There are various forms of acute hives treatment. Conventional forms usually involve antihistamines, and in more serious forms the use of oral steroids. A good diet and avoidance of the allergens is also part of acute hives treatment. However, in most cases of acute hives the cause is never found.

Hives are considered acute if they have been present for less than six weeks. In most cases, acute hives will only last a few days, and normally no longer than two weeks. Although overall hives are usually a result of an over-active immune system, case of hives are usually triggered by some sort of allergen.

Before treatment begins, doctors will usually try to identify what triggered the reaction. Reactions are typically caused by infections, drugs, insect stings, food allergies, or physical contact with items. So, if you can recall any new medication, new foods, or other items you have been in contact with it will be helpful.

Whether the trigger is identified or not the doctor will prescribe an antihistamine.  Antihistamines are usually categorized by new and older forms. Older antihistamines like Benadryl and Vistaril often have bothersome side effects and have to be taken more often. Newer forms such as Claritin and Allegra only have to be taken once or twice. Most people like these more for acute hive treatment because they cause less drowsiness.

Severe hives do not get better with antihistamines so oral steroids will be prescribed. If these do not help either, the doctor will discuss other treatments that are available and probably recommend a dermatologist of allergist. There are natural treatments that can be used for acute hive treatment, but they should be discussed with your doctor first.

Acute Hives Causes

In hives, acute cases can have several different causes. Most people believe that they are a result of an allergic reaction, but in reality they have a deeper underlying cause, although it isn’t always identified. According to Allergies.about.com, one of the most common causes is a viral infection, especially in children. Sometimes acute hives are also related to other infections like athlete’s foot, strep throat, and urinary tract infections.

Stress is another common cause of acute hives. You may not even feel particularly stress, but if you are very busy your body may react. Chronic infections such as hepatitis or metabolic diseases such as high or low thyroid function also may be root causes, but they are usually linked to chronic forms of hives. If you think that you or someone you know may be breaking out in hives, you can take a look at acute hives pictures on the web at the following sites:

• Skinsight.com
• Dermatology.about.com
• Worldallergy.org

We all have questions about hives, but what we really would like to know is how we can get rid of hives, or get rid of urticaria. The answers are simpler than you think. This article will help you to find the answers you need, but primarily how to get rid of hives.

So, how do you get rid of hives? One of the leading ways to get rid of hives is using essential oils. Not only do they sooth your skin, but they have curing properties as well. Sandalwood, lavender, and chamomile are great essential oils to try. Another approach to get rid of hives is eating foods high in quercetin, which is a pigment found naturally in foods like onions, apples, and green vegetables. This works because it is high in anti-oxidants and anti-histimines.

How to Get Rid of Hives Fast

For one reason or another, many people want to know “How do I get rid of hives fast?” One way suggested by Ayurvediccure.com to get rid of hives fast is to take a quick dip in the swimming pool. Chlorine will take the itch out and hives are known to disappear in a couple of hours. Warning: Both chlorine and cold water have been known to cause severe reactions in some people, so you may not want to do this if you do not know exactly what you are allergic to.

How to Get Rid of Hives Quickly

Okay, for whatever reason the last option is not viable for you, but your still want to know “How can I get rid of hives quickly?” Hives-treatment.com suggests that the best way is with antihistamines. Take Benadryl or Zyrtec, and add an inexpensive gastric reflux medicine such as rantidine orcimetidine. These will work in combination to get rid of your symptoms fast. Making ice cubes out of mint tea and applying to the skin has also been known to work fast.

How to Get Rid of Hives on Face

The best way to get rid of hives on your face is to apply ice packs or cold compresses to your face. Adding colloidal oatmeal and baking soda to a tub of cool water will reduce your body temperature. Also, eliminating sources of stress or finding ways to cope with stress (event taking anxiety medication) will help get rid of hives on you face (Livestrong.com, 2011).

How to Get Rid of Hives Naturally

Another common question is “how to get rid of hives with home remedies?” There are lots of ways to get rid of hives naturally without even leaving your house. Making pastes with oatmeal or baking soda help, as well a drinking green tea or chamomile tea. These also will lower your stress level and sooth your hives. Many people don’t know this but just taking a cool bath lowers your histamine levels, and therefore your symptoms.

Instead of relying on conventional methods to cure hives, people are beginning to look for techniques that may provide a natural cure for hives. This is not surprising. A natural cure for hives seems to have a better chance at overall success than any conventional method of treatment. This is because natural cures, such as acupuncture and oriental medicine, address the underlying imbalances that cause the condition. In other words, they are not just curing the symptoms but also fixing the problem at its source.

