How To Get Rid of Hives: 13 Top Tricks - Health.com

Hives, also called urticaria, is a raised skin rash that typically lasts for hours or days. Hives have many causes, from stress and temperature changes to skin pressure due to scratching or tight clothing. Fortunately, there are plenty of options for urticaria self-care.

Over-the-counter (OTC) medications like Benadryl, immunosuppressants, and oatmeal products are just a few ways to help get rid of hives. Read on to learn more, including when you need to seek medical attention.

A cooling cloth or cold pack may be just the thing to ease the warmth and swelling of hives. Ice can also temporarily numb the skin to stop the itch.

Apply a cold pack as needed for five to 10 minutes at a time. Do not apply ice or ice packs directly to the skin, which could cause further skin irritation. Instead, use a cloth towel as a barrier.

Lukewarm baths or showers can help provide relief from hives. Opting for a temperature that's not too hot or cold will prevent aggravation of your hives. You'll also want to be gentle as you bathe or shower, not rubbing the skin with a washcloth or loofah. Instead, apply any cleansers or soaps by hand only.

Oatmeal has long been considered a natural soothing and anti-inflammatory agent. Colloidal oatmeal—oats ground, boiled, and milled into a fine powder—works to soothe itchy skin by reducing pro-inflammatory cytokines.

Colloidal oatmeal can be found in many body washes, bath soaks, and moisturizers on the market. You can also add the colloidal oatmeal powder directly to your tub for a calming soak.

By avoiding the urge to scratch, you can ease the itch from hives. Scratching areas of your skin affected by hives might give you the temporary relief you need. Doing so, however, can lead to further skin irritation and dark areas on the skin for people with darker skin.

OTC antihistamines, the ones you buy in the pharmacy aisle, are the go-to medicines to get rid of hives. Antihistamines help block the production of histamine, an immune system chemical.

One antihistamine, Benadryl (diphenhydramine), works great but can make you drowsy, so it's best to take it before you go to sleep. The same goes for Chlor-Trimeton (chlorpheniramine), another older antihistamine.

Second-generation antihistamines are non-sedating, such as:

• Allegra (fexofenadine)
• Clarinex (desloratadine)
• Claritin (loratadine)
• Xyzal (levocetirizine)
• Zyrtec (cetirizine)

A healthcare provider may sometimes need to prescribe treatment to help you get relief from hives. These prescriptions can include oral, topical, or injectable options.

Corticosteroids

Steroids, such as prednisone or cortisone, may be prescribed if you have hives. A healthcare provider might prescribe a steroid you take by mouth or apply to your skin. Corticosteroid treatment may be a short-term treatment, as steroids cause side effects such as:

• Fluid retention
• Infections
• Skin and hair thinning
• Weight gain

Immunosuppressants

Immunosuppressants, which help your immune system calm down, can be the next step if other treatments do not relieve hives. Some immunosuppressants a healthcare provider may prescribe include cyclosporine or hydroxychloroquine.

While taking immunosuppressants, you may experience other skin-related side effects like acne and flushing. Additional side effects may include headaches, muscle or stomach pain, difficulty with sleep, or GI symptoms like gas and diarrhea.

Injectable Medications

Xolair (omalizumab) is an at-home prescriptive treatment for hives when antihistamines don't work. You may also be more familiar with the auto-injector medication, the EpiPen, which can help reduce hives as part of a severe allergic reaction known as anaphylaxis. Either medication may result in headaches, injection site pain, redness, or swelling, and nausea as side effects.

Anti-itch lotions or creams can also provide temporary itch relief. One example is calamine lotion, which contains itch-relieving zinc oxide. However, these products can be messy, especially if you have hives all over your body.

A hives breakout could be stress-related. Emotional stress is a well-known, non-allergic cause of hives. Stress hormones like cortisol can lead to skin inflammation and hives.

If you remain stressed, it can make your hives even worse. Meditation, muscle relaxation, or other activities that you find relaxing can be helpful for stress relief.

Light therapy, or phototherapy, is another way to get rid of hives. It uses ultraviolet B (UVB) light to help calm skin cell activity that may lead to hives.

This type of therapy takes time to work and may be more helpful for chronic hives. One study even found that phototherapy can be beneficial when paired with antihistamines in chronic hive cases.

Physical urticaria is a type of hives caused by a stimulus like squeezing or rubbing. Wearing loose, comfortable clothing and holding purse straps by the hand instead of on your shoulder, for example, can help decrease the pressure on your skin.

While some products may use the label "unscented," they still contain a fragrance. It's essential to use products without fragrances when you have hives. Fragrances can irritate your skin.

When temperature is the cause of hives, try to avoid extreme temperatures if possible. Staying out of the sun or making sure you stay cool when your surroundings are hotter may keep you from experiencing hives.

Temperature control may also mean avoiding some other treatments for hives. For example, you'll want to skip cold compresses if you have cold urticaria—hives that worsen with factors like cold water or weather.

Some foods or drinks may be responsible for why you have hives. Hives may be part of an allergic reaction. Keeping track of foods and drinks you've consumed can help determine if you've had something that caused urticaria so you can avoid them. It's still best to seek medical care if you have a severe allergic reaction to certain foods or drinks.

You'll want to see a healthcare provider if you experience signs of a severe allergic reaction called anaphylaxis. The symptoms can include:

• Face or tongue swelling
• Fainting
• Feeling lightheaded
• Problems swallowing
• Racing heart
• Shortness of breath
• Throat tightness
• Wheezing

In most cases, over-the-counter antihistamines can quickly clear up hives. However, depending on the severity, duration, and cause, healthcare providers may prescribe other medications, such as steroids or immunosuppressants.

Other remedies include avoiding triggers like food or extreme temperature changes, using oatmeal products, or trying light therapy. If hives don't go away with these remedies or for symptoms like a racing heart or lightheadedness, see a healthcare provider.