How to Get Rid of Hives Naturally

When itchy, raised, red bumps suddenly appear on your skin, chances are you have hives.

Because they often materialize so unexpectedly, they can really change your plans quickly.

Hives are usually a sign of some type of allergic reaction, and thankfully, they don’t usually last long.

If you have ever had hives, our guide can help you be prepared for your next outbreak, and teach you how to manage this skin reaction quickly and naturally.

Occasionally, hives may be a sign of a larger medical issue or life-threatening reaction.

You may be allergic to a food, medication, or airborne allergen that is causing you to release histamines, producing hives (1).

Hives are not communicable, which means you cannot get them from someone else.

Instead, hives are the visible evidence of your body’s response to allergens, stress, and infection.

Nearly 20 percent of people will have an outbreak of hives at some point in their lives, and you can experience hives virtually anywhere on your body (2).

Because hives are so visible to other people, when you have an outbreak, you want it gone quickly.

Understanding the causes and symptoms of hives can help you recognize an outbreak fast, whether on your own skin or that of someone you love.

While traditional medical treatments for hives can have some unwanted side effects, more natural remedies can alleviate the bumps and have your skin looking and feeling better quickly.

In addition to learning to treat hives naturally, you should also be concerned with how to prevent them.

Our guide will give you all the information you need to avoid, detect, and treat hives naturally, and your skin will be looking great in no time.

Understanding Hives

The medical term for hives is urticaria.

Hives are characterized as bumps that appear suddenly on the skin, and they can be red, white, or dark in color.

The appearance of hives varies by person, ranging from small, red bumps to large, white welts.

When you have a lot of hives, they can even grow together to form large areas of redness over entire body parts.

Some hives are itchy, while others may burn or sting.

Sometimes, hives may appear and disappear within just a few minutes, while other reactions may cause your hives to last for weeks, or even months.

While most hives last less than 24 hours, hives that last longer generally signal another problem.

Hives are categorized as acute when they remain for fewer than six weeks, and when they last longer, they are called chronic (3).

Signs and Symptoms of Hives

The most common symptoms of hives include the appearance of skin-surface swelling with clearly defined edges, usually red or skin-colored.

These are called weals.

Weals can be round or oval, and while they may appear as separate, they can sometimes spread and join together to form large, raised areas of skin.

Weals may disappear and reappear or change shape over time, lasting anywhere from a few minutes to several hours.

You know you have weals rather than some other skin ailment when the area turns white in the center when pressed.

This is known as blanching.

Frequently, weals will itch, but this is not always true.

The most common areas for hives are the torso, arms, thighs, neck, and face, but hives can appear anywhere on your skin (4).

Are You at Risk of Hives?

Hives are typically the result of an allergic reaction to either medication or food.

Your body produces a protein known as a histamine.

Tiny blood vessels in your body leak fluid when exposed to histamine, and when this fluid accumulates under your skin, you get a rash, called hives.

Allergic Hives

If you see weals developing soon after eating or taking medication, you are likely having an allergic reaction that is the cause of your hives.

The most common hive-producing allergens are:

• Shellfish;
• Peanuts;
• Tree nuts;
• Fruit, especially strawberries;
• Eggs;
• Wheat products;
• Antibiotics;
• Non-steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDS), including ibuprofen and aspirin;
• ACE inhibitors used to treat high blood pressure;
• Pets and animal dander, especially (those of) dogs, horses, and cats;
• Dust Mites;
• Cockroaches and their waste;
• Pollen;
• Latex;
• Some plants, like poison ivy, nettles, and poison oak;
• Insect stings and bites.

Anything that produces a histamine response in your body can create hives.

Sometimes you find out you are allergic to something because of the rash that develops.

Stress or Environmental Hives

Allergens are not the only cause of hives, though. They can also occur due to infection, stress, or inflammation.

The most common non-allergy related causes of hives are (5):

• Infection from the common cold, flu, hepatitis B, or other ailments;
• Chronic illness, such as lupus, thyroid disease, or autoimmune disorders;
• Intestinal parasites;
• Viruses such as mononucleosis;
• Bacterial infections like strep throat and urinary tract infections;
• Exposure to chemicals;
• Extreme temperature changes;
• High body temperature;
• Exposure to sunlight;
• Excessive scratching;
• Excessive sweat from exercise or overheating;
• Anxiety;
• Stress.

When your hives develop because of pressure, extreme cold, or sun exposure, they are referred to as physical hives.

When your rash results from stimuli like heat, exercise, or spicy foods, they are called heat hives, or heat urticaria.

Chronic Hives

Occasionally, hives can develop for unknown causes and return again and again.

If you experience new hive outbreaks nearly every day for more than six weeks, you have what is known as chronic idiopathic urticaria, or CIU.

While single outbreaks generally last less than one day, new hives can form quickly after.

CIU affects less than one percent of the population and is most common in those aged 20 to 40.

There is no single, identifiable cause of CIU, but doctors have noted triggers that can lead to hive breakouts.

