Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsCausesTypesTreatmentNatural TherapiesWhen to See a ProviderSummary
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Causes
Types
Treatment
Natural Therapies
When to See a Provider
Summary
Acuteurticaria(hives) is a common skin condition that affects up to 20% of people at some point in their lives.It can transition into chronic urticaria for up to 8% of the population.Hives tend to go away without treatment, but self-care strategies like taking a cooling bath can help manage discomfort.
Some people, however, may require medication such as an antihistamine, anti-inflammatory drug, corticosteroid, or monoclonal antibodies. The choice of hives treatment is based largely on the underlying cause and whether or not you respond to first-line treatment.
Verywell / Brianna Gilmartin
When to Seek Emergency HelpSeek emergency care at once if you have hives along with symptoms of anaphylaxis such as:WheezingShortness of breathSwelling of the tongue or throatFainting or dizzinessRacing heartHives may also be a symptom of Alpha-gal syndrome. This condition is a medical emergency and may also include gastrointestinal symptoms such as:Nausea and vomitingDiarrheaStomach painIndigestion or heartburn
When to Seek Emergency Help
Seek emergency care at once if you have hives along with symptoms of anaphylaxis such as:WheezingShortness of breathSwelling of the tongue or throatFainting or dizzinessRacing heartHives may also be a symptom of Alpha-gal syndrome. This condition is a medical emergency and may also include gastrointestinal symptoms such as:Nausea and vomitingDiarrheaStomach painIndigestion or heartburn
Seek emergency care at once if you have hives along with symptoms of anaphylaxis such as:
Hives may also be a symptom of Alpha-gal syndrome. This condition is a medical emergency and may also include gastrointestinal symptoms such as:
Some common triggers of urticaria include:
What triggers hives?
Urticaria is usually classified as acute or chronic. The major difference depends on how long the symptoms last.
Acute
Acute cases of urticaria are those that come on suddenly and are short-lived. Most are allergy-related. The skin comes in contact with a normally harmless substance that the immune system mistakes as something it needs to eliminate, which triggers the skin reaction.
How long do hives last?Acute hives associated with allergies will usually resolve on their own within a few hours or days. Chronic hives associated with autoimmunity can last six weeks or longer in some cases.
How long do hives last?
Acute hives associated with allergies will usually resolve on their own within a few hours or days. Chronic hives associated with autoimmunity can last six weeks or longer in some cases.
Chronic
If your urticaria is related to an autoimmune condition, you can still use many of the same treatments that are typically used for allergic skin reactions.
If your hives are chronic, it is important to see a healthcare provider so you can learn the underlying cause.
Acute Urticaria
If your hives appear suddenly after you’ve been exposed to a trigger and your symptoms are mild, you can treat them at home. Remedies that may be helpful include:
What is the fastest way to cure hives?There are many possible ways to treat urticaria (hives) depending on the underlying cause. These include home remedies like a cold compress or over-the-counter drugs like antihistamines and H2 blockers.Chronic or treatment-resistant hives may benefit from prescription antihistamines as well as approved and off-label drugs like Xolair (omalizumab), doxepin, or Singulair (montelukast).Complementary therapies may also help, including colloidal oatmeal baths or mind-body practices like meditation that can reduce the stress that makes chronic hives worse.
What is the fastest way to cure hives?
There are many possible ways to treat urticaria (hives) depending on the underlying cause. These include home remedies like a cold compress or over-the-counter drugs like antihistamines and H2 blockers.Chronic or treatment-resistant hives may benefit from prescription antihistamines as well as approved and off-label drugs like Xolair (omalizumab), doxepin, or Singulair (montelukast).Complementary therapies may also help, including colloidal oatmeal baths or mind-body practices like meditation that can reduce the stress that makes chronic hives worse.
There are many possible ways to treat urticaria (hives) depending on the underlying cause. These include home remedies like a cold compress or over-the-counter drugs like antihistamines and H2 blockers.
Chronic or treatment-resistant hives may benefit from prescription antihistamines as well as approved and off-label drugs like Xolair (omalizumab), doxepin, or Singulair (montelukast).
Complementary therapies may also help, including colloidal oatmeal baths or mind-body practices like meditation that can reduce the stress that makes chronic hives worse.
Chronic Urticaria
For some people, however, OTC medication may not be strong enough. Certain chronic types of urticaria may require different medications, particularly if the trigger is physical rather than allergic. Some of these include:
This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.See PhotoUrticaria on legs.DermNet /CC BY-NC-ND
This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.See Photo
This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.
