The person who just answered you is possibly trying to hurt you and I’m outraged that this kind of thing can go on here at Yahoo. Hives are not a problem at all IF IF IF over the counter treatments get rid of them right away, as in a day at the longest and that’s if there are no NEW hives starting or appearing. However, hives are very dangerous when they start spreading all over the place. The hives contain water from your body caused by a release of histamines (now “out of control”). Hives can spread quickly into the throat and cause suffocation (in a worst case scenario though NOT uncommon) but more dangerous still is the event of anaphalactic shock (shock which results quite often in death). Anaphalactic shock is caused by sudden and large amounts of water loss the body experiences when it has hives. If over the counter remedies did not work, then you need to see a doctor. Do not rub or scratch the hives as this irritates the surrounding skin and is what causes the spreading. You will probably need a “steroid” shot which will zap the hives in a New York minute and will get you feeling better right away.

Hives really are a very very dangerous condition ESPECIALLY when not responding to medication over the counter. It means your body has lost control of histamine production and water loss and anaphalactic shock are impending. (Call a pharmacist to verify this information).

Please see a doctor and if anybody tells you when your hives are spreading that it’s no big deal, do not listen to them. I had hives spread to my throat (though I did not experience anaphalactic shock) about a year ago and was warned by my doctor to NEVER ignore hives like I did again.

Good luck.