How to heal hives naturally
15 Ways to Get Rid of Hives
You may be able to relieve hives with home remedies, including aloe vera or an oatmeal bath, and over-the-counter products. But a doctor may need to treat severe or chronic hives.
Hives (urticaria) are a rash on your body. Identifying what triggered your hives is crucial to preventing them from happening again. If you can identify the trigger, you can avoid contact with it.
Although hives are often associated with allergic reactions, they can also occur due to:
Hives generally fade within 24 hours and dont require treatment.
However, you should seek immediate medical attention if you experience any of the following:
- dizziness
- swelling in your throat or face
- difficulty breathing
These may indicate a severe allergic reaction and require emergency care.
If your hives are milder, continue reading to learn how to ease any discomfort and speed up the healing process.
Some remedies and other products may cause a skin reaction. Its best to do a skin patch test before applying.
In most cases, home remedies can help you find relief. Here are a few ways to soothe itchy skin:
Use a cold compress
Applying something cool to your skin can help relieve irritation and swelling. To do this, grab a bag of frozen veggies or wrap a handful of ice in a towel and apply it to the affected area for up to 10 minutes. Repeat as needed throughout the day.
Take a bath with an anti-itch solution
There are several products you can add to a bath to relieve itching. These include colloidal oatmeal or one or two handfuls of baking soda.
Learn more: How to make an oatmeal bath
Avoid products that may irritate the skin
Certain soaps may dry your skin and cause more itching when you have hives. Make sure to use a mild soap thats marketed for sensitive skin. These typically omit fragrance and irritating chemicals.
You should also avoid using irritating moisturizers or lotions. When in doubt, opt for a formula that targets sensitive skin, such as these options. Applying immediately after bathing may also help soothe the itch.
Keep things cool
Heat can make itchiness worse. Wear lightweight clothing and keep the temperature in your house cool and comfortable. Avoid sitting in direct sunlight.
If home remedies arent relieving your symptoms but you arent ready to head to the pharmacy you may want to give a few natural solutions a try.
Natural remedies arent regulated or approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), so use them with caution.
Witch hazel
The natural tannins found in the herb witch hazel can help relieve irritation. Despite this, it
You can apply witch hazel to your skin like a mask a few times each day. Let it sit on the affected areas for about 20 minutes, and then rinse it off.
Aloe vera
Aloe vera is a natural anti-inflammatory. According to the
But, as with any new product, its important to do a skin patch test before application, especially if you have sensitive skin. Some aloe products may also have added fragrance or other chemicals, so be sure to read the label.
You can apply topical aloe vera to your hives as needed, likely a few times a day. Be sure to follow any instructions on the package.
If the above remedies arent enough to help your hives, over-the-counter (OTC) treatments may help relieve your symptoms. Not only can OTC options relieve itching and irritation, but they can also target your bodys histamine response, which is what causes hives.
Calamine lotion
Products containing calamine can help relieve itching by cooling your skin. You can apply calamine lotion directly to your skin:
- Make sure you mix the lotion before using it by shaking the container.
- Put some calamine lotion on a cotton pad or cloth.
- Apply the pad or cloth directly to the hives and let dry.
You can treat the hives with calamine lotion as necessary.
Diphenhydramine (Benadryl)
This oral antihistamine can reduce rash and other allergy symptoms like itching by working from the inside out.
Be sure to follow the dosage instructions on the package. Benadryl usually kicks in within an hour and should start to relieve your symptoms the same day.
Benadryl may cause drowsiness.
Fexofenadine (Allegra), loratadine (Claritin), and cetirizine (Zyrtec)
These antihistamines typically come in 12- or 24-hour formulas to provide extended relief. Theyre also less likely to cause drowsiness than diphenhydramine.
You may need to adjust the dosage to effectively treat hives, so talk with a doctor or pharmacist. They can advise you on how much to take and how often.
If youre experiencing severe or chronic hives, you may need prescription medication. Talk with a doctor about your symptoms and how you can best find relief.
Common prescription options include:
Prednisone (Deltasone)
This corticosteroid is taken orally. You should only use it for a short period of time as directed by a doctor. Corticosteroids can have side effects, especially if taken for extended periods of time. Side effects can include:
- elevated blood pressure
- elevated eye pressure (glaucoma)
- swelling
- weight gain
- immunosuppression, which means you may get infections more easily
To reduce side effects, take oral corticosteroids at a lower dose and transition to corticosteroid creams with your doctors supervision.
