What is this? It looks like hives but doesn't go away...?

About a week and a half ago I had sore start to appear on my back, very similar to hives (which I have never had before but have seen), but they didn't go away. They also spread, quite a bit, and now they're all over from my neck to around my waist. It also kinda resembles chicken pox, but as I already had the chicken pox that's unlikely. I've also ruled out shingles since they don't follow a pattern and I don't have any symptoms aside from the itchy sores. So what is it? And what can I do? And when will it go away? It's really annoying. (Also, itch cream doesn't work very well on them, which drives me insane.)