One natural cure for hives that has been proven to work time and time again is acupuncture. Not only does it help to cure the current symptoms, but people have found that it sometimes helps to stop it from recurring. Acupuncture and herbal medicines have been known to be used as a natural cure for hives and other skin conditions dating back to 3 AD. Commonly used acupuncture points are spleen 10, located above the top inner corner of the knee cap, and large intestine 11 which is located in the depression at the outer part of the elbow crease. This of course can vary from person to person.

Oriental Medicine & Hives

According to Acufinder.com, “In Oriental medicine, an outbreak of hives is described as wind invading the skin and the meridians, causing itching and swelling.” The article goes on to say that if the eruption are red it indicates that wind and heat are involved, when they are white or pink the diagnosis will be wind-cold invading the skin. This diagnosis will determine which herbal medicines and acupuncture points are used and what dietary or lifestyle changes must take place.

Dittany, spirodela, red peony, honeysuckle and mint are some of the oriental herbs that might be used. Other oriental treatments include yoga, meditation, and cupping. Cupping is a natural cure from hives that is much like an acupuncture treatment. It is meant to help with blood circulation underneath the skin.

Diet is vital when it comes to trying to heal your body. Mindbodybasics.com lays out the type of foods you should eat when trying to cure skin conditions. It states, “Healthy skin is directly dependent of the amount of vitamin A in our diet. Vitamin A acts as an antioxidant to neutralize harmful elements in our skin” the article goes on to say that Vitamin A is found in vegetable that have a deep orange color. The following foods are recommended to be added to your diet:

• Carrots
• Sweet Potatoes
• Blackberries
• Blueberries
• Strawberries
• Plums
• Salmon
• Walnuts
• Canola Oil
• Flax Seed
• Olive Oil
• Whole Wheat Bread
• Brown Rice
• Turkey
• Tuna
• Brazil Nuts
• Green Tea
• Water

It may be challenging to find the right hives medications. Most of the time if the trigger is identified, (in other words the food, medication, or physical stimulus that causes the reaction) then it can be avoided. Also, if the hives are caused by an underlying health condition they may go away with the treatment of that condition. For the most part, however, antihistamines are the medicines administered to treat hives.

Antihistamines block the release of histamines in the body. These hives medications can help control symptoms even in cases of chronic hives.  According to emedicinehealth.com, antihistamines are broken into two types: H1 and H2. Short-acting H1 type antihistamines, such as Benadryl, are used in more mild cases. These are usually fairly inexpensive and can be bought over the counter. Long-acting antihistamines, such as Claritin and Zyrtec, may also be used for mild cases.

Prescription antihistamines are often administered by doctors. These include Atarax, Vistaril, Allegra, and Xyzal. Xyzal (levocetirizine) is prescribed often because it does not cause as much drowsiness. Type H2 antihistamines are medications such as Zantac, Tagamet, and Pepcid. They have been found to improve the rash and swelling if taken along with an H1 antihistamine.

Other Medications

In more severe cases, or in cases where hives don’t respond to antihistamines, oral steroids like prednisone or medrol may be prescribed. These help by suppressing the immune system so that allergic reactions don’t occur. Doxepin is an antidepressant that has antihistamine effect. Although antidepressants such as these are not officially approved as hives medications, many doctors find them to be very effective in treating hives.

Epinephrine is administered in more severe cases of hives. This is a powerful histamine blocker that works quickly to reverse allergic reactions, including anaphylactic shock. It is usually injected or given by an IV line. A saline solution may be given through an IV as well in order to increase blood pressure. Other medications also may be given to keep blood pressure raised.  Some severe cases of hives do require hospitalization.

Sometimes swelling (angioedema) can occur and it can block airways. Oxygen may be given through a tube or face mask in times like these. Angeioedema is swelling that occurs suddenly beneath the surface of the skin. Welts and swelling on the skins surface are common too.

People who have angeioedema often need to be hospitalized even when treatments go well. This is because the chance of it reoccurring is high. Angioedema medications are basically the same as hives medications, with the exception of Terbutaline, which is a bronchodilator. If swelling occurs that is making it hard to breath, seek immediate medical attention so that a tube can be placed to keep the airway open.

