Hives is a common skin disorder that bother about a fifth of the population at some point in their lives. Hives are caused by the release of histamine under the skin, causing a fluid leak that results in the itchy, unsightly, burning hives to appear anywhere on the body. They can be chronic – lasting for more than six weeks, or they can be a one-time occurrence – acute hives. Most often, the cause of the hives isn’t figured out. But that doesn’t make them any easier to live with. The itching is intense, the appearance can make you very self-conscience, and burning hives can also be a little painful. But intensely burning hives are not normal and can indicate a slightly different problem.

Angioedema Can Cause Burning Hives.

Angioedema is similar to hives in many ways. But the most significant difference is that the swelling of angioedema is beneath the skin as opposed to at the surface as in common hives. It causes more painful, burning hives rashes and is more commonly found around the eyes and lips. It can also commonly be found in the hands, feet, and throat. The burning hives rash may form a line and spread out in some cases, also unlike common hives. If irritated by excessive scratching, or other physical factors, the swelling will get deeper and the pain more intense.

Urticarial Vasculitus Can Also Cause Burning Hives

The causes of urticarial vasculitus are not known but the initial symptoms are very similar to many of the physical urticaria types. In fact, the first symptom is typically a hives attack that is both painful and burning. Hives like lesions appear but with a more white center. With urticarial vasculitus, the blood vessels under the skin will swell and bleed as well, but the bleeding is minimal and presents more like bruising. Sometimes the skin will darken in color after the lesions start to heal.

Solar Urticaria Can Sometimes Produce Burning Hives.

Solar urticaria is a photodermatosis that causes hives, burning, erythema, and itching after exposure to natural sunlight. The exposure can be only brief and still cause the condition. It is rare and usually disappears within hours at most after getting out of the sun.

Slightly burning hives are normal, but painful burning warrants further investigation to see if a possible cause can be found.