How to Get Rid of Hives

So what are hives, really? Hives come in many shapes and forms, but most often they are flat, slightly raised bumps that cause a lot of itching. Hives are the result of your body’s reaction to an allergen, a foreign substance in or on the body. The body releases histamines into the blood, along with some other chemicals, in an effort to combat the invading allergen. Hives are the reaction your skin has to histamines, and so it’s obvious that antihistamines remain the number one cure for hives. Trouble occurs though when the hives form deeper in the skin, becoming welts (Angiodema: a disease that is different from hives, but can happen at the same time), or when a person’s allergies escalate and they find it hard to breath when exposed to a particular allergen. What’s worse, sometimes allergens aren’t the cause of hives; instead, stress and anxiety can cause your body to release histamines into the body as a sort of false alarm. In light of these facts, here are some things you can do to help relieve and get rid of hives:

Antihistamines & Hives Medicine

Really, the only known medication for hives and other allergic reactions are antihistamines, found either over-the-counter or prescribed by your doctor. I recommend getting a prescription strength antihistamine if you suffer from regular episodes of both stress induced hives or allergy hives because those antihistamines are usually non-sedating, unlike Benadryl. But it’s important to talk to your doctor about the side effects of any antihistamine she or he suggests because of size of the list of possible side effects, which are: dizziness, tinnitus, blurred vision, euphoria, uncoordination, anxiety, insomnia, tremor, nausea and vomiting, constipation, diarrhea, dry mouth, and dry cough. Other side effects of antihistamines include rare instances of urinary retention, palpitations, hypotension, headache, hallucination, and psychosis. As you can see, it’s important to find the least “intrusive” antihistamine for your body, and take it as infrequently as possible, as your body will eventually learn to resist the effects of just about any medication you take.