My mother was diagnosed with cholinergic urticaria
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cholinergic_urticaria
and lived with it for several years before it went away on it's own. She was prescribed a med called Seldane (now called Allegra, I believe) to help with the hives. My mom learned to avoid things that triggered an attack, so the frequency of her attacks dwindled over time. I hope your friend finds some relief!