Table of contents:
- What are hives?
- Hives medicine that doctors usually prescribe
- 1. Antihistamines
- 2. Calamine lotion
- 3. Anti-inflammatory drugs
- 4. Antidepressants
- 5. Omalizumab (Xolair)
- How to deal with hives at home
- 1. Cold compress
- 2. Avoid products that can irritate the skin
- 3. Wear loose clothes
Have you ever had a lump-like lump that spreads and feels very itchy? Well, maybe you have hives. To fix this, here are the types of hives that your doctor might recommend along with treatments that you can do at home to reduce itching.
What are hives?
Hives or in medical terms called urticaria is a condition when the skin has a raised, pale red rash like a bump on the skin that appears suddenly. Usually this condition is caused by allergic reactions, chemicals in food, insect stings, to sun exposure.
In addition, certain drugs can cause the body to release a chemical called histamine. Histamine sometimes makes blood plasma leak out of tiny blood vessels in the skin and can cause hives.
People who experience hives usually experience a rash like lumps that are clustered and connected and feel itchy and even feel like burning. This skin disorder can appear anywhere including the face, lips, tongue, throat, or ears.
Usually this condition will last for hours to a day before finally disappearing. However, chronic conditions can cause this condition to last for more than six weeks or even years.
Hives medicine that doctors usually prescribe
The following are various hives that are commonly prescribed by doctors:
1. Antihistamines
Taking antihistamine pills as a hives medicine is an effective way to prevent itching. In addition, antihistamines also block the release of histamine by the body which triggers symptoms of hives. Usually doctors will prescribe various antihistamines such as:
- Loratadine (Claritin)
- Cetirizine (Zyrtec)
- Fexofenadine (Allegra)
- Desloratadine (Clarinex)
If the four types of antihistamines are not helping enough, the doctor will usually increase the dosage. In addition, the doctor will also try other types of antihistamines that have a drowsy effect so that the itching feels a little relieved by sleeping. Examples of these drugs include Chlorpheniramine (CTM), hydroxyzine pamoate (Vistaril), and doxepin (Zonalon).
Don't forget to talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, have other medical conditions, or are taking certain medications.
2. Calamine lotion
Calamine lotion helps relieve itching by providing a cool effect on the skin. You can apply calamine lotion directly to your skin by:
- Shake the lotion so that the mixture is evenly mixed.
- Pour lotion on a cotton ball.
- Apply a cotton ball to the hives and let it dry.
3. Anti-inflammatory drugs
Oral corticosteroids such as prednisone can help reduce swelling, redness, and itching. These drugs are usually prescribed to control chronic hives and are only used for short periods of time. The reason is, this drug has various serious side effects if consumed for a long time.
4. Antidepressants
The tricyclic antidepressant doxepin (Zonalon), usually used in cream form, can help relieve itching. This medicine may cause dizziness and drowsiness so that your itching may be slightly distracted by sleeping.
5. Omalizumab (Xolair)
Omalizumab is usually given by injection into the skin. This medication will be prescribed if you have severe hives that last for months or for years. The most common side effects are headaches, dizziness, and inner ear pain.
How to deal with hives at home
Apart from using hives from a doctor, you can also do various home treatments such as:
1. Cold compress
Applying ice or cold water to the affected area can help relieve irritation and itching. You can compress it by wrapping ice cubes in a towel and compressing the itchy area. Leave it on for about 10 minutes and repeat if it still itches.
2. Avoid products that can irritate the skin
Some types of soap dry out your skin, which can make hives itch more and more itchy. If you have hives, try to use a soap for sensitive skin.
Usually this type of soap is odorless and uses many other chemicals that can cause irritation. Apart from soap, you also need to avoid various skin lotions and moisturizers that can trigger irritation. Again, try to choose products specifically for sensitive skin.
3. Wear loose clothes
Wearing loose clothing allows the affected skin to breathe and keep body temperature cool. Conversely, wearing tight clothes can actually make your skin feel even more itchy and even irritated because the skin is pressed with the clothes you wear.
In addition, choose clothes from cotton that absorb sweat to avoid excess moisture. The humid environment makes the bacteria on the skin grow and the skin becomes itchier.
It is important that you know the causes of hives. For example, is it an allergy to food, dust, air, medicine, or due to insect bites. From there, you can also avoid the triggers that cause your hives to appear.
