Health Conditions A-Z Skin, Hair & Nail Conditions 10 Ways To Get Rid of Hives Fast Try these over-the-counter meds and home remedies when you need relief ASAP. By Karen Pallarito Karen Pallarito Karen is a senior editor at Health, where she produces health condition “explainers” backed by current science. health's editorial guidelines Updated on December 6, 2022 Medically reviewed by William Truswell, MD Medically reviewed by William Truswell, MD William Truswell, MD, FACS, operates his own cosmetic and reconstructive facial surgery practice. Dr. Truswell was the first in his area in Western Massachusetts to have an accredited private office surgical suite. learn more Peathegee Inc/Blend Images/Getty Images If you haven't tangled with hives before, you might be alarmed when your face and neckline break out in red or flesh-colored welts or when your kid comes home from school with an itchy rash all over his body. What do you do? You likely call your healthcare provider (or text a friend or search the web) to find out how to get rid of hives—fast! So what is the best hives treatment? And are there natural remedies for hives? Hives, also called urticaria (ur-tih-CARE-ee-uh), is a raised skin rash that typically lasts for hours or days. However, sometimes it takes up to six weeks to clear as new bumps surface and old ones disappear. According to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), cases that persist for more than six weeks are considered chronic hives. Hives may be triggered by an allergy to food, medication, insect bites, pet dander, pollen, certain plants, or latex. Some people get hives when they're stressed out. In children, the itchy rash can be due to a viral infection. Sometimes a physical stimulus—heat, cold, sunlight, exercise, or friction or pressure on the skin—can cause hives to erupt. The body's immune system responds to these threats by waging a chemical attack. The raised patches on your skin occur when histamine and other chemicals cause tiny blood vessels to leak blood plasma (a watery, straw-colored fluid). In most cases, you can quickly clear up hives with over-the-counter antihistamines. However, depending on the severity, duration, and cause, doctors may prescribe other medicines too. As for home remedies? They won't stop hives but may "have a soothing effect," said Luz Fonacier, MD, a spokesperson for the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology. Hives usually aren't serious. But whenever someone has hives with wheezing, shortness of breath, tongue swelling, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or lightheadedness, seek emergency medical care. These may be signs of a life-threatening allergic reaction. If hives are the only concern, follow these basic strategies to get rid of the rash and calm the itch. 01 of 10 Use a Cold Compress A cooling cloth or cold pack may be just the thing to ease the warmth and swelling of hives. Ice can also numb the skin to stop the itch temporarily. Apply a cold pack as needed for five to 10 minutes at a time. Do not apply ice or ice packs directly to the skin, which could cause further skin irritation. Instead, use a cloth towel as a barrier. However, if you suspect your hives were triggered by exposure to the cold, skip the cold compress. People with "cold urticaria" should avoid situations that worsen their symptoms, such as cold water, cold weather, and the use of cold packs, the AAD recommended. 02 of 10 Take a Bath or Shower Trinette Reed/Stocksy For temporary itch relief, water therapy in the form of a bath or shower may help. The question is, at what temperature? Whether cool water is more comforting than warm depends on your sensory perception of itch, explained Walter Ryan III, DO, an allergy and immunology specialist with the Florida Center for Allergy and Asthma Care in Boca Raton, Florida., and a fellow of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology. Cold provides numbing relief, Dr. Ryan III said, while heat can sometimes distract your brain from the itch. Opt for cooling relief if you think you have "cholinergic urticaria," a type of hives believed to be caused by sweating due to exercise, fever, or hot baths or showers, for example. 03 of 10 Soothe Your Skin With Oatmeal Getty Images Oatmeal has long been considered a natural soothing and anti-inflammatory agent. Colloidal oatmeal—oats ground, boiled, and milled into a fine powder—can be found in many body washes, bath soaks, and moisturizers on the market. Or, you can add the colloidal oatmeal powder directly to your tub for a calming soak. According to research published in the Journal of Drugs in Dermatology in 2015, colloidal oatmeal works to soothe itchy skin by reducing pro-inflammatory cytokines. 04 of 10 Steer Clear of Tight Clothes and Other Irritants Dean Mitchell/Getty Images If you have hives, your skin is already inflamed–so be kind to it. Avoid harsh soaps and other skin irritants since itching and scratching can worsen hives. Drinking alcohol can also make your hives worse. Wear loose, comfortable clothing, especially if you have "physical urticaria," a type of hives caused by a stimulus like squeezing or rubbing. "Even just the pressure in their clothing will make them hive," said Dr. Fonacier, who is a professor of medicine at the State University of New York at Stony Brook and head of allergy at NYU Winthrop Hospital in Mineola, New York. 05 of 10 Take an Over-the-Counter Antihistamine Getty Images Antihistamines, the ones you buy in the pharmacy aisle, are the go-to medicines to get rid of hives. Benadryl (diphenhydramine) helps by blocking the production of histamine. It works great but can make you drowsy, so it's best to take it before you go to sleep. The same goes for Chlor-Trimeton (chlorpheniramine), another older antihistamine. Fortunately, newer, second-generation antihistamines such as Allegra (fexofenadine), Claritin (loratadine), Clarinex (desloratadine), Xyzal (levocetirizine), and Zyrtec (cetirizine) are non-sedating, and "all of them are equally effective," Dr. Fonacier said. 06 of 10 Try Aloe Vera The gel-like substance from the aloe vera plant leaves (and found in many skincare products) is widely used as a remedy for burns and other skin conditions. The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health says applying aloe to the skin might also be helpful for rashes. Like many other natural remedies, "it's soothing; it takes off the itch," Dr. Fonacier said. But it doesn't make the hives go away. 07 of 10 Apply Witch Hazel Getty Images This topical astringent is derived from the leaves and bark of the witch hazel shrub. It's rich in tannins (which reduce swelling) and polyphenols (antioxidant-rich compounds). Dabbing witch hazel on hives may provide temporary relief while waiting for your antihistamine to kick in. It will "constrict the skin for soothing purposes—not relieve the hives," Dr. Fonacier said. 08 of 10 Dab on Calamine Lotion ohlamour studio / Stocksy Calamine is the bubblegum-pink liquid your grandma dabbed on your bug bites when you were a kid. As a hives remedy, it can also provide temporary itch relief. Calamine contains itch-relieving zinc oxide. Caladryl, a similar product, combines calamine and pramoxine, a topical anesthetic. But these lotions are messy, especially if you've got hives all over your body. "It's still probably more effective for you to just get in the car and buy an antihistamine," Dr. Ryan III said. 09 of 10 See Your Allergist Getty Images When over-the-counter antihistamines fail to resolve hives, see an allergist who can assess your triggers and prescribe other treatment regimens. One option may be to increase your dose of over-the-counter medicine, Dr. Fonacier explained. "Sometimes we have them on Zyrtec, two tablets twice a day, for example." Or, your healthcare provider may prescribe oral or injectable steroids (such as prednisone), an antibiotic called dapsone, or an injectable drug called Xolair (omalizumab). 10 of 10 Reduce Stress franckreporter/Getty Could your hives breakout be stress-related? Emotional stress is a well-known, non-allergic cause of hives. It's been shown that people can develop "stress hives" in connection with a particularly stressful life event, for example. According to research published in Clinical Therapeutics in 2020, stress hormones like cortisol can lead to skin inflammation and hives. If you remain stressed, it can make your hives even worse. Relaxation techniques like meditation or muscle relaxation may be just what you need to chill out and heel your skin. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit