Hives are the welts, or wheals, that people get when they have urticaria. Urticaria is a common condition that occurs in up to 20 percent of the population at one time or another.﻿﻿

It can affect any person of any race at any age on any part of the body in any season of the year, but it often shows up in the evening or in the morning (just after waking). Itching can occur and is typically worse at night, which can interfere with sleeping.﻿﻿

Sometimes hives may also sting or hurt. Hives can be very small (such as the size of the tip of a pen) to very large (such as the size of a dinner plate).﻿﻿

In this gallery of hives pictures, you will find various photos of different types of hives and the important characteristics of each.﻿﻿ This first picture shows what a typical case of hives looks like.