These include:

• Wearing tight clothes;
• Drinking alcohol;
• Taking NSAIDs;
• Heat;
• Cold;
• Exercise.

If you experience CIU, avoid these triggers to see if your symptoms improve.

Hives in Children

When children experience hives, the most likely cause is an allergic reaction.

Even though the red bumps and welts on an infant or toddler can be disconcerting, there is a way to tell if this is an allergic reaction or simply a rash, like a diaper rash.

If your child has hives, locate a weal (the swollen, discolored patch) and drag your fingernail across the center.

If the color gets brighter or the redness intensifies, they are having an allergic reaction.

This weal and flare test can be helpful when trying to identify the problem.

The next step is determining the allergen in question, which will help avoid a future outbreak.

Traditional Medical Treatments for Hives

Knowing you have hives is the first step.

If you are concerned about your outbreak, a doctor can examine your skin to determine if your bumps or rash are hives or another skin issue.

After diagnosis, you should talk with your doctor to find the source of your hive reaction.

If they do not ask you, be sure to tell your physician if you have had recent exposure to allergens, regardless whether you have previously had an allergic reaction.

If you have increased or new stress in your life, tell them about that, as well.

If your hives are itchy, a healthcare provider will usually recommend or prescribe an antihistamine such as diphenhydramine, which is the active ingredient in Benadryl and similar drugs.

This and other antihistamines can have serious side effects, though.

Common side effects are dizziness, drowsiness, dry mouth or nose, and upset stomach.

If you take antihistamines regularly, you may develop an increased appetite, weight gain, feelings of nervousness or excitability, irritability, and thickening of mucus (6).

If you are experiencing chronic or severe hives, you may be prescribed oral steroids to help calm the inflammation that may be causing them.

Steroids can have many unpleasant side effects, so take them with caution.

Common side effects of oral steroids include difficulty sleeping, high blood pressure, nervousness, blurred vision, acne, stomach irritation, and a puffy face.

Other, more severe side effects include mood swings, increased appetite, increased growth of body hair, worsening of diabetes, and decreased resistance to infection.

If your doctor believes you have CIU or are having an allergic reaction to the unknown cause, they may refer you to a dermatologist or an allergist to help determine the root reason for your hives.

These specialists may run additional tests to determine the source.

Instead of taking medications, you can often treat hives naturally using one of many options.

We share here the top natural remedies for hives.

Our list also includes some of the most-proven ways to prevent hives from appearing.

Top Natural Remedies for Hives

Patience is a Virtue

If you experience hives that are mild, just waiting can often be the only intervention you need.

Many times, hives will just disappear on their own.

If you have hives, avoid hot showers or baths, wear loose-fitting clothing over the area affected, and avoid scratching at all costs.

This is especially true for young children and babies.

Baths should be lukewarm, and clothes should be breathable and loose.

If the hives do not improve within 24 hours, it may be time to consider another treatment option, but most hives resolve on their own.

Address Inflammation

Because hives produce inflammation, you want to be sure you are not contributing to further inflammation in any way.

Harsh cleansers and detergents should be avoided, for both your skin and your clothing.

Do not scrub your skin or apply products with lots of fragrance or other irritating ingredients.

Cool water is an excellent soother for hives.

You can take a cool shower or bath, or use cold compresses to relieve itching and calm inflamed skin.

If you already have an inflammatory disease or sensitivity to certain foods, like gluten or dairy, this can aggravate hives and make them more severe (7).

Root Out Allergens

Through systematic observation and recording of your symptoms, you can usually determine the source of an allergic reaction on your own.

Consider all the things you eat or come into contact with right before you have hives.

This makes narrowing down your source of an outbreak easier.

If you suspect a food allergy, recording everything you eat and drink in a journal can be very helpful in tracking your reactions.

Avoiding the allergen altogether will be a sure way to prevent future outbreaks.

If you are unsure about the source of your reaction, you may consider allergy testing, which can identify your allergens.

Then, you can avoid or limit your exposure to those irritants, keeping your hives at bay.

If what is causing your hives is something unavoidable or a regular part of your life that you don’t want to give up, like a beloved pet, talk with an allergist to see if allergy shots or other treatment may be right for you.

Reduce Your Stress

Many do not realize that stress can cause hives.

Your body releases histamines as an immune response to all sorts of “invaders.”

If you are experiencing high amounts of stress or have been under stress for a very long time, this affects your immune system, triggering a release of histamines.

While this release does not improve your stress level, it can cause hives to appear on your skin.

You can think of this as an allergic reaction to the stress under which you are living.

The hives are your body’s way of telling you that it needs to heal.

Patients with post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, often have a higher incidence of hives than the general population.

Hives in these individuals can be linked to times of significant stress or triggering situations (8).

If stress is causing your hives, your best course of action will be to remove or reduce the source of stress as much as possible.

When you cannot get rid of the source, or need other ways to cope with stress, there are many healthy and natural ways to decrease it.

These include meditation, yoga, journaling, getting a massage, spending time outdoors, getting plenty of exercises, and spending time with loved ones.

