Hives, medically known as Urticaria, is a skin condition. During hives the skin develops red and ring-shaped patches on the skin. These patches are found all over the body and cause the skin to become inflamed and swollen. The swelling on one part may subside with time but will immediately appear on some other part.
So in effect the swelling never goes unless the condition is treated. The main reason for hives is the presence of histamine in the body. Histamines are chemicals produced by the body as a reaction to an allergen that has infected the body. The chemical histamine is produced to ward off the infection caused by the allergen; but this is not a rule.
Sometimes the body manufactures histamine even in the absence of an allergen or a foreign body. Hives requires treatment because it has rather uncomfortable symptoms. Some people find it difficult to breathe as a result of hives. A few people have also complained of difficulty in swallowing food when suffering from hives.
The skin condition often leads to unstable heartbeat and fainting spells caused due to feelings of dizziness. Due to the symptoms associated with hives, the sufferers often get panic and anxiety attacks as well.
Home Remedies For Treatment Of Hives
Medically, hives is treated by first diagnosing the reason for the condition. If hives is caused to the presence of an allergen in the body, the allergen needs to get rid of. However, if the cause of hives is not known then it can be treated using simple and effective home remedies.
Calamine Lotion For The Treatment Of Hives
Calamine lotion is good for treating hives and the symptoms associated with it.
A thin layer of calamine lotion on the affected skin takes care of the redness, itching and swelling. The treatment can be used as many number of times during the day as you want. Keep re-applying calamine lotion on the affected skin areas whenever you feel the need to itch or if the swelling causes pain.
Aloe Vera Gel For The Treatment If Hives
Gather fresh aloe vera gel in a small bowl by removing the green skin of the aloe vera leaf. Mash the gel and mix a little cold water in the gel to make a paste of spreadable consistency. Apply the aloe vera gel on the skin affected with hives.
Aloe vera gel is excellent for soothing the irritated skin. It also helps bring down the inflammation. For best results, use aloe vera gel that has been refrigerated for over a couple of hours. Chilled aloe vera gel will considerably bring down the swelling and redness.
Oatmeal Bath For The Treatment Of Hives
Fill the bath tub with lukewarm water. Add three cups of finely powdered oatmeal in the tub and mix it well in the water. Soak yourself in the oatmeal bath. You will feel tiny particles of oatmeal on your skin. Massage the affected areas of the skin using these tiny particles.
Soak your skin in the oatmeal bath for 15-20 minutes. This bath should be done at night before retiring to bed. The reason is that the symptoms of hives are felt most at night when the body is at rest. To get a peaceful and undisturbed sleep take oatmeal bath at night. This will bring down the inflammation and reduce redness and itching as well.
Cold Compress For The Treatment Of Hives
Take a clean towel or a zip lock bag. Fill the plastic bag with ice and apply it on the skin affected with hives. The cold compress will help decrease the swelling and inflammation of the skin.
10 Effective Home Remedies For Hives
Alternatively, you could soak a clean cloth in ice cold water, squeeze the extra water from the cloth and apply it on the area under attack from hives. It will have the same effect as cold compress.
Vitamin E For The Treatment Of Hives
Take a small bowl and put it in the microwave for 1-2 minutes. Take the bowl out from the microwave and immediately pour an ounce of Vitamin E oil in it.
The oil will warm up a bit. Apply this warmed vitamin E oil on the hives affected skin. Massage the oil well on your skin to remove inflammation and redness.
Milk Of Magnesia For The Treatment Of Hives
The alkaline properties of milk of magnesia are very beneficial in the treatment of hives. It soothes the irritated skin by effectively getting rid of inflammation, itching and rashes caused by hives. The treatment with milk of magnesia should be repeated twice every day.
Cornstarch Powder For The Treatment Of Hives
Buy cornstarch powder from any local pharmacy. Sprinkle the powder on the inflamed and irritated skin. Lightly rub the powder over the skin. Use the powder every time you feel the need to itch the skin. Cornstarch powder greatly reduces the discomfort of the skin associated with hives.
Warm Water For The Treatment Of Hives
Pour warm water in a bath tub and soak yourself in the warm water bath for 15 minutes. The treatment can be done every time you experience attack of hives.
The warmth of the water will soothe the skin and decrease the need to itch the skin vigorously. This treatment comes in handy when you cannot perform any other treatment due to the intensity of the attack.
Herbal Teas For The Treatment Of Hives
Prepare a cup of chamomile tea or peppermint tea and drink the herbal tea concoction first thing in the morning. Herbal teas will calm your nerves and reduce the anxiety and panic you feel when under attack of hives. Herbal teas also help regulate the pace of breathing making it easier to breathe during hives. Four cups of herbal tea during the day will see you through the condition.
Cayenne Pepper For The Treatment Of Hives
Many sufferers have experienced an improvement in the condition of hives after adding cayenne pepper to their daily diet. Cayenne pepper can be included in almost all the dishes; simply sprinkle the powder over your vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes.
It can also be added to your soups and salads. Cayenne pepper also comes in supplement form and capsules are available with pharmacists and at health food stores. Two capsules of cayenne pepper will help deal with the condition.
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