A woman in a hijab sitting on her bed holding a cool damp cloth against her forearm

Gegata (Hives): Punca, Ubat & Bila Bahaya

October 22, 2026 Drann Editorial Team

Gegata (hives, or urticaria) is an itchy rash of raised bumps or patches that usually gets better within a few days, and you can often treat it yourself. Each spot usually fades within 24 hours, but new ones can keep appearing. Common triggers include food, medicines, heat, stress and infections, although no cause is found in many people with long-lasting hives. This guide covers the tanda and punca gegata, why it can feel worse waktu malam, petua that dermatologists recommend, ubat gegata from the pharmacy, and when gegata is an emergency.

Apa itu gegata (hives)?

Gegata, also called biduran, is the Malay name for hives. The medical name is urticaria (urtikaria). According to the NHS, you get hives when something causes high levels of histamine and other chemicals to be released in your skin.

Hives are very common. The international urticaria guideline, published in 2026 by experts from 59 countries, estimates that up to 20% of people get urticaria at some point in their life. Doctors divide it into two types by how long it lasts:

Type	How long it lasts	What to know
Acute urticaria	6 weeks or less	Often follows an infection such as a cold, or a reaction to a food, medicine or insect bite. It usually clears on its own
Chronic urticaria	More than 6 weeks	Hives appear on most days, or come and go for months. It can be spontaneous (no clear trigger) or inducible (set off by a definite trigger such as cold, pressure or heat)

Some people also get angioedema, a deeper swelling under the skin. According to the NHS, it most often affects the lips, eyelids, tongue, hands, feet or genitals. Swelling of the throat is an emergency (see when to get help).

Tanda gegata: what hives look like

According to the NHS, the main symptom of hives is an itchy rash. The rash can:

be raised bumps or patches in many shapes and sizes;
appear anywhere on the body, on 1 area or spread across the body;
feel itchy, sting or burn;
look pink or red on white skin; the colour can be harder to see on brown and black skin.

The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) adds a few signs that help tell hives apart from other rashes:

A hive often feels warm and turns pale when you press on it.
On brown skin, hives are often the same colour as your skin, or slightly darker or lighter.
Spots range from the size of a pinhead to larger than a dinner plate, and can join together into large raised patches.
Hives tend to appear suddenly and move around: an individual hive usually disappears within 24 hours, while new ones appear elsewhere.
On darker skin, hives can leave dark spots (hyperpigmentation) as they clear.

Gegata or another rash?

Many itchy rashes look alike. These differences can help you decide what to do next, but see a doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure:

Rash	Typical signs	Read more
Gegata (hives)	Raised, itchy welts that can appear anywhere; each one usually fades within 24 hours	This guide
Ruam panas (heat rash)	Small, raised spots with an itchy, prickly feeling; usually gets better on its own after a few days	Ruam panas
Ekzema	Itchy, dry, cracked or scaly skin, often on the elbows, knees and hands, with flare-ups	Ekzema
Kudis buta (scabies)	Intense itching, especially at night, often between the fingers; spreads through close skin contact	Kudis buta
Pepijat (bedbug bites)	Itchy bites on skin exposed while sleeping, often in a line or a group, with spots of blood on the bedding	See the NHS bedbugs page in the references

If each spot lasts much longer than a day, the rash may not be hives, and a doctor may need to check for other conditions. For other causes of itching, see our guide to gatal kulit.

Punca gegata: common triggers

According to the NHS, triggers for hives can include:

eating certain foods;
contact with certain plants, animals, chemicals and latex;
cold, such as cold water or wind;
hot, sweaty skin from exercise, emotional stress or eating spicy food;
a reaction to a medicine, insect bite or sting;
scratching or pressing on your skin, such as wearing itchy or tight clothing;
an infection; the international guideline notes that acute urticaria often follows an infection of the nose and throat, such as selsema;
a problem with your immune system;
water or sunlight, but this is rare.

Painkillers can matter. The international guideline says non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen and aspirin, can cause hives, and can make existing chronic spontaneous urticaria worse in up to one in four people with it. It describes paracetamol as a safer option for these patients. If you need a painkiller, ask a pharmacist which one suits you.

The AAD says your risk of hives is higher if you have atopic dermatitis (ekzema) or smoke. Even so, the cause of hives often remains a mystery: the AAD says many people never find what triggers theirs, and treatment can still control it.

Kenapa gegata waktu malam?

Gegata waktu malam (hives at night) is a common complaint. In a study of 124 adults with chronic spontaneous urticaria in India, 29% had itching mainly at night, and night-time itch was linked to more severe itching and disturbed sleep. A 2026 systematic review found that sleep problems were consistently more common in people with chronic hives than in people without them.