Omalizumab (Xolair)
This medication must be injected under the skin. This option is
- headache
- dizziness
- inner ear pain
- cold symptoms
Dapsone (Aczone)
This antibiotic is available topically and as an oral medication. This medication can treat inflammation due to hives or other skin conditions that are caused by bacterial infection. Its important to take all antibiotics as prescribed.
Antibiotics only help relieve symptoms caused by a bacterial infection.
Leukotriene-receptor antagonists
This nonsteroidal treatment option is taken orally. These drugs should be used only after steroid treatment and antihistamines have been unsuccessful. There is
- headache
- nausea
- cough
- low fever
If your symptoms worsen or last longer than a couple of days, you may want to talk with a doctor. They can identify the cause and provide medication to help relieve your symptoms. Understanding your triggers may help prevent future outbreaks.
Hives Treatment: 9 Natural Home Remedies
Have you ever had red, raised, itchy bumps that came out of nowhere? If the answer is yes, then youlikely have already experienced hives at some point in your life. Hives can reallystartle you when they suddenly appear on your skin. Most often they are due to some type of allergic reaction. Thankfully, theyre typically not longlasting and relatively harmless. But, sometimes hives can indicate alife-threatening allergic reaction, or they can become chronic. (1)
How do you get hives? Hives are not something you can catch from anyone. Rather, they are your bodys response to something it ingests or experiences.The cause of hives can bea certain food, drug, infection or stress. You might be surprised to learn that stress is one of the most common causes of acute hives, along with allergies and infectious causes. Hives can literally occur at any age and appear anywhere on the body.It is estimated thatone in every five people will be affected by ahives outbreakat some point in his or her life. (2)
Do you know the causes and symptoms of hives? Its helpful to know both so that you can avoid hives, or recognize them if they do appear on yourself or a loved one. Conventional hives treatment comes with the possibility of unwanted side effects. Why not choose a natural hives treatment? Nobody likes walking around with bumps or welts on their skin. Lets talk about how to avoid hives, how to identify hives and how to treat hives naturally.
What AreHives?
Urticaria, or hives, are red bumps that suddenly appear on your skin.Do hives itch? Yes, hives can be itchy. They can also sting or burn. What do hives look like?The appearance of hives can vary depending on the person and the cause. Hives often appear as swollen, pale or dark red bumps that are either tiny.They also can be larger and interconnected, forming welts. Sometimes the welts can merge together forming larger plaques. These plaquesbe as large as a dinner plate in size! (3)
How long do hives last?Mild hives canappear suddenly and be completely gone a few minutes later. Othertimes, hives can last for hours and even several weeks to months. Acute episodes of urticaria last for six weeks or less. Hives that last for six weeks or less are acute hives. Those that remain for morethan six weeks are chronic hives. Its nice to know that the majority of hives cases dont last longerthan 24 hours. (4)
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Common Signs & Symptoms
Symptoms of hives can include: (5)
- Swelling of the surface of the skin into red or skin-colored welts (called wheals) with clearly defined edges.
- Wheals are typically round or oval and canget bigger, spread, and join together to form larger areas of flat, raised skin.
- Whealscan also change shape, disappear, and reappear within minutes or hours.
- You know you have hives when you press the center of a wheal and it turns white. Thisis called blanching.
- Itching
Hives can appear on any area of the body,especially on the trunk, thighs, upper arms and face.
Related: Chlorine Rash Symptoms, Causes, Treatment & Prevention
Causes and Risk Factors
What causes hives? Hives are typically caused by an allergic reaction. The allergy can be to a food or medication. When your body is allergic to something, it can release chemicals that make your skin develop hives. An infection or emotional stress can also cause hives.
When hives are caused by anallergic reaction, your skin can break out within minutes of exposure to the allergen. Some common allergens that can cause hives include: (6)
- Certain foods, especially food allergies to shellfish, tree nuts, milk, and some fruit
- Medications, especiallyantibiotics and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like aspirin and ibuprofen.