DermNet /CC BY-NC-ND
By tempering inflammation, leukotriene modifiers may be useful in treating certain treatment-resistant forms of urticaria. However, use is considered off-label, as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved these drugs for this purpose.
Hives Healthcare Provider Discussion GuideGet our printable guide for your next healthcare provider’s appointment to help you ask the right questions.Download PDFEmail AddressSign UpThank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up.There was an error. Please try again.
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Complementary and Alternative Medicines
While many complementary and alternative medicines are used to treat acute and chronic hives, the evidence supporting their use remains weak. Not only may some have no effect, but a few may also end up aggravating symptoms.
One such example isturmeric, a spice widely touted as a hives remedy. Studies have shown that curcumin, the substance that gives turmeric its yellow color, can trigger skin irritation and hives in some people.
If you choose to use a natural remedy, speak with your doctor first to ensure that it doesn’t interact with any medications you may be taking.
Colloidal Oatmeal
If the itching and swelling are driving you mad, the fastest form of relief may be a cooling bath. It helps reduce swelling and tempers hyperactive nerve signals that trigger itchiness.
One additive that may help further relieve symptoms iscolloidal oatmeal.
Some smaller studies have suggested that colloidal oatmeal—a finely milled oatmeal suspended in liquid, gel, or cream—can reduce the intensity of itching while softening inflamed skin.
Colloidal oatmeal is widely available as a bath additive and is an ingredient in some soothing lotions.For added relief, store your colloidal oatmeal lotion in the refrigerator.
Mind-Body Therapies
Stress does not cause urticaria but can aggravate the symptoms, particularly when the condition is chronic.
People often turn to mind-body therapies to relieve stress and the many health problems stress andanxietycan cause.
These include practices such as:
When to See Your Healthcare Provider
Make an appointment with your healthcare provider if you have hives that:
When diagnosing your hives, your dermatologist or other healthcare provider will likely be interested in factors, including:
Seek immediate help if hives are paired with symptoms like throat swelling or dizziness, as these may indicate a severe allergic reaction. Stress can worsen chronic hives, so relaxation techniques like meditation can help. Identifying triggers and consulting a healthcare provider are key to managing and relieving symptoms.
15 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Schaefer P.Acute and chronic urticaria: Evaluation and treatment.Am Fam Physician. 2017;95(11):717-724.Eun SJ, Lee JY, Kim DY, Yoon HS.Natural course of new-onset urticaria: Results of a 10-year follow-up, nationwide, population-based study.Allergol Int. 2019;68(1):52–58. doi:10.1016/j.alit.2018.05.011The American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology.Hives.Sánchez-Borges M, Asero R, Ansotegui IJ, et al.Diagnosis and treatment of urticaria and angioedema: A worldwide perspective.World Allergy Organization Journal. 2012;5(11):125-147. doi:10.1097/WOX.0b013e3182758d6cPozderac I, Lugović-Mihić L, Artuković M, Stipić-Marković A, Kuna M, Ferček I.Chronic inducible urticaria: Classification and prominent features of physical and non-physical types.Acta Dermatovenerol Alp Pannonica Adriat. 2020;29(3):141-148Najafipour M, Zareizadeh M, Najafipour F.Relationship between chronic urticaria and autoimmune thyroid disease.J Adv Pharm Technol Res. 2018;9(4):158. doi:10.4103%2Fjaptr.JAPTR_342_18Harvard Health Publishing.Hives (urticaria).Schaefer P.Acute and chronic urticaria: Evaluation and treatment.Am Fam Physician. 2017;95(11):717-24.American Osteopathic College of Dermatology.Urticaria.Reynertson KA, Garay M, Nebus J, et al.Anti-inflammatory activities of colloidal oatmeal (Avena sativa) contribute to the effectiveness of oats in treatment of itch associated with dry, irritated skin.J Drugs Dermatol. 2015;14(1):43-48.Wilson JC, Sarsour K, Collinson N, et al.Serious adverse effects associated with glucocorticoid therapy in patients with giant cell arteritis (GCA): A nested case-control analysis.Semin Arthritis Rheum. 2017;46(6):819-827. doi: 10.1016/j.semarthrit.2016.11.006De Silva, N.; Damayanthi, H.; Rajapakse, A. et al.Leukotriene receptor antagonists for chronic urticaria: A systematic review.Allergy Asthma Clin Immunol. 2014;10(1):24. doi:10.1186/1710-1492-10-24.Fadus MC, Lau C, Bikhchandani J, Lynch HT.Curcumin: an age-old anti-inflammatory and anti-neoplastic agent.J Tradit Complement Med. 2017;7(3):339-346. doi:10.1016/j.jtcme.2016.08.002Bansal CJ, Bansal AS.Stress, pseudoallergens, autoimmunity, infection and inflammation in chronic spontaneous urticaria.Allergy Asthma Clin Immunol. 2019;15(1):56. doi:10.1186/s13223-019-0372-zAmerican Academy of Dermatology.Hives: Diagnosis and Treatment.