Before hives management, also known as urticaria management, can take place, a person must have a thorough understanding of their condition. Urticaria is characterized by redness, swelling, and itching in small areas of the skin. These patches can grow and recede in less than a day; however it will usually occur in other locations and may take four to six weeks to resolve itself.

People often think that the cause of hives is allergies, but even in acute cases there is usually a more serious cause such as immunity or digestive problems. Instead, the allergens are really just triggers that cause the hives to manifest. So, in order to practice any kind of hives management, one must treat the source of the problem.

Keeping a diet high in vitamin C will help you to support your immune system, and make your hives reaction less frequent. Drinking lots of water also helps, by keeping your body free of toxins. In addition, diets that have high amounts of quercetin will give you natural antihistamines and antioxidants.

Urticaria and Treatment

Management of chronic urticaria takes special treatment under a physicians care as well as at home. Mild cases of hives simply need antihistamines, but more severe cases of urticaria may require oral corticosteroids. Sometimes swelling occurs (angioedema), and swelling of the airways may cause weezing, respiratory distress, or even airway obstruction. In such cases, emergency injection of epinephrine may be required (Enotes.com, 2011).

The best way to manage hives at home is to use Aloe Vero gel. Not only will it treat the itching and burning, but it has healing properties as well. Many people don’t know this, but taking a cool bath or shower at home helps to release histamines from your body. Just make sure to watch the temperature because extreme heat or cold could make the hives worse.

Sandalwood or primrose essential oils help to manage hives breakouts as well. So, does boiling mint, making a solution or paste out of it, and applying it to the skin. Be sure to speak to your doctor before trying any kind of hives management remedies, especially in cases of urticaria management as some herbs can actually make symptoms worse.

Other things to try in management of urticaria, is to try to avoid situations which may make hives worse. Wear loose fitting clothing made of cotton or other fabrics that breathe well. Avoid heavy exercise or hot temperatures.  Also, you may think about keeping a journal and tracking exposures, if you are unsure what triggers your breakouts.

People commonly ask “how to stop hives” and it is not an easy question to answer. However, there are lots of possibilities out there. There are many ways to stop hives from occurring, and with a little dedication and a few life changes it can be done.

Many people mistake hives for simply an allergic reaction. If you want to learn how to stop hives, you’ll have to look at the bigger picture. Hives is an allergic reaction, however it usually stems from bigger problems, such as immune deficiencies or digestive problems. So, in order to know how to stop hives, you have to start at the source.

The best way to stop hives is to take care of your body. This means keeping a balanced diet with moderate exercise. Good diets for hives usually include those that are high in vitamin C, have a high fiber content, and include meats such as poultry and fish such as salmon. Exercise relieves stress and can release toxins too. Don’t exercise too heavily though, as excess body heat can trigger hives. Also, drinking lots of water keeps toxins out of your body and is a very excellent way of stopping hives.

Stop hives from Itching

There are many way to start hives itching episodes. One basic way to stop hives itching is simply to take a cool shower. Another way to stop hives itching is by using Aloe Vera gel. Aloe Vera has been known for centuries as a way to treat skin. By applying you not only help in skin regeneration and immunity, but it will stop itching from hives almost immediately.

There are many websites with information on how to stop itching from hives. One of which is skinhivestreatment.org, which recommends using essential oils such as Sandalwood, lavender, and chamomile. Another thing that is recommended is in how to stop hives is quercetin. This is a pigment that is found naturally in foods such as onions, apples, and green vegetables. It is a natural antihistamine and antioxidant.

Different forms of mint are often recommended to stop itching from hives. For example, one remedy is to take a mint herb and boil it for 5 minutes, as though you’re making tea. Then strain the herbs from the water, poor in ice cube trays and freeze. Not only will these cubes stop itching hives, but they will help in the healing process as well. You can find more information on how to stop hives at Myhomeremedies.com, Ehow.com, and Hives-treatment.com.

Urticaria natural treatment is increasingly growing in popularity. Natural treatment for urticaria has proven itself quite effective. They should, however, be used along with conventional methods and you should talk to your doctor before starting any kind of urticaria natural treatment.