No single reason explains night-time hives, but several known triggers are common in the evening:

Hot showers or baths: the AAD says hot water can irritate the skin, so take warm, not hot, showers.
Heat and sweat: a warm bedroom or thick blanket can make skin hot and sweaty.
Pressure and tight clothing: bra straps, waistbands and tight sleepwear press on the skin.
Scratching: the AAD says scratching and rubbing can trigger more hives.
Medicines taken in the evening, such as ibuprofen or aspirin, in people whose hives are made worse by NSAIDs.

If the itch is mostly at night and also affects family members, think of kudis buta (scabies). If you wake with new bites on your face, neck or arms, check your mattress and bed frame for signs of bedbugs. If itching keeps you awake, see our guide to susah tidur and talk to a doctor about treatment.

Gegata kronik: hives lasting more than 6 weeks

Hives that keep appearing for more than 6 weeks are called chronic urticaria. When there is no clear trigger, it is called chronic spontaneous urticaria. DermNet reports that it affects about 0.5% to 1% of people at any one time and most often starts between the ages of 20 and 40. The AAD says women are twice as likely as men to develop it.

Malaysian studies show how much it can affect daily life:

In a Malaysian study of 115 adults with chronic spontaneous urticaria, 60.9% had moderate to severe disease, 26.1% had symptoms of depression, 54.8% had anxiety and 40.0% had stress. Severe disease was linked to depression and poorer quality of life (see our guide to kemurungan).
In a study of 59 adults at a Malaysian hospital dermatology department, 41% tested positive on the autologous serum skin test, a sign that the immune system may be driving the hives. These patients had more active disease, and women were more likely to test positive.

The AAD says most people who have hives are otherwise healthy. The international guideline recommends only a few basic blood tests at first, with more tests based on your history. These may include tests for infections and for thyroid problems; DermNet lists thyroid disease among conditions associated with chronic spontaneous urticaria (see our guide to tiroid). The guideline also notes that chronic hives can go away on their own at any time, so doctors review treatment every 3 to 6 months.

Petua hilangkan gegata at home

The AAD recommends these tips to relieve the itch until hives clear:

Use a cool compress: wet a clean cloth with cold water, wring it out and hold it on the itchy skin for 10 to 20 minutes.
Try not to scratch or rub, as this can trigger more hives. Keep your nails short.
Take warm, not hot, showers, and apply soap gently with your hands rather than a sponge or loofah.
Use gentle, fragrance-free soap and skin care. The AAD notes that products labelled unscented may still contain masking fragrance.
Wear loose-fitting, 100% cotton clothing, which is helpful in Malaysia's heat.
Use an anti-itch lotion, such as one containing menthol or calamine, following the directions.

Keep a hives diary. If hives last more than a few days or keep coming back, the AAD suggests noting when they start, what you were doing, what you ate and drank, any medicines (including aspirin or ibuprofen), whether you were hot or sweaty, what you were wearing, whether you were stressed, and any recent illness. Photos of the rash also help, because hives may have faded by the time you see a doctor.

Ubat gegata: antihistamines and other treatment

According to the NHS, a pharmacist can advise you on an antihistamine for hives. Tell the pharmacist if you have a long-term condition, as antihistamines may not suit everyone, and they may not be suitable for young children. A doctor may prescribe menthol cream, antihistamines or steroid tablets.

Treatment	What the guidance says
Non-drowsy antihistamines	The first treatment for hives. The NHS lists cetirizine, fexofenadine and loratadine as non-drowsy types. For chronic hives, the international guideline advises taking them every day rather than only when hives appear
Higher dose	If a standard dose is not enough, a doctor may increase it up to 4 times the standard dose. The guideline notes this is off-label and should not go higher than fourfold
Drowsy antihistamines	Older types such as chlorphenamine and hydroxyzine can cause drowsiness and affect driving. The guideline recommends against them as a first choice for the routine treatment of chronic hives
Steroid tablets	A short course of up to 10 days may help a bad flare. The guideline strongly recommends against long-term use because of side effects
Steroid creams	The guideline says these are generally not useful for hives, unlike many other itchy rashes
Specialist treatment	If antihistamines do not control chronic hives, a dermatologist may add omalizumab injections. Other options include dupilumab, ciclosporin, and remibrutinib, a tablet approved in the US in September 2025

Pregnancy and breastfeeding. Speak to a doctor or pharmacist before taking any medicine. The NHS says loratadine is usually recommended if you need an antihistamine in pregnancy, and loratadine or cetirizine are usually OK while breastfeeding. The international guideline advises avoiding older drowsy antihistamines in pregnancy.

