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10 ways to get relief from chronic hives

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Find a Dermatologist

You can search by location, condition, and procedure to find the dermatologist thats right for you.

What is a dermatologist?

A dermatologist is a medical doctor who specializes in treating the skin, hair, and nails. Dermatologists care for people of all ages.

How to treat hives

Home remedies and medications can help treat hives quickly and effectively. Examples include cold compresses, aloe vera, antihistamines, and more.

Hives are intensely itchy, discolored, raised areas of skin. They may occur anywhere on the body. Hives usually have a trigger, both allergic and non-allergic.

While the symptoms of hives can be very irritating, there are many ways to treat, soothe, and get rid of them.

In this article, we detail how to treat hives at home, medical options, and possible complications.

What does hives look like? Pictures and more

People often use home remedies to treat hives and do not seek further medical attention or intervention. In fact, many cases of hives disappear naturally within minutes or hours of appearing. Most often, symptoms of hives will disappear within 24 hours, but in some cases, it may take a few days.

Effective home remedies to treat hives include:

• Applying a cold compress: A person can apply a cool, damp cloth to the affected area. This can provide relief from itchiness and help reduce inflammation. A person can use a cold compress as often as necessary.
• Bathing in an anti-itch solution: Oatmeal and baking soda baths can soothe skin and reduce irritation. Adding witch hazel to a bath is another effective home remedy.
• Applying aloe vera: The healing properties of aloe vera may soothe and reduce hives. However, it is best to do a patch test before applying aloe vera to a wider area.
• Avoiding irritants: This includes perfumes, fragranced soaps or moisturizers, and staying out of the sun. A person should also aim to maintain a comfortable temperature and wear loose, cotton clothing.

Some people with chronic hives have reported reduced symptoms when taking vitamin D supplements.

In more severe cases of hives, medical treatment may be preferable. Some over-the-counter options include:

People with more severe and persistent hives may need to see a dermatologist. These doctors specialize in conditions of the skin, hair, and nails.

Hives are a skin condition that usually results in a raised, itchy rash. There are several different types of hives, although the effects are mostly the same.

Hives may be the same color as the surrounding skin or may have a reddish hue. This discoloration may be less evident on darker skin tones.

Learn more about hives on black skin here.

Acute urticaria and acute angioedema

Acute urticaria is a short-lived type of hives. In this condition, rashes last less than 6 weeks and usually occur due to an adverse or allergic reaction to certain foods or medications. Urticaria only affects the upper layer of the skin, called the dermis.

Infections and insect bites can also cause this type of rash.

Angioedema is the rapid swelling of the area beneath the skin, known as the mucosa. A person with hives will not always experience this type of swelling. Angioedema can occur with many different disorders.

Acute angioedema can occur with acute urticaria and is essentially anaphylaxis of the subcutaneous tissues. It is a serious and potentially life-threatening condition.

Anaphylaxis is a severe allergic reaction. It can lead to anaphylactic shock, which can be fatal.

Learn more about anaphylaxis and anaphylactic shock here.

Chronic urticaria and chronic angioedema

Chronic urticaria and chronic angioedema last for more than 6 weeks.

In these conditions, a person will typically experience daily, or almost daily, symptoms without an allergic, infectious, or drug-related cause.

Chronic urticaria and chronic angioedema more commonly result from underlying medical causes, such as thyroid disease, cancer, or hepatitis.

Hives affect around 20% of people at some point during their lifetime. They are more common in children and female adults than in male adults.

A hives outbreak happens when high levels of histamine and other chemical messengers release into the skin, causing a rash and other symptoms to surface.

The high levels of histamine cause blood vessels in the affected area to open up and start to leak. The resulting fluid in the tissues causes swelling and itchiness.

Different triggers may cause a person to have an outbreak of hives. Some common causes include:

• an allergic reaction to food, an insect bite, or an animal
• a reaction to a plant irritant, such as nettles
• an infection, such as the flu or a cold
• certain medications
• preservatives and food additives

If hives develop, it is useful to identify the trigger. Factors that can worsen hives include:

Physical urticaria

The effects of heat exposure and overheating can cause a type of hives called physical urticaria.

Common triggers for physical urticaria include:

• extreme heat or cold
• overexposure to the sun
• excessive sweating
• clothes rubbing the skin

This rash rarely spreads beyond its original location.

Some people experience dermatographism, a type of physical urticaria. This condition occurs due to pressure on or trauma to the skin. Dermatographism typically involves pronounced lesions or marks that appear after seemingly minor skin abrasions, such as small scratches.

Some people refer to dermatographism as skin writing. The condition is most common in young adults, and symptoms typically resolve within an hour of presenting.

