Hives, also known as urticaria, are common skin rashes that can be caused by different things like allergies, medication or even stress. They are usually itchy and red and can appear anywhere on the body.
Hives can be mild or severe and can last for a few hours or several days. It is very important to identify the cause of the hives on your body if you want to treat them properly and ensure they do not occur again.
What are some of the common causes of hives?
- Stress
- Medications
- Insect Bites Or Stings
- Sun Exposure
- Cold Temperatures
- Infection
- Other Underlying Conditions
According to Medical News Today, hives tend to last for only 2–3 hours, although for some people, this can become a regular occurrence, appearing and disappearing for longer. This suggests that the duration of hives can depend on whether they are mild or chronic. Therefore, mild hives appear quickly and do not last long.
Source: Medical Centric
Doctors classify hives as acute if the overall duration is less than 6 weeks. Meanwhile, when hives regularly reappear over 6 weeks or more, it is considered as a chronic hive.
How do I treat the hives on my skin?
Please note that the procedures and solutions shared here apply if you have mild hives. If at any point you feel uncomfortable or the hives seem to be chronic, you must visit your doctor for proper treatment and diagnosis.
Home Remedies:
- Apply something cool, like ice or a cold towel, all over your body or affected area for 10 minutes repeatedly until the itchiness and swelling reduce.
- Wear loose, light, and breathable clothing to avoid irritation.
- Shower with an anti-itching solution like baking soda, apple cider vinegar or peppermint oil.
- 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. (Do a small test patch to be sure you are not allergic before applying it all over).
- Aloe vera is another great home remedy you can apply to your hives as needed, likely a few times a day. Be sure to do a test patch before applying it all over your body for safety reasons.
Medicated Remedies:
Calamine Lotion: Calamine-containing products are amazing for reducing itchiness by cooling the skin. Apply directly to the skin by:
Before applying the lotion, shake the jar to mix it well.
Apply some calamine lotion on a cotton pad or towel.
Apply the pad or towel immediately to the hives and allow to dry.
Use calamine lotion to treat the hives as much as necessary.
- Diphenhydramine (Benadryl) is an oral antihistamine that reduces allergy symptoms, such as redness and itching from the inside out. Make sure you follow the dose directions on the packaging. Benadryl normally works within an hour and should begin to alleviate your symptoms the same day. Please note that Benadryl can cause sleepiness.
- Fexofenadine (Allegra), loratadine (Claritin), and cetirizine (Zyrtec): These antihistamines are often available in 12- or 24-hour formulations to give sustained relief. They also cause less sleepiness than diphenhydramine. You may need to change the dosage to treat hives adequately, so see your doctor or pharmacist for the right dosage. They can advise you on how much to take and how frequently.
- Prednisone (Deltasone) is an oral corticosteroid. It would help if you only used it for a limited amount of time as prescribed by a doctor. Corticosteroids can cause adverse effects, particularly when used for a lengthy period.
- Omalizumab (Xolair): This drug has to be injected under the skin. This approach should only be used if your hives are persistent and resistant to antihistamines.
- Dapsone (Aczone): This antibiotic can be used topically or taken orally. This drug can be used to treat inflammation caused by hives or other bacterial skin infections. All antibiotics should be taken exactly as indicated. Antibiotics only assist in alleviating symptoms caused by bacterial infections. Otherwise, please see your doctor.
While hives on the skin can be upsetting, understanding the reasons and adopting proper measures can help you manage and avoid outbreaks. If you are unclear about the reason or severity of your hives, speak with a healthcare practitioner for individualized advice and treatment choices.
If your hives are severe, persistent, and accompanied by additional symptoms, including trouble breathing, swelling of the face or throat, dizziness, or nausea, you should seek medical assistance at once. These might be symptoms of a severe allergic response that requires immediate care.