15 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Schaefer P.Acute and chronic urticaria: Evaluation and treatment.Am Fam Physician. 2017;95(11):717-724.Eun SJ, Lee JY, Kim DY, Yoon HS.Natural course of new-onset urticaria: Results of a 10-year follow-up, nationwide, population-based study.Allergol Int. 2019;68(1):52–58. doi:10.1016/j.alit.2018.05.011The American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology.Hives.Sánchez-Borges M, Asero R, Ansotegui IJ, et al.Diagnosis and treatment of urticaria and angioedema: A worldwide perspective.World Allergy Organization Journal. 2012;5(11):125-147. doi:10.1097/WOX.0b013e3182758d6cPozderac I, Lugović-Mihić L, Artuković M, Stipić-Marković A, Kuna M, Ferček I.Chronic inducible urticaria: Classification and prominent features of physical and non-physical types.Acta Dermatovenerol Alp Pannonica Adriat. 2020;29(3):141-148Najafipour M, Zareizadeh M, Najafipour F.Relationship between chronic urticaria and autoimmune thyroid disease.J Adv Pharm Technol Res. 2018;9(4):158. doi:10.4103%2Fjaptr.JAPTR_342_18Harvard Health Publishing.Hives (urticaria).Schaefer P.Acute and chronic urticaria: Evaluation and treatment.Am Fam Physician. 2017;95(11):717-24.American Osteopathic College of Dermatology.Urticaria.Reynertson KA, Garay M, Nebus J, et al.Anti-inflammatory activities of colloidal oatmeal (Avena sativa) contribute to the effectiveness of oats in treatment of itch associated with dry, irritated skin.J Drugs Dermatol. 2015;14(1):43-48.Wilson JC, Sarsour K, Collinson N, et al.Serious adverse effects associated with glucocorticoid therapy in patients with giant cell arteritis (GCA): A nested case-control analysis.Semin Arthritis Rheum. 2017;46(6):819-827. doi: 10.1016/j.semarthrit.2016.11.006De Silva, N.; Damayanthi, H.; Rajapakse, A. et al.Leukotriene receptor antagonists for chronic urticaria: A systematic review.Allergy Asthma Clin Immunol. 2014;10(1):24. doi:10.1186/1710-1492-10-24.Fadus MC, Lau C, Bikhchandani J, Lynch HT.Curcumin: an age-old anti-inflammatory and anti-neoplastic agent.J Tradit Complement Med. 2017;7(3):339-346. doi:10.1016/j.jtcme.2016.08.002Bansal CJ, Bansal AS.Stress, pseudoallergens, autoimmunity, infection and inflammation in chronic spontaneous urticaria.Allergy Asthma Clin Immunol. 2019;15(1):56. doi:10.1186/s13223-019-0372-zAmerican Academy of Dermatology.Hives: Diagnosis and Treatment.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Schaefer P.Acute and chronic urticaria: Evaluation and treatment.Am Fam Physician. 2017;95(11):717-724.Eun SJ, Lee JY, Kim DY, Yoon HS.Natural course of new-onset urticaria: Results of a 10-year follow-up, nationwide, population-based study.Allergol Int. 2019;68(1):52–58. doi:10.1016/j.alit.2018.05.011The American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology.Hives.Sánchez-Borges M, Asero R, Ansotegui IJ, et al.Diagnosis and treatment of urticaria and angioedema: A worldwide perspective.World Allergy Organization Journal. 2012;5(11):125-147. doi:10.1097/WOX.0b013e3182758d6cPozderac I, Lugović-Mihić L, Artuković M, Stipić-Marković A, Kuna M, Ferček I.Chronic inducible urticaria: Classification and prominent features of physical and non-physical types.Acta Dermatovenerol Alp Pannonica Adriat. 2020;29(3):141-148Najafipour M, Zareizadeh M, Najafipour F.Relationship between chronic urticaria and autoimmune thyroid disease.J Adv Pharm Technol Res. 2018;9(4):158. doi:10.4103%2Fjaptr.JAPTR_342_18Harvard Health Publishing.Hives (urticaria).Schaefer P.Acute and chronic urticaria: Evaluation and treatment.Am Fam Physician. 