What is the difference between hives and a rash? Pictures and more

The severity of a hives can vary between individuals. Most symptoms are manageable at home, but medical attention may be necessary in some cases.

A person should see a doctor if:

• symptoms last more than a few days
• symptoms worsen over time
• the rash is painful or leaves a bruise
• symptoms interfere with daily life
• they experience dizziness

A person will need immediate medication attention if they experience:

• any swelling of the tongue, mouth, or throatSimilarly
• difficulty breathing
• tightness in their chest

A doctor will examine the rash and ask questions to determine the cause. Doctors may also use blood and allergy tests to rule out specific causes.

Hives are usually treatable and do not cause complications on their own. However, in more severe cases, angioedema may occur.

Angioedema is a buildup of fluid in layers of the skin that causes swelling and can affect the eyes, lips, hands, feet, and genitals. Doctors can prescribe medication to manage and reduce swelling.

Recurrent hives can negatively impact the quality of a persons life, causing them to feel stressed or anxious and can even lead to depression. A person should always speak to a doctor if hives are affecting their quality of life.

Here are some questions people often ask about hives.

How do you treat hives naturally?

Ways of treating hives naturally include:

• avoiding scratching
• applying a cool compress
• bathing in lukewarm water with colloidal oatmeal
• wearing loose, cotton clothing
• avoiding soaps with fragrances or strong chemicals
• applying aloe vera

What is the fastest remedy for hives?

A cool compress may offer immediate relief from discomfort, but topical medicines may be more effective. Ask a pharmacist about over-the-counter options.

Hives are a skin condition that results in itchy, raised, patches of skin. There may also be discoloration.

Hive can result from allergic or non-allergic causes. Home remedies and medications can often reduce symptoms.

People with severe hives may have a risk of further complications. A person should seek medical advice if symptoms are severe, ongoing, or affect their quality of life.

7 Tips for Dealing with Chronic Idiopathic Urticaria Itch

Overview

If you live with chronic idiopathic urticaria (CIU), the most common type of chronic hives, youre likely familiar with the frustration and discomfort that comes with itchy skin. Approximately 1.5 million Americans have CIU, and the associated itching can cause trouble sleeping and interfere with daily activities.

Since the underlying cause of CIU is unknown, the condition can be difficult to treat. But there are several options you can try.

Here are seven tips that may help provide temporary relief from itching, especially during flare-ups.

One of the first treatments your doctor may prescribe after a CIU diagnosis is antihistamines. A typical regimen may include nondrowsy H1 antihistamines during the day and H1 antihistamines that can cause drowsiness at night.

But while antihistamines can be effective at treating itch for some people, less than 50 percent of people with CIU respond well to antihistamines.

Talk to your doctor to learn more about which antihistamines may help provide relief. If youve already tried them with little or no success, ask your doctor about other treatments and relief methods.

Use a high-quality, fragrance-free moisturizer to help soothe your skin. Regular use can keep your skin hydrated and help build up a protective barrier on your skins surface. Additionally, the cooling sensation can bring on immediate relief from itching.

Hot water can further irritate your skin by drying it out. On the other hand, cool water can provide calming effects on your skin. Choose a mild, fragrance-free soap to use during your shower and be careful not to scrub too hard.

While a shower can feel soothing, even a cold shower can be hard on your skin if it lasts too long. Limit showers and baths to 10 minutes for the best results.

In lieu of a cool shower, you may also want to try an oatmeal bath using colloidal oatmeal. Oatmeal can help reduce some inflammation and itching. Remember to keep the water cool to avoid irritating your hives or drying out your skin.

If you dont have the time for a cool shower or an oatmeal bath, simply apply a cool, wet washcloth to the affected area for instant relief. You can also use an ice pack wrapped in a towel.

The cold temperature against your skin can reduce the swelling associated with hives. Ice can also provide numbing effects to ease itchiness.

Since both perspiration and pressure can worsen your symptoms, choose clothing that is both loose-fitting and comfortable. Clothing that is made from 100 percent cotton or silk is less rough on your skin and can prevent irritation and itching.

Most importantly, wear clothing that keeps areas with hives covered and away from any external irritants.

While scratching may provide temporary relief, it can be counterproductive. After some time, it can just aggravate your hives even further.

Resist the temptation to keep scratching. Seek out other methods of reducing itchiness and do your best to distract yourself when the urge to scratch hits. You can also wear gloves and keep your fingernails short to prevent irritation.

Reducing the itch that comes with CIU and resisting the urge to scratch can be difficult. Try taking cooler showers and consider changing up your wardrobe a bit to help to ease your symptoms. In addition to these tips for dealing with itch, consult with your doctor regularly to discuss your condition and treatment plan.