Aloe Vera gel is one of the main natural remedies people use for hives. When applied to the affected area it immediately relieves itching and has a cooling effect on the sking. It also has natural healing properties which help the skin to regenerate itself. In addition, there are many herbs that are common and easily found that can be prepared to help with inflammation and to help sooth hives. By making a paste (often by boiling them and adding baking soda) out of these herbs and applying it to the skin, irritation and swelling will subside. Some of the herbs often used are:

• Cassia
• Henna
• Holy Basil
• Madhuka
• Rauwolfia
• Sandal Wood

Natural-homeremedies.org is a site that is dedicated to providing natural treatments to a number of conditions. One remedy that they provide is boiling heat Echinacea and marshmallow roots for 5 minutes. Afterwards, turn off the heat and add Chamomile flowers, peppermint leaf and ginger rhizome in small quantities. After stirring well and straining the herbs, the liquid which is left can be consumed. This is said to prevent skin allergies.

Urticaria Natural Treatment

Homemademedicine.com is another great site that provides advice on how to make home remedies for a hives natural treatment, as well as for other conditions. They also recommend Aloe Vera as a remedy, adding that it stimulates immunity and eliminates toxins. Other remedies that they include are:

Bromelain – This is a very effective anti-inflammatory. It decreases the allergic response while alleviating hives and accelerating healing. It is non-toxic and can be taken in oral doses or can be applied directly to the hives.

Burdock – This makes a good remedy for types of hives that stem from digestive problems. It detoxifies the liver and the blood and is a digestive stimulant. It helps by purifying skin and reducing swelling, while stimulating the immune system.

Curcurnin – This herb stimulates the body’s natural anti-inflammatory corticosteroids. It is also a very effective antihistamine and antioxidant which helps with inflammation as well.

In addition to home remedies many people are turning to acupuncture as a complementary hives natural treatments. According to the Archives of Dermatology website (Archderm.ama-assn.org) urticaria natural treatments can be challenging for physicians, so several strategies of acupuncture were studied. You should read the study for more information and to build your own conclusions; however, a breakdown of it has been provided below:

• Ordinary acupuncture – cured 30 – 50%
• A combination of ordinary acupuncture and acupuncture point bleeding – cured 83%
• Combination of ordinary acupuncture and auricular acupuncture – cured 96%
• Acupuncture point injection with thiamine – cured 77.5%
• Acupuncture point injection with Autologous blood – cured 50 – 76.3%
• Cupping of acupuncture point – cured 35.8%

Don’t worry about how to control urticaria. There are a lot of different ways to control hives. Since hives is really just a symptom of an immunity problem, you must first learn how to take care of your body so that your immune system can function properly. After that it is not hard to learn how to control hives.

In order to control hives, it is important to figure out what situations to avoid. Do you have hive reactions in times of stress or nervousness? Do the reactions occur more frequently after intense exercise or exposure to heat? Many times people have a hard time telling exactly what triggers their hives reaction. Keeping a journal of what activities you’ve done, what medications you taken, and what foods you’ve eaten is a good way to narrow down potential triggers.

One of the most basic ways to control hives is to drink a lot of water. In some people hives are the result of the digestive system functioning incorrectly, and so waste is forced through the skins excretory system (Adulthives.com, 2011). In any case, drinking water regularly is key to keeping your body free of toxins and functioning well.

Eating foods with plenty of vitamin C is also very in important when trying to control urticaria. Eating lots of fruits and vegetables will help you to achieve this. A diet of salmon-like fish, poultry, and whole grains is also recommended, along with foods high in quercetin such as apples, grapes, cherries, green tea, broccoli, and leafy greens. Many of these foods are high in antihistamines and antioxidants.

Other Tactics

People often have problems be able to control urticaria in times of stress or anxiety. This could be because of the distraction, but often times it is due to the stress inhibiting the immune system. If you feel like you are going to be under stress or in situations that make you anxious, you may want to take higher doses of antihistamine that day. Taking cool showers also release histamine from your skin, so you might try that to try and control hives.

Treatments for hives often include antihistimines such as Claritin, Zyrtec, Clerinex, and Allegra. Oral steroids may also be administered to control urticaria. There is not much available to relieve itching. Many people turn to natural remedies, such as Aloe Vera or Mint for this. You will want to avoid penicillin or anything that contains aspirin, because this often triggers hives.  Other tips to help control hives are:

• Avoid heat
• Stay away from alcohol
• Try not to scratch
• Wear loose clothes
• Wear cotton fabrics

So, you want to know how to prevent hives. It isn’t easy, but with a few personal changes it is possible. The problem that most people have when learning how to prevent hives starts with the misconception that hives is an allergic reaction. They believe that the symptoms of the reaction are what ought to be treated. This is wrong. Hives are a direct result of an immune problem. Although certain things may trigger a physical reaction of the skin, the basis of the problem lies within the body’s inability to react correctly.

