Hives treatments: Some natural options
Check out some of the causes of hives, how to avoid them and what to do if you need treatment for hives.
By Melanie Lasoff LevsThu, Jul 28 2011 at 3:12 PM EST
Hives can be itchy. (Photo: xelusionx/Flickr) Often caused by an allergy, hives are, in a word, horrendous. These swollen, itchy, red welts, which doctors call urticaria, can pop up all over your body and result from blood plasma leaking into your skin. What causes hives? Some offenders are:
- Food and food additives: Strawberries are a common culprit. Other foods that can cause hives include chocolate, tree nuts and dairy products. Often, people are allergic to food coloring or other ingredients in processed foods such as salicylates, sulfites and polysorbate.
- Medications: One sign that you are allergic to, for example, an antibiotic or pain medication is that you break out in hives soon after you take it.
- Stress: If you already are prone to hives, stress can trigger an episode.
- Insect bites: Not only must you contend with the pain of the bite itself, but insect venom can cause a full-body allergic reaction.
Physicians typically treat hives with medications such as steroids and antihistamines. But if you prefer to treat hives naturally, you have a few options:
- To keep from scratching, which can break open the hives and cause infection, wear gloves or, better yet, oven mitts. Wrap the affected area loosely in gauze or an elastic bandage.
- Make a cold milk compress and lay on hives for up to 15 minutes at a time.
- Take a bath using baking soda or oatmeal, which soothe the itch.
- According to the website Discovery Fit & Health, high doses of vitamin C have been found to reduce histamine levels, which cause allergic reactions such as hives. As with all these natural remedies for hives, discuss this treatment option with your physician.
It sounds like common sense, but another natural way to treat hives is to prevent them in the first place, by eliminating what triggered them. If it's a food or medication — which you would know within a few minutes — do not ingest any more of it. If you find that you break out around dogs, cats, wool coats or other common allergens, avoid being around them. If heat causes your skin to get itchy and prickly, move yourself to a cooler area.
Thankfully, an episode of hives often does not last very long. If hives are accompanied by difficulty breathing, swelling of your lips, face or tongue, wheezing or dizziness, you should contact your physician — or visit an emergency room — immediately. This could be a sign of a severe allergic reaction called anaphylaxis, and you may need a shot of epinephrine. If you find you experience recurrent hives outbreaks or your hives do not go away even though you avoid what you thought was the trigger, a visit to an allergist might be in order. Otherwise, try one of the natural remedies for hives, and wait out the outbreak.
Know more about hives treatments? Leave a note in the comments below.
Comments
Markey
07/30/2011 19:23 PM
There's an excellent organization that will help guide you through the foods and food additives maze trying to find out if the products are free of what causes the hives. Reading labels is just not enough, When I see "flavorings" on a label, I have no clue if there is a salicylate or what. I need to know more and this support group really helps. www.feingold.org