Finding Relief for Hives

That little welt itches and you try your best not to scratch it because when you do, it grows before your very eyes! If you are a truly hive prone person, just running your fingernail over normal skin can cause an itchy welt to form. And they all itch.

Whether your urticariabetter known as hivesis temporary or chronic, skin that's itchy, red, and irritated is not only annoying but can also be painful. There are many reasons for the appearance of hives, but the science is the same: a response within the body triggers histamines and cytokines in the skin. Because hives are usually the result of an allergic reaction, finding relief can be as simple as understanding what's causing your body to react and avoiding exposure to it.

There are many skin conditions with symptoms similar to hives. Successful treatment requires proper identification. Hives are well-demarcated pale-to-red raised areas of skin notable for their tendency to erupt and itch violently, only to resolve and reappear in other locations.

Most conventional urticaria treatments (e.g., antihistamines, corticosteroids, and antidepressants) aim to relieve the symptoms of hives without bothering to address the root cause. Worse, these treatments and their potentially toxic ingredients often do more harm than good. Topical steroid creams, for example, can lead to undesirable skin changes if used liberally over long periods of time.

Luckily for all you hives suffererswe hear you scratching!there are plenty of natural alternatives available to ease your symptoms.

What Is Known About Hives

To find the right treatment, you need to identify which kind of hives you're dealing with.

Acute. Most cases of acute urticaria are caused by an allergic reaction, but other triggers include heat or cold, exercise, and viral infections. Medications often responsible for urticarial allergic reactions include sulphonylurea glimepiride (Amaryl), dextroamphetamine, aspirin, ibuprofen, penicillin, clotrimazole, sulfonamides, and anticonvulsants.

Chronic. Urticarial outbreaks that come and go over periods of time (weeks to years) merit a deeper search for the underlying cause. Food allergies are among the most common causes of chronic hives, the primary culprits being fish, shellfish, berries, nuts, chocolate, tomatoes, eggs, milk, and food additives like salicylates, sulfites, and polysorbate. You'll know if you get a reaction within 30 minutes of eating an offending food. See AllergyElimination Diet.

Other causes of hives include autoimmune disorders such as Hashimoto's Disease (which might be caused by gluten or other food sensitivity), achlorhydria or hypochlorhydria (having no or diminished gastric acid secretion), and stress - that ever-present villain. Occult malignancy (cancer of unknown origin) is no longer thought to cause chronic urticaria. An association noted with increasing frequency is the association of abnormal MTHFR genes with a tendency to hives. This is an important association to identify, because people with abnormal MTHFR genes require special forms of folic acid and vitamin B12 for optimal health.

Several skin conditions resemble urticaria, so you must obtain the correct diagnosis prior to embarking on a treatment plan.

Do not confuse hives with angioedema, which causes swelling of the deeper layers of the skin. The bumps have less-distinct, more gradual borders. Angioedema represents a more threatening level of systemic allergy that can spread to the airways and should be addressed immediately.

With poison oak or ivy (rhus poisoning), blisters form after contact and do not resolve and relocate. Many of the topical applications listed below for hives will also work for rhus poisoning.

Similarly, a heat rash does not resolve and relocate, but it can spread.

Healthy Start: HivesQuick Start

For the greatest improvement with the fewest steps, do the following:

• Cool water. This simple solution can calm a flare-up of hives.
• Cold packs. Apply an ice pack, bag of ice, or frozen vegetable packages (peas are best) wrapped in thin cloths to the hives for 10 minutes at a time.
• Topical cream. Apply Herb Pharm Original Salve to areas affected by hives.
• Therapeutic bathing. Add oatmeal or apple cider vinegar to your bath according to the instructions in the HivesFull Program.

Healthy Steps: HivesFull Program

A comprehensive hives relief program involves many areas in which action steps can be taken, gradually or all at once. Start by following DrDeborahMD's basic nutrition and healthy lifestyle guidelines, with the following modifications:

To Be Taken Internally

Natural substances with antihistamine effects include:

• Thorne Research Betaine HCL & Pepsin. Take 1-2 capsules with each meal.
• Herb Pharm Stinging Nettle Tincture. Mix 15-30 drops into hot water 1-2 times daily.
• Vitamins and herbal supplements. Several supplements can help ease itching hives, try one or more of the following:
• Get your greens. Try blending parsley, kale, or mustard greens with a bit of stevia for a quick and easy way to eat your greens.