Keeping a healthy, balanced body is your first step when trying to prevent hives. A good diet that supports your immune system problem is essential. For people with hives, a diet with high amounts of vitamin C is recommended. Though vitamin C can be found in all fruits and vegetables, you can get the largest amount by eating dark or leafy greens such as turnip greens, spinach, and green peppers. Strawberries, tomatoes, citrus fruits, fruit juices, and cantaloupe are also great sources of the vitamin.

Drinking large amounts of water can be very helpful. You’ll also want to begin eating foods that are high in B12, some of these include eggs, poultry, fish like salmon, dairy and soy products. B3 (niacin) is also good for you; these include whole grains such as cereal and breads, as well as seeds and nuts, poultry and seafood. Be careful though, as sometimes nuts and seafood have been known to spur reactions.

The most highly recommended part of a hives diet is intake of quercetin. This is because it has natural antihistamines and antioxidants. Quercetin can be found in apples, raspberries, red grapes, cherries and berries, leafy greens, broccoli, onions, red wine, and green tea, among other things.

Other Tactics Used to Prevent Hives

Livestrong.com suggests keeping a journal to keep track of frequent outbreak. This journal should include the foods that you have eaten, medications that you have taken, as well as any instances where you were nervous, exposed to extreme heat or cold, or exercised heavily. These are all common triggers that may cause a hive reaction in the skin. By keeping track, you may be able to narrow down what is triggering your reactions and simply avoid those exposures.

A person that has hives often may need to avoid extreme temperatures at any time. This includes baths or showers. Cool baths are less likely to irritate skin, and can help relieve itching or burning symptoms.

Many people want to know how to prevent hives when nervous. Reactions can be typical in situations of anxiety, nervousness, and stress. These situations are hard to avoid. The answer is simple. Taking Benadryl when stressed hinders the histamines that cause reactions. Just remember that it may make you drowsy too.

Finally, wear clothing that is made of cotton or other natural fibers that can breathe. Use these fabrics for bedding as well. Keep clothing loose and comfortable, and do not use material that will make you sweaty or itch, such as wool. Lightweight or breathable fabrics are especially important in periods following a hives attack.

More and more people are turning to natural cures for hives. This is because conventional medications often cause drowsiness and other side effects. Also, although these medications treat the symptoms of hives quite well they can only do so much to prevent reoccurrences or lessening of hive flares all together. Let’s face it, if you want to solve a problem you have to treat it at the source.

Herbal medicines and natural treatments such as acupuncture have been used for skin disorders, such as hives, since approximately 3AD. According to ABC News, acupuncture is the most commonly reported alternative treatment for hives (Abcnews.go.com, 2008). One study conducted at the Isfahan University of Medical Science in Iran, ultimately showed that acupuncture was able to reduce the episode rate and duration of urticaria (chronic hives) by up to 25% (Acufinder.com, 2011).

Hives natural cures often involve the use of herbs in their treatment. Many herbs can not only relieve irritation and inflammation, but can even heal as they do. Mint and sandalwood are two herbs that are popular in treating hives. Evening primrose oil has also been known to help with symptoms. Many people apply Aloe Vera gel to infected are because not only does it heal the skin, it provides immediate relief as well.

Natural Cures & Hives

Using preventative measures is the first step to take if you want to cure your hives for good. It has been done, even in chronic cases. Try your best to figure out what is triggering your reactions and avoid it. Common triggers include certain foods, certain medications, over-exposure to heat or cold, stress, anxiety, and overexertion in exercise or sports. You can more information on common triggers at Herbs2000.com.

Also, on Herbs2000.com you can find more information on natural cures for hives. Homeopathy is one technique that they point out, and it has been said to cure hives completely. Homeopathy was developed in Germany about 200 years ago and is based on the concept of ‘like cures like’. For example, you may have allergies that make your eyes water, exposing yourself to another substance that makes your eyes water will cause your symptoms to subside. So, in this case you may expose yourself to an onion to counter your symptoms.

Homeopathy may sound silly, but there are many people out there that say it works. The National Center for Complementary Medicine states that there is little evidence to support homeopathy, however in randomized placebo-controlled trials positive effects were reported, along with unique physical and chemical properties of homeopathic remedies. They do advise that it should not be a replacement for conventional care, and should be discussed with your healthcare provider beforehand (Nccam.nih.gov, 2011).