Antihistamines are also used for hay fever and resdung. If hives do not go away with treatment, the NHS says you may be referred to a skin specialist (dermatologist).

Gegata pantang makan apa?

Many people look for a list of foods to avoid (pantang makan) with gegata. The evidence suggests a more targeted approach:

Acute hives after a food: if hives appear soon after a particular food, avoid it and tell your doctor. The AAD says hives from foods such as peanuts and other nuts, eggs and shellfish typically appear within 1 hour of eating.
Additives: colourings and preservatives in food, supplements, spices, cosmetics or toothpaste can trigger hives, usually within 12 to 24 hours, according to the AAD.
Chronic hives: the international guideline says a true food allergy is extremely rarely the cause of chronic spontaneous urticaria. Special low-pseudoallergen or low-histamine diets may be tried in selected patients, but the evidence is controversial, so do this only with a doctor's advice.
Spicy food: the NHS lists eating spicy food among triggers that make skin hot and sweaty. If sambal or curry seems to set off your hives, note it in your diary.

Because food is rarely the cause of chronic hives, use your diary to look for a pattern before cutting out foods.

Bila gegata bahaya: when to get help

Call 999 or go to the emergency department immediately if hives come with any of these signs of a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis), according to the NHS:

the lips, mouth, throat or tongue suddenly become swollen;
breathing very fast or struggling to breathe, wheezing, or feeling like you are choking;
the throat feels tight or you are struggling to swallow;
skin, tongue or lips turn blue, grey or pale;
sudden confusion, drowsiness or dizziness, or someone faints and cannot be woken up.

See a doctor soon if:

hives do not improve after 2 days;
the rash is spreading;
hives keep coming back (you may be allergic to something);
you also have a high temperature and feel unwell;
you also have swelling under the skin, which may be angioedema;
you are worried about your child's hives.

The AAD also recommends seeing a dermatologist if hives last longer than 6 weeks or cover a large area of your body.

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

Apa punca gegata (what causes hives)?

According to the NHS, hives appear when something causes high levels of histamine and other chemicals to be released in the skin. Triggers include certain foods, medicines, insect bites or stings, contact with plants, animals, chemicals or latex, heat and sweat from exercise, stress or spicy food, cold, pressure or scratching, and infections. In many people with long-lasting hives, no single cause is found.

What is gegata in English?

Gegata is called hives in English, and the medical name is urticaria (urtikaria in Malay). It is also known as biduran. Hives are raised, itchy bumps or patches that can appear anywhere on the body. Each spot usually fades within 24 hours, although new ones can appear.

Kenapa gegata datang waktu malam (why are hives worse at night)?

Many people notice hives or itching more at night. In a study of 124 adults with chronic hives, 29% had itching mainly at night. Some known triggers are common in the evening, such as hot showers, heat and sweat, tight clothing and scratching. Staying cool, taking warm rather than hot showers and asking a doctor about a daily non-drowsy antihistamine can help.

Petua hilangkan gegata: what helps at home?

Dermatologists advise a cool, damp cloth on the itchy skin for 10 to 20 minutes, warm (not hot) showers, loose cotton clothing, fragrance-free soap and not scratching, because scratching can trigger more hives. A pharmacist can advise on an antihistamine. If hives come back often, keep a diary of foods, medicines and activities to help find a trigger.

Ubat gegata di farmasi: which medicine helps?

A pharmacist can advise on antihistamine tablets. The NHS lists non-drowsy types such as cetirizine, fexofenadine and loratadine. The international urticaria guideline recommends non-drowsy antihistamines as the first treatment and advises against older drowsy antihistamines for routine use in chronic hives. Tell the pharmacist if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, have a long-term condition or take other medicines.

Gegata pantang makan apa (what foods should I avoid)?

Only avoid foods that you have linked to your hives. Hives from a food allergy, such as peanuts, eggs or shellfish, usually appear within about an hour of eating. For hives that last more than 6 weeks, the international guideline says food allergy is very rarely the cause, so cutting out many foods is not usually needed. Talk to a doctor before trying a special diet.

Gegata berapa lama hilang (how long do hives last)?

Most cases clear on their own within a few days to a few weeks, and each spot usually fades within 24 hours. Hives that keep appearing for more than 6 weeks are called chronic urticaria. See a doctor if hives do not improve after 2 days, keep spreading or coming back, or come with swelling or feeling unwell. Call 999 if there is swelling of the lips, tongue or throat, or difficulty breathing.

Disclaimer

This article is for general information only and is not a substitute for advice, diagnosis or treatment from a doctor or pharmacist. Health supplements are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

References

Back to Health Note