appointment with your pediatrician. They will want to know the specifics about what’s been happening with your child, including what medications you’ve tried and how they’ve worked, whether you’ve been able to identify a trigger for the hives, and how often your child is getting hives.

 You should also call your child’s provider if any single hive or welt lasts longer than 24 hours without changing.

Depending on what that information reveals, your pediatrician may send you to an allergist to test for a food allergy. Treatment may then include antihistamines, a doctor’s first line of defense. For more involved cases of hives, the doctor may prescribe oral steroids like prednisone (Deltasone) or simply treat an underlying illness, Woods says.

Hives can be an alarming condition to see on your child. But take a deep breath. “Most hives aren’t dangerous and will resolve on their own,” Woods says.

The Takeaway

  • Hives in kids are very common and can appear as red, raised, and blotchy spots or welts on the skin.
  • The most common causes of hives in kids are allergies, infections, and environmental factors like itchy clothing or extreme temperatures.
  • Generally, hives go away on their own, and you can help remedy the itchiness by giving your child an OTC antihistamine or an oatmeal bath.
  • If your child’s hives don’t go away within 24 hours or they develop symptoms like difficulty breathing or a rapid heartbeat, seek emergency medical care.
EDITORIAL SOURCES
Everyday Health follows strict sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content, outlined in our editorial policy. We use only trustworthy sources, including peer-reviewed studies, board-certified medical experts, patients with lived experience, and information from top institutions.
Resources
  1. Hives (Urticaria). Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. October 1, 2025.
  2. Hives (Urticaria). Seattle Children’s. February 2021.
  3. Hives in Children. Cleveland Clinic. March 3, 2022.
  4. Food Allergy. Mayo Clinic.
  5. Hives: How to Get Relief at Home. American Academy of Dermatology Association.
  6. Hives and Angioedema. Mayo Clinic.
  7. Hives: Self-Care. American Academy of Dermatology. February 10, 2022.
  8. Colloidal Oatmeal: What Is It and What Are Its Benefits? Cleveland Clinic. January 23, 2025.
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Michelle Seguin, MD

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Michelle Seguin, MD, is a board-certified family medicine, lifestyle medicine, and certified functional medicine physician (IFMCP). She is a practicing physician at Root Functional Medicine, a leading telemedicine practice specializing in personalized, root-cause care.

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