While these may not eliminate your source(s) of stress, they can help you to deal with the stress more healthily.

Try Acupuncture

Traditional Chinese medicine has many remedies that are wonderful treatments for modern-day illnesses, including hives.

Acupuncture, which uses tiny, hair-like needles on specific pressure points of your body, is helpful when treating hives, especially chronic varieties of the disorder.

The needles are placed strategically to stimulate nerves throughout your body.

This natural treatment can provide relief from itching and swelling and, in some cases, prevent or diminish relapses.

If you have chronic hives, acupuncture can be a safe and effective treatment for the underlying issues that may be causing your hives.

Those with autoimmune and inflammatory diseases often experience relief from this remedy (9).

Use Baking Soda

Baking soda, or sodium bicarbonate, has been used in many home remedies for centuries.

Because it is gentle on the skin, it has also been used as a cleanser.

Making a paste of one teaspoon baking soda and a little cold water, then applying it to affected areas, can calm the redness and itching of hives and prevent new ones from forming.

Let the paste dry completely, then wash it off with cool water.

This can be done several times per day to soothe your itching, and relief is usually immediate.

You can also add a few tablespoons of baking soda to a warm (not hot) bath.

The ingredient will calm your skin all over and could prevent future outbreaks in areas where you do not currently have hives.

This natural hive treatment can be done at home, and with little preparation.

Take an Oatmeal Bath

Oatmeal is known for its skin-soothing properties and is a natural ingredient in many products designed for use on skin.

To use oatmeal in the treatment of hives, you will need a piece of cheesecloth or a nylon stocking.

Add one to two cups of oats, then tie the end closed, or use a rubber band to secure it.

Place this under running water while you fill a bathtub.

Be sure not to use water that is overly hot, as heat can aggravate symptoms.

Infusing your bath with the salicylic acid found in oats can calm itching and relieve redness.

This option is a good one for small children, but adults enjoy this remedy for its calming effect, too.

You can also use colloidal oatmeal, which is finely ground and made specifically for bathing.

This can be placed directly into the water.

Swab on Witch Hazel

Witch hazel is a natural astringent and antioxidant.

Use a soft cotton ball to swab your hives with witch hazel several times a day to heal your skin and soothe itching and inflammation.

Witch hazel has been used for years as a natural skin toner and soothing liquid, and incorporating it into your hives treatment is an efficient and inexpensive way to keep your itching under control.

Take Supplements

Quercetin is a natural substance with antihistamine and anti-inflammatory properties that can be used to address hives.

This powerful compound prevents the release of histamines from the immune cells, and since this is what usually causes hives, quercetin can help treat, as well as prevent it.

This supplement could be as effective as prescribed medications without some of the adverse side effects (10).

Other supplements that may be helpful in treating hives and the underlying issues that cause them include primrose oil, vitamin B-12, vitamin D, fish oil, and vitamin C.

These will boost your immune system, help calm inflammation, and promote healthy cell function.

Precautions

If you or someone you care about has hives and is also having difficulty breathing or has a fever, seek medical help immediately.

If hives are severe or cover large areas of the body, you need to see a medical professional.

These are signs of a serious allergic reaction or illness that should be treated medically.

Chronic hives may indicate a larger medical problem or a chronic allergy.

You should consult with a specialist, such as a dermatologist, allergist, or immunologist if you have chronic outbreaks of hives.

Angioedema is often confused for hives, but these are two distinct conditions.

While hives are visible bumps on top of the skin, angioedema is swelling under the skin, causing puffy skin that may or may not be reddened.

Angioedema usually lasts longer than hives and is most common around the eyes and lips.

When angioedema affects the tongue or throat, it can restrict the airway, which is dangerous.

Angioedema and hives can both be signs of anaphylaxis, a serious and sometimes life-threatening allergic reaction.

If you or someone you care about has angioedema or hives and is having difficulty breathing after an allergic reaction, seek medical help immediately.

If you know you have a severe allergy, consult your doctor immediately if you have hives related to allergen exposure.

If you have other autoimmune or chronic diseases and start seeing hives, talk with your doctor.

Hives are a symptom of something else happening in your body, so be sure you pay attention to these warning signs that appear on your skin.

Conclusion

One-fifth of us will experience hives at some point.

While this skin disorder can look bad temporarily, most cases of hives are minor and disappear as quickly as they appeared.

By exercising patience, treating our bodies with kindness, and using a few natural remedies, you can resolve most cases of hives with little effort and over a short time.

You may have the ingredients to treat your hives naturally right in your own home, with everyday items such as baking soda, oatmeal, and witch hazel.

These and other natural ingredients can soothe and calm the redness and itching associated with hives.

Using gentle cleaners and products for your skin and clothing, as well as for those of your children, will also help in addressing and preventing hive breakouts.

Treating hives does not have to be difficult.

If you use familiar, natural ingredients and help your body deal with the stressors and allergens causing your hives, you’ll be feeling and looking great again soon.