- Allergy shots
- Pets and other animals
- Pollen
- Insect bites and stings
When hives occur due to an allergy, high levels of histamine and other chemical messengers arereleased into the skin.Thesesubstances cause your blood vessels to open up. This often results in pinkness or redness, as well as extra fluid in the tissues, which causes swelling and itching. (7)
Sometimes someone may haveallergy hives and other times a hives breakout has nothing to do with allergies. Hives can also result from one of the following: (8,9)
- Stress or anxiety
- Exercise
- Excessive perspiration
- Infections such as mononucleosis
- Viruses (viral hives)
- Illness, including lupus, autoimmune diseases, leukemia
- Extreme cold or sun exposure
- Scratching
- Contact with chemicals
- Vibration
- Pressure on the skin
Hives resulting fromphysical causes, like pressure, cold, or sun exposure, are called physical hives. Heat urticaria or heat hives are caused by an increase in body temperature from things like hot showers or baths, spicy foods or exercise.Sometimes hives occur due to unknown causes. This is known asidiopathic urticaria. Hives can also become a chronic problem. (10)
When a small child gets hives, its almost always due to an allergy. Hives on a baby, or hives on a toddler, can be particularly disturbing. Many parents wonder how can you tell hives vs rash. There is a quickskintest called wheal and flare that can help confirm whether or not its hives. According to Jon McCullers, M.D., pediatrician-in-chief at Le Bonheur Childrens Hospital in Memphis, if your child has a big red patch on his or her skin and you see swelling (thats the wheal), drag a fingernail over the area and if you see a brighter redness (flare) then its an allergic reaction. (11)
Conventional Treatment
The majority of the time, a doctor will know that you have hives just by looking at your skin. To get to the root of your hives, a doctor also, hopefully, will ask you about any recent life stressors, or exposure to possible or known allergens. If a patient complains of itchiness, he or shewill often recommend diphenhydramine. Common side effects of antihistamines include drowsiness, dizziness, dry mouth/nose/throat, upset stomach, increased appetite and weight gain, thickening of mucus, vision changes and feeling nervous, excited or irritable. (12)
When hives are severe, some doctors may suggesta course of oral steroids. Some common side effects of oral steroids include acne, blurred vision, cataracts or glaucoma, easy bruising, difficulty sleeping, high blood pressure, increased appetite and weight gain, increased growth of body hair, insomnia, lower resistance to infection, muscle weakness, nervousness, osteoporosis, stomach irritation or bleeding, sudden mood swings, puffy face, water retention, swelling and worsening of diabetes. (13)
When hives become chronic,a patient will likely be referred to a dermatologist and/or an allergy specialist for further investigation.
9 Natural Remedies for Hives Treatment
Lets talk about the best part of this article how to get rid of hives naturally, as well as how to prevent them in the first place!
1.Be Patient and Dont Irritate
Hives treatment may not be needed if hives are mild. If you wait a short time, they can disappear on their own without any intervention. If you want to do something to help them go away faster and to reduce itching and swelling, make sure that you do nottake any hot baths or showers while you have hives. Also, avoid wearing anytight-fitting clothingbecause this can further irritate the area where you have hives. (14) This all applies to babies or toddlers with hives as well. Make sure you dont bathe a child with hivesin water that is too hot and keep their clothing loose-fitting and breathable.
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2. AddressAllergies
First off, if you think you know what caused your hives, then avoid further contact or consumption with whatever it is. If you suspect that your hives are being caused by a particular food youre eating or a certain pet you currently have in your home, then it is a good idea to get some allergy testing done. Allergy testing can reveal your hive triggers, which you can then avoid (as much as possible) and you can greatly preventthe likelihood of another undesirable hives rash. (15) Keeping a food diary can also help a hive sufferer to pinpointany food allergies.
3. Calm the Inflammation
To calm hives and help them vanish that much quicker, make sure youre not using any products on your body that will only make the inflammation and itching worse. You dont want to be using anything harsh on your body right now. Thisincludes soaps and other body care products, as well as the detergent you use on your clothing. Opt for natural products free of unhealthy synthetic fragrances and other aggravating ingredients. Another simple way to calm hives is to take a cool bath or shower. You can also use acool compress on the hives to help relieve any itching. (16)
4. Oatmeal Bath
Natural hives treatment can come in the form of a calming oatmeal bath. Simply add a cup or two of uncookedoatsinto a stocking or cheesecloth. Tieit up with a rubber band so the oats cant leak out. Put the oats under the running water as your bath fills up. Your bath will be infused with oatmeals skin-calming goodness. Oats are known for their ability to calm skin inflammation, thanks to their naturally high salicylic acid content.Taking an oatmeal bath for hives can help calm these unwanted eruptions for both adults and children. Just make sure the water is warm not too hot or too cold since temperature extremes can just make hives worse. (17)
5. Stress Reduction
Can stress cause hives? The answer is definitely yes. Hives and stress can go hand-in-hand. When you experienceexcessive short or long term stress, it takes a toll onbodys immune system. Since the stress is throwing off your immune system, your body responds by internally sending out histamine to fend off your current health problem, whichin this case is stress. Histamine release doesnt make stress go away, but it can cause hives to start popping up in various places. Basically, this is an allergic reaction to stress and your body is sending out visible signals (hives) to let you know that its time to chill out. (18)
The very best way to get rid of stress hives is to remove as much stress from your life as possible. There are so many effective ways to reduce stress on a daily basis. Find what works best for you and make it a part of your routine. Exercise is always one of my stress boosters. Other great ideas for stress hives treatment, and hives treatment in general, include yoga, massage, journaling and prayer.