Therapeutic Bathing

• Cool water. Taking a cool bath or shower is another simple way to calm skin inflamed by hives.
• Oatmeal baths. There are commercial oatmeal bath additions available, but you can save money by trying one of these preparations. Wrap 2 cups of oatmeal in cheesecloth or nylon stocking and suspend under the bath tap, allowing the water to extract the active elements and sparing you from bathing amidst floating oatmeal flakes. You can also whirl oatmeal in a blender or food processor until it's a fine powder. Just dissolve the oatmeal dust in bathwater.
• Apple cider vinegar. Add 2 cups of apple cider vinegar to your bath.
• For rhus poisoning. Cool or very warm water can provide temporary relief from hives' itching sensation.

Topical Applications for Hives

• Cold packs. Apply an ice pack, bag of ice, or frozen vegetable packages (peas are best) wrapped in thin cloths for 10 minutes at a time.
• Baking soda poultice. Dissolve 1 teaspoon of aluminum-free baking soda in 4oz water . Apply liberally. Or apply apple cider vinegar undiluted topically with cotton pad.
• Oatmeal poultice. Combine 2 cups oatmeal, 2 tablespoons cornstarch, and enough water to form a paste. Apply and leave on skin for 15-30 minutes.
• Topical cream. Apply Herb Pharm Original Salve to areas affected by hives.
• Tea bag poultice. Black tea bags, especially Darjeeling, can soothe skin inflamed by hives. Boil 1/4 cup water per tea bag, allow to steep for 8 minutes, then remove and let cool briefly. Taking care not to burn already tender skin, apply the tea bag poultice to areas affected by hives for 15-20 minutes.
• Jewelweed lotion. Dab a jewelweed lotion or spray a jewelweed solution on areas with hives.

Homeopathy

is an effective alternative to antihistamines in the treatment of hives, without the well-known side effect of drowsiness! When treating hives, it is important to first recognize and consider removing any potential cause, such as a change in laundry detergent, an offending food (or food additive), or a newly prescribed medication (talk with your qualified health practitioner first).

For hives, match the best description to your hives and take the remedy 2-3 pellets twice daily for 3 days. Continue if the remedy is helping. (We alternate genders, but any remedy works for both genders and all ages!)

Apis

• The most common remedy for hives. (A third of all cases.)
• The skin is hot, swollen, red, itchy and burns.
• Cold applications and a cold environment provide relief.
• Hot applications and a warm environment make him worse.
• He may seem restlessly busy and easily irritated.

Arsenicum Album

• Burning hives with chills, worse from cold applications.
• Worse eating shellfish and during nighttime.
• Hives with nausea or diarrhea (or both).
• Consider if there is a history of asthma.
• She is restless and may be anxious.

Hepar Sulphuris

• Chronic or recurring hives.
• Very sensitive to cold, he wants to be warmly wrapped up.
• Crops of fine, small hives with a sticking or pricking sensation.
• In general, skin looks unhealthy, every little injury creates pus.
• Hands, fingers, face and scalp affected.

Natrum Muriaticum

• Is considered with chronic or recurring hives.
• Hives look white and appear on hands, ankles and joints.
• A strong craving for salt and salty foods is common.
• Her skin is worse with heat.
• Her mood tends toward sadness, but she resists consolation.

Rhus Toxicodendrun

• Red, swollen and intense itching.
• He is very sensitive to cold air/water on skin.
• He is worse from getting wet.
• He is better from heat and warm applications.
• Hives with arthritic pain.

Sulphur

• Hives with severe burning.
• Throat, thighs and feet affected.
• Better with cold applications or cold air.
• Itching made worse from warmth.
• She is worse at night, in bed, scratching or washing.

Urtica Urens

• Violent itching with constant desire for rubbing.
• Scalp, hands fingers affected.
• White or pale raised hives, with red around the edges.
• Hives worsened with heat, hot bathing and exertion.
• Like Rhus tox, hives associated with arthritic pains.

Prevention

The best way to prevent urticaria outbreaks is to identify your hives triggers. This may be challenging in the case of chronic hives. A process of elimination may be necessary, and even then, some causes may still remain mysterious.

In the meantime, eating a healthful diet, exercising, getting adequate sleep, and keeping stress in check will strengthen your body and provide resiliency, making hives easier to manage.

From Dr. Deborah's Desk

A friend of mine, a medical colleague, was troubled by recurrent batches of hives. They seemed worst for him when he was awakened by a medical emergency in the night, so he knew to check the mirror before he greeted the patient, just so he would know what they were seeing. There is a very small chance that an underlying medical problem can cause hives, and luckily all his testing came out normal.

But he was still left with the hives! He wanted something quick and certain, and ideally something that looked like a regular medical pill. He took Betaine HCL with meals for several months, happy with the results, until he seemed to forget he had ever had the hives, stopped the Betaine and luckily the hives never returned!

This information is provided for educational purposes only, and any individual diagnosis or treatment should be determined by you and your doctor. SeeAdditional Information.