2017;95(11):717-24.American Osteopathic College of Dermatology.Urticaria.Reynertson KA, Garay M, Nebus J, et al.Anti-inflammatory activities of colloidal oatmeal (Avena sativa) contribute to the effectiveness of oats in treatment of itch associated with dry, irritated skin.J Drugs Dermatol. 2015;14(1):43-48.Wilson JC, Sarsour K, Collinson N, et al.Serious adverse effects associated with glucocorticoid therapy in patients with giant cell arteritis (GCA): A nested case-control analysis.Semin Arthritis Rheum. 2017;46(6):819-827. doi: 10.1016/j.semarthrit.2016.11.006De Silva, N.; Damayanthi, H.; Rajapakse, A. et al.Leukotriene receptor antagonists for chronic urticaria: A systematic review.Allergy Asthma Clin Immunol. 2014;10(1):24. doi:10.1186/1710-1492-10-24.Fadus MC, Lau C, Bikhchandani J, Lynch HT.Curcumin: an age-old anti-inflammatory and anti-neoplastic agent.J Tradit Complement Med. 2017;7(3):339-346. doi:10.1016/j.jtcme.2016.08.002Bansal CJ, Bansal AS.Stress, pseudoallergens, autoimmunity, infection and inflammation in chronic spontaneous urticaria.Allergy Asthma Clin Immunol. 2019;15(1):56. doi:10.1186/s13223-019-0372-zAmerican Academy of Dermatology.Hives: Diagnosis and Treatment.
Schaefer P.Acute and chronic urticaria: Evaluation and treatment.Am Fam Physician. 2017;95(11):717-724.
Eun SJ, Lee JY, Kim DY, Yoon HS.Natural course of new-onset urticaria: Results of a 10-year follow-up, nationwide, population-based study.Allergol Int. 2019;68(1):52–58. doi:10.1016/j.alit.2018.05.011
The American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology.Hives.
Sánchez-Borges M, Asero R, Ansotegui IJ, et al.Diagnosis and treatment of urticaria and angioedema: A worldwide perspective.World Allergy Organization Journal. 2012;5(11):125-147. doi:10.1097/WOX.0b013e3182758d6c
Pozderac I, Lugović-Mihić L, Artuković M, Stipić-Marković A, Kuna M, Ferček I.Chronic inducible urticaria: Classification and prominent features of physical and non-physical types.Acta Dermatovenerol Alp Pannonica Adriat. 2020;29(3):141-148
Najafipour M, Zareizadeh M, Najafipour F.Relationship between chronic urticaria and autoimmune thyroid disease.J Adv Pharm Technol Res. 2018;9(4):158. doi:10.4103%2Fjaptr.JAPTR_342_18
Harvard Health Publishing.Hives (urticaria).
Schaefer P.Acute and chronic urticaria: Evaluation and treatment.Am Fam Physician. 2017;95(11):717-24.
American Osteopathic College of Dermatology.Urticaria.
Reynertson KA, Garay M, Nebus J, et al.Anti-inflammatory activities of colloidal oatmeal (Avena sativa) contribute to the effectiveness of oats in treatment of itch associated with dry, irritated skin.J Drugs Dermatol. 2015;14(1):43-48.
Wilson JC, Sarsour K, Collinson N, et al.Serious adverse effects associated with glucocorticoid therapy in patients with giant cell arteritis (GCA): A nested case-control analysis.Semin Arthritis Rheum. 2017;46(6):819-827. doi: 10.1016/j.semarthrit.2016.11.006
De Silva, N.; Damayanthi, H.; Rajapakse, A. et al.Leukotriene receptor antagonists for chronic urticaria: A systematic review.Allergy Asthma Clin Immunol. 2014;10(1):24. doi:10.1186/1710-1492-10-24.
Fadus MC, Lau C, Bikhchandani J, Lynch HT.Curcumin: an age-old anti-inflammatory and anti-neoplastic agent.J Tradit Complement Med. 2017;7(3):339-346. doi:10.1016/j.jtcme.2016.08.002
Bansal CJ, Bansal AS.Stress, pseudoallergens, autoimmunity, infection and inflammation in chronic spontaneous urticaria.Allergy Asthma Clin Immunol. 2019;15(1):56. doi:10.1186/s13223-019-0372-z
American Academy of Dermatology.Hives: Diagnosis and Treatment.
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