6. Baking Soda
Making a paste of baking sodaand water can help to calm hives and also prevent new ones from popping up.Baking soda is known as nahcolite, which is part of the natural mineral natron. Natron contains large amounts of sodium bicarbonate. Ithas been used since ancient times as a soother and cleanser.Mix a teaspoon of baking soda with some cold water to create a paste and then rub it on the affected area. Let it dry completely before washing it off. You can do this a few times a day, if needed. Relief is typically immediate from this easy hives treatment.
7. Witch Hazel
Dabbing witch hazel on hives several times per day while hives are present can help to calm the inflammation and itching. Witch hazel is a skin-healing liquid with strong antioxidant and astringent properties. You can also trymy recipe that includes witch hazel, along with many other natural anti-hive ingredients:DIY Rash Cream with Aloe & Lavender.
8. Supplements
Quercetin and evening primrosearetwo supplements for hives that will calm and get rid of your hives faster. (19)Quercetin is a natural antihistamine and an anti-inflammatory. Test tube studies have revealed thatquercetin prevents immune cells from releasing histamines, which cause allergic reactions like hives. (20) Other studies have also shown that quercetin, a natural medicine and phytochemical, is as effective at fighting allergies as some prescription medications, all with little to no side effects.(21) Other supplement recommendations includevitamin B12, vitamin C, vitamin D and fish oil. (22)
9. Acupuncture
Acupunctureis another option for natural hives treatment, especially for chronic hives. Itis a holistic health technique that stems from Traditional Chinese Medicine practices. Trained practitioners stimulate specific points on the body by inserting thin needles into the skin. When it comes to hives, acupuncture aims toprovideimmediate relief from the swelling and itching. Acupuncturealso tries to get to the root of the hives, including any underlying imbalances or triggers that are causing thehives. Some common acupuncture points for hives include Spleen 10 (SP 10) and Large Intestine 11 (LI 11). One double-blind studyplacebo-controlled study treated 40 patients with chronic urticaria usingeither real acupuncture or sham acupuncture for three weeks. The subjects treated with real acupuncture experienced partial remissions of symptoms after three weeks. The effectiveness of the acupuncture treatments appeared to increase with each additional treatment. (22)
Related:Top 7 Benefits of Green Tea: The No. 1 Anti-Aging Beverage
Precautions
Seek urgent medical attention for yourself or your child ifhives are severe and/or cover a large area of your body, or if you have other symptoms, such as difficulty breathing or a fever. Chronic urticaria or chronic hives should be evaluated by an allergist or immunologist to determine proper hives treatment.
Angioedema is a similar skin issue to hives, but it usually last longer than hives. Swelling isunder the skin instead of on the surface. With angioedema, a person typically has deep swelling around the eyes and lips and, sometimes, of the genitals, hands and feet. In rare cases, angioedema of the throat, tongue, or lungs can block the airways, making it hard to breathe. This can be life threatening. (23)
In rare cases, hives or angioedema can be early symptoms of anaphylaxis. Anaphylaxisrequires immediate medical attention. If you suspect you are havingan anaphylactic reaction, seek urgent medicaltreatment. Without proper treatment, anaphylaxiscan be deadly.
Always check with your doctor before using any natural remedies if you are taking medication or being treated for any ongoing health condition(s).
Final Thoughts on Hives Treatment
Hives are an unpleasant inflammatory skin condition that 20 percent of the population will experience at some point in time. Thankfully, hives typically are not serious, and hives treatment is available. With some simple natural remedies, you can calm a hives outbreak on yourself or your child quite quickly. Inexpensive, common household items like oatmeal, witch hazel and baking soda are really effective at calming the itching and redness that usually accompany hives. If your child experiences hives, you shouldmake sure you arent using any harsh body care products on his or her skin. You should also avoid hot baths and tight-fitting clothes. I hope that you wont experience hives anytime soon, but if you do, a natural hives treatment will really come in handy.
