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How to get rid of hives?
Hives are skin allergic reactions (also called as utricaria) that appear as raised red or pale welts on the surface. These welts are also itchy and appear as clusters on the body. They may appear on legs, arms, back and trunk portions of the body. It has been observed that hives disappear in a day or two, only to reappear at certain other parts of the body with associated itching. The question of: how to get rid of hives- is a commonly asked one, as hives can be disfiguring and irritating in severe cases. Causes of hives Hives can be caused by any common allergen that may have irritated the auto-immune system of the body. As a result, IgE antibodies are produced in the blood stream which attach themselves with the mast cells on the skin. These stimulated mast cells begin to produce histamines that can trigger the onset of hives. The causative allergens that could have triggered hives are: eggs, chocolates, soy, shell fish, any other food additives and colorants. Non-food substances which are known to trigger hives rash are cat’s dander, pollen grain, dust mites, extreme cold and hot temperatures and even emotional depression and stress. Some people may be allergic to even furniture items such as old carpets, curtains etc which could have triggered hives symptoms on the body. Ways to get rid of hives If the hives rashes disappear on their own after a day or so, then there would be non need for any further medication at all. It is only when the condition is very severe and even debilitating, that medical advice must be sought. If the condition of hives persist more than six weeks then it can be a case of chronic hives. Hives treatment is carried out on similar lines as that of treating any skin allergies. Firstly, various blood and related allergy tests are carried out to determine the causative allergen that could have triggered the hives rash on the skin. Doctors also assess the diet history and family predilection to allergens while gauging what could have triggered the allergy. Once the allergen is identified, the patient is advised to eliminate the allergen from his/her food or even from the vicinity. You may try some home-made remedies if the condition of hives is mild. Drinking nerve-calming herbal teas containing brewed leaves of chamomile or rosemary is known to heal the condition of hives. Similarly, tea made from the leaves of Red Alder tree is known to have medicinal properties to treat hives. Red Alder contains astringent tannin which has perfect healing properties that is found to be capable of treating hives well. If the hives are persistent and cause great deal of discomfort to the patient, it is advisable to see the advice of the doctor. Doctors would prescribe anti-histamine drugs to treat hives. The most popular drugs that are prescribed to treat hives are Cetrizine, Loratidine and Benadryl. The only drawback of these drugs is that they are highly sedating in nature and can cause sluggish and lethargic tendency among the patients. The doctor may change the drugs and provide non-sedating anti-histamines. In milder cases of hives attack, patients may apply a thin lotion of milk of magnesia and even Calamine lotion. These lotions are rich in zinc oxide which is an effective hives-healing agent. If the condition of hives is not mild and requires serious attention, then doctors would prefer that the patients take stronger medication such as solutions of steroids and corticosterones. These drugs quickly control the itching sensation on the hives and also stop their growth and reappearance. Hives can sometimes be life-threatening. This condition usually arises when there is a swelling of the face, glands and even tongue. As a result the person may find it difficult to breathe and also to swallow. A patient may also suffer from anaphylactic shock and death may be the next consequence! In such cases, doctors administer a mixture of epinephrine, which is known to effectively treat the severe forms of hives. While treating hives, it is wiser to avoid taking very cold or very hot water baths that can just aggravate the condition of hives. It is better to take a cold shower and follow it up with patting the skin dry with a soft towel. Vigorous rubbing and scratching the skin of hives must be avoided to prevent irritating and aggravating the condition. Most of the cases of angioedema (swelling of face, tongue and related glands) can be effectively treated by steroids. However, if the condition is hereditary in nature, then it can not be easily treated by corticosterones. In such conditions, doctors prescribe ingestion of androgens (e.g.: danazol) for a longer period of time. These drugs control the presence of protein in the blood stream and help in tacking allergic hives rash. In very serious cases of hives, where there is a lot of possibility of recurrence of the skin condition, people are asked to carry adrenalin shots with them. Adrenanalin injections relieve the patient of serious cases of hives. How to avoid hives?
The best method to avoid hives is to eliminate the presence of the allergen that is present in the foods or from the vicinity of the patient. Apart from these factors, the temperature around the patient must be modulated so as to ensure that there is no recurrence of the skin allergy. Excessive perspiration is also sometimes responsible for triggering the onset of hives. People with family history of hives condition, thus, need to keep their skin cleaner and drier. Regular applications of zinc-oxide based lotions are also effective in preventing a further break-out.
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