How Do You Treat Hives? (2024)

FAQs

How should hives be treated? ›

The standard treatment for hives and angioedema is antihistamines that don't make you drowsy. These medications reduce itching, swelling and other allergy symptoms. They're available in nonprescription and prescription formulations. Drugs that suppress the immune system.

Relieve the itch at home.

Wear loose-fitting, cotton clothes. Apply a cold compress, such as ice cubes wrapped in a washcloth, to the itchy skin several times a day—unless cold triggers your hives. Use anti-itch medication that you can buy without a prescription, such as an antihistamine or calamine lotion.

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 are best treated with an over-the-counter antihistamine or topical creams like hydrocortisone or calamine lotion. Antihistamine medications suppress the histamine that is released from the body, causing your itchy reaction. Topical treatments work on your skin's cells to stop the histamine from being released.

Usually, eruptions may last for a few minutes, sometimes several hours, and even several weeks to months. Most individual hives last no more than 24 hours.

Scratching the rash may spread the inflammation, lead to infection and even leave scars. When there is an allergic reaction in the body, a chemical called histamine, from specialized cells in the body tissues is released. Histamine causes allergy symptoms such as sneezing, itching, watery eyes, and runny nose.

Topical treatment is also not recommended if the affected area is sore, infected, or features an open wound. Hives with these features may only worsen if you treat them with lotions or creams.

Use only gentle, fragrance-free soap, cleanser, and other skin care products. Take warm (not hot) baths and showers. Wear loose-fitting, 100% cotton clothing. If hives last more than a few days or you get hives frequently, keep a journal: This may help you figure out what's triggering your hives.

Hives usually are caused by other things besides infection, although it could be from a virus. It could be from an allergen, or some sort of an allergy that you have. It could be from a hormonal change. And it even could be emotional in some situations.

Will Benadryl help with hives? ›

Doctors usually prescribe antihistamines as the first course of treatment for hives. Acute cases can generally be treated with over-the-counter antihistamines like loratadine and pseudoephedrine, cetirizine, fexofenadine, or diphenhydramine.

Hives are typically harmless and you can manage them at home. But you may need to see a doctor if they cover your entire body, don't go away, or keep coming back. Hives accompanied by trouble breathing or throat swelling are a medical emergency and could mean you're having a severe allergic reaction called anaphylaxis.

Scratching the rash may spread the inflammation, lead to infection and even leave scars. When there is an allergic reaction in the body, a chemical called histamine, from specialized cells in the body tissues is released. Histamine causes allergy symptoms such as sneezing, itching, watery eyes, and runny nose.

Hives may be uncomfortable, but they are usually harmless and disappear on their own. When the condition lasts longer than 6 weeks, it is called chronic hives. Usually no cause can be found. Most chronic hives resolve on their own in less than 1 year.