Your guide to getting rid of hives

Hives, also known as urticaria, can be uncomfortable, but they’re very common. While they’re often linked with allergic reactions, they can also be caused by other factors, including stress, medication reactions, or insect bites.

Often, hives are mild and will go away on their own without treatment. According to the American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology, individual hives are likely to go away within 24 hours. In these cases, you can use at-home or over-the-counter (OTC) remedies to soothe your itching.

But if your hives don’t go away or they keep coming back, you may need to speak with a doctor to discuss the possible underlying reasons. They may prescribe medications to help get rid of your hives.

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Natural remedies to get rid of hives

If you’re experiencing hives, natural and home remedies may be enough to soothe your itching while the hives go away on their own. These home remedies won’t get rid of the hives per se, but they can relieve discomfort while you heal and avoid your condition worsening.

The American Academy of Dermatology recommends the following strategies to manage itching with hives:

• Avoid scratching: Scratching can irritate your skin further, which can lead to more hives. Avoiding scratching can help your hives go away quicker.
• Wear loose-fitting clothing: Loose clothing can relieve pressure on your skin and reduce irritation.
• Use gentle products: Try to use fragrance-free skin products that don’t contain harsh chemicals to avoid further irritation.
• Avoid hot showers and baths: Opt for lukewarm rather than hot water to help soothe your skin.
• Try a cool compress: Applying a cool, wet towel or cloth to your affected skin may reduce irritation and itching caused by hives.
• Avoid triggers: If you know what triggers your hives, try to avoid these factors. If you don’t know, consider keeping a journal for when you see hive breakouts so you can track what might be causing them.

There are also some natural products that may help soothe itching skin.

• Colloidal oatmeal: Some 2018 research suggests that colloidal oatmeal has components that can be beneficial in reducing itchiness. It has anti-inflammatory properties, reducing inflammation and itching from hives. It comes in cream form that you can apply directly to the skin, or you might want to try an oatmeal bath.
• Aloe vera: Aloe vera is also known to have anti-inflammatory and skin protection effects, as well as being beneficial for wound healing. This may help get rid of hives and soothe your itching.

Medications to get rid of hives

Alongside natural remedies to soothe your itching, some medications may help get rid of hives quicker.

OTC medications

Some medications to treat hives are available OTC.

• Antihistamines: Antihistamines are used to manage allergic reactions. They can reduce your rash and itching, helping to get rid of your hives. Examples include diphenhydramine (Benadryl), fexofenadine (Allegra), and loratadine (Claritin).
• Calamine lotion: Calamine lotion contains zinc oxide and ferric oxide. You can use it to relieve itching and burning. But it’s unlikely to make your hives go away on their own.

Prescription treatments

If your hives don’t go away on their own or they keep coming back, you might have what’s known as chronic urticaria. This is when you get recurrent hives for 6 weeks or longer. It might be caused by autoimmune conditions.

In these cases, doctors might prefer to prescribe stronger treatments. The first-line treatment is still antihistamines, but there are other medications they may prescribe:

• Omalizumab: Omalizumab is a biologic medication that doctors give as an injection. They prescribe the drug to treat different allergic conditions, including hives, but only if antihistamines haven’t been effective. Doctors will give the medication once every 4 weeks.
• Oral steroids: When you have a flare-up of chronic hives, doctors might prescribe a short course of oral corticosteroids, such as oral prednisone (Deltasone).

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What can trigger hives?

One of the biggest recommendations to prevent hives and help them heal quicker when you have a flare-up is to avoid triggers. To do this, you first need to identify what your triggers are. Some common ones include:

• allergic reactions
• stress
• a reaction to high or low temperatures
• sunlight
• irritation from clothing

If an allergic reaction causes hives, it may include:

• food allergies
• bug bites
• medications
• pet dander
• pollen or plants
• laundry detergent

If you don’t know what your triggers are but notice that they happen often, try keeping a journal of what you eat and the things you come into contact with. This might help you spot any patterns.

Summary

Hives can be uncomfortable and are often caused by allergies, bug bites, or stress. Trying to avoid triggers is one way to help prevent them.

Hives can go away on their own. But you may prefer to use some home remedies to lower inflammation and speed up healing. These can include oatmeal baths and cool compresses. You might also try OTC remedies like antihistamines.

If antihistamines don’t work or your hives last long, you might receive a prescription for a biologic or a corticosteroid medication from a doctor.

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