Diagnosis

Your doctor will do a physical exam and ask you a number of questions to try to understand what might be causing your signs and symptoms. He or she may also ask you to keep a diary to keep track of:

• Your activities
• Any medications, herbal remedies or supplements you take
• What you eat and drink
• Where hives appear and how long it takes a welt to fade
• Whether your hives come with painful swelling

If your physical exam and medical history suggest your hives are caused by an underlying problem, your doctor may have you undergo testing, such as blood tests or skin tests.