Home remedies for hives, such as applying cold compresses, using aloe vera gel or taking an oatmeal bath with lavender, are great natural options for relieving symptoms such as redness, itching, swelling or irritation of the skin, as they have anti-inflammatory properties. , anti-allergenic, soothing and healing for the skin.
To complement these home remedies, you should also avoid contact or exposure to factors that trigger hives, such as clothing fabric, excessive heat or cleaning products, for example. Check out all the causes of hives and how to identify the symptoms.
Although they cannot replace medical treatment, home remedies are a good option to help alleviate the symptoms of hives and can be used to complement the treatment recommended by your doctor. However, if the hives do not improve or the person experiences symptoms such as difficulty breathing, a feeling of a closed throat, swelling in the mouth, tongue or face, or generalized itching, medical attention should be sought immediately or the nearest emergency room.
Home remedy options
Some home remedy options for hives are:
1. Cold compresses
A good way to relieve hives is to apply cold compresses to the area, as they promote the contraction of blood vessels in the skin, helping to combat redness, itching and swelling of the skin, especially if it is caused or worsened by heat.
To make a cold compress, you must place ice inside a thermal bag or place the gel bag in the freezer to cool, and then wrap the bag or gel bag in a clean, dry towel and apply it to the affected skin area. , leaving it to act for 5 to 10 minutes.
Another option is to take a cold shower to cool your skin and help relieve the itching caused by hives.
2. Slug Gel
Aloe vera is a medicinal plant of the species Aloe verawhich helps to soothe the skin as it has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and healing properties, relieving symptoms of itching and skin irritation with hives, in addition to hydrating the skin.
Before using aloe vera gel, you should do a test by rubbing a little of the gel on the back of your hand to find out if you are allergic. If the skin becomes red or irritated, using aloe vera gel is not recommended.
Ingredients
Preparation mode
Wash the aloe leaves, cut in half and remove the gel from the leaf, placing it in a clean, dry container. Then, moisten a clean towel or gauze with the gel and apply it to the areas with hives about 3 times a day. See other benefits of this medicinal plant.
When preparing this home remedy, it is important not to use the bark of the aloe leaf, which has toxic effects, but only the transparent gel inside the leaf.
3. Chamomile compresses
Chamomile is great for treating skin problems, as it contains substances with anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic and calming effects, such as azulene, bisabolol and farnesene, which calm the itching and redness of skin with hives.
Ingredients
- 20 to 30 g of fresh or dried chamomile flowers;
- 500 mL of boiling water.
Preparation mode
Add fresh or dried chamomile flowers to boiling water and leave to rest for 15 minutes. Then strain, wet gauze, cotton or clean cloth and apply to the area of skin with hives at least twice a day.
4. Oatmeal and lavender bath
Another excellent home solution for hives is the oatmeal and lavender essential oil bath, as they have excellent calming and anti-inflammatory properties that help relieve skin swelling and itching sensations.
Ingredients
- ⅓ cup of oat flour;
- 10 drops of lavender essential oil.
Preparation mode
Grind the oatmeal in a blender or mixer until you get a very fine powder so that you can mix it with the bath water. Prepare a warm bath in the bathtub or large basin. Add the oat powder to the water and mix for about 15 minutes, until it is completely dissolved and the water turns milky in color. Add lavender essential oil.
Stay immersed in water, from the neck down, for 10 to 20 minutes, rinse your body with running water, and dry with a clean, dry and soft towel, without rubbing the skin.
If you don’t have lavender essential oil, the bath can be done with just oats.
5. Bath with Epsom salts
The bath with Epsom salts has anti-inflammatory, analgesic and calming properties due to the magnesium sulfate present in its composition, which is easily absorbed by the skin, improving the skin’s protective barrier, increasing moisture and reducing swelling and redness. and inflammation caused by hives.
It is important to be careful not to drink bath water with Epsom salts, especially children, as when consumed orally, Epsom salts have a laxative effect and can cause diarrhea.
Ingredients
- 1 glass of Epsom salts;
- 1 liter of water.
Preparation mode
Place the Epsom salts in a container with warm water, stir until the salts are well diluted. Add this solution to the bath water and soak for approximately 15 to 20 minutes, without rubbing your skin. Then rinse the body, and dry on the skin. This process can be done up to 3 times a week.
6. Peppermint essential oil
Peppermint essential oil is rich in menthol, menthone, cineole and limonene, with anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties that help alleviate symptoms of hives such as swelling or redness of the skin.
Ingredients
- 2 to 3 drops of peppermint essential oil;
- 1 glass of water.
Preparation mode
Add the drops of peppermint essential oil to the glass of water and mix. Place a little of this mixture on a clean, dry cotton pad and apply it to the area of skin with hives, leaving it to act for 20 minutes, 2 to 3 times a day. Then wash with mild hypoallergenic soap and warm water, drying well with a soft towel, without rubbing the skin.
7. Hydraste poultice with honey
Hydraste and honey poultice is an excellent combination to prepare a home remedy for hives, as it has anti-inflammatory, antiseptic and moisturizing properties, which help to calm the skin, reducing irritation, redness and itching.
This home remedy should not be used by people who are allergic to pollen, honey or propolis.
Ingredients
- 2 teaspoons of hydraste powder;
- 2 teaspoons of honey.
Preparation mode
Mix the ingredients in a clean, dry container until smooth. Apply to the affected skin area and, after application, protect the area with gauze. Change the gauze twice a day and repeat the procedure until the urticaria symptoms improve.
8. Nettle tea
Nettle tea helps block the effects of histamine in the body, the substance responsible for the inflammatory response in cases of allergies, which is one of the main causes of hives.
However, It is important to note that some people may be allergic to nettle, which can worsen the symptoms of urticaria and, therefore, consumption of this tea should only be done under medical advice..
Ingredients
- 2 coffee spoons of chopped nettle leaves;
- 200 mL of water.
Preparation mode
Boil the water and add the nettle leaves, then let it rest for 10 minutes, strain, wait for it to cool and drink up to 2 cups of tea per day.
Nettle tea should not be used by children, pregnant or breastfeeding women, or by people with heart disease or impaired kidney function.
