Some remedies for hives, especially antiallergic ones, such as antihistamines or corticosteroids, for example, help to alleviate the symptoms of hives, such as a burning sensation, itching or swelling of the skin, and can be used in the form of ointments, drops or pills. Furthermore, the treatment can also be complemented with home remedies, such as an oatmeal immersion bath or a chamomile tea compress, for example.
These remedies should be used under the advice of a dermatologist or general practitioner who can prescribe the best treatment individually, according to the age, type of urticaria and its severity. Know how to identify the main types of urticaria.
In severe cases of hives, with symptoms such as swelling in the mouth, tongue or throat, difficulty breathing, you should seek the nearest emergency room immediately, as it can be life-threatening. In these cases, medicines are normally administered directly into the vein or muscle, for example.
Main pharmacy remedies
Generally, the medicines that are used initially are antihistamines, however, in some cases, it may be necessary to complement the treatment or replace antihistamines with other medicines, such as immunosuppressants, for example.
1. Antihistamines
Antihistamines are anti-allergy medicines that help alleviate the symptoms of itching, redness or swelling in the skin caused by acute or chronic urticaria, as they act by blocking the action of histamine, which is the substance produced by the body responsible for the allergic response.
The antihistamines that are normally recommended by the doctor are:
- Dexchlorpheniramine maleate dermatological ointment or cream (Polaramine or Histamin);
- Loratadine tablet, syrup or drops (Claritin or Loratamed);
- Desloratadina tablet, syrup or drops (Desalex, Esalerg or Sigmaliv);
- Fexofenadina tablet or syrup (Allegra or Altiva);
- Cetirizine capsule, tablet or drops (Reactine or Zyrtec);
- Levocetirizina drops or tablet (Zyxem or Rizi).
Antihistamines are the most recommended medicines, as they have fewer side effects, and should not be used by children, pregnant or breastfeeding women, unless recommended by a doctor.
In addition, the doctor may recommend other antihistamines, such as chlorpheniramine, diphenhydramine or hydroxyzine, which act faster and are more effective, but have more side effects such as sedation, drowsiness, dizziness, confusion or reduced capacity. of concentration.
When antihistamines alone are not effective in relieving the symptoms of urticaria, the doctor may add other medications to the treatment, such as the antihistamines cimetidine or famotidine, especially for acute urticaria, or antidepressants with an antihistamine effect, such as doxepin, for chronic urticaria.
Read too: Chronic urticaria: what it is, symptoms, causes and treatment
2. Corticosteroids
Corticosteroids are medicines widely used to treat pressure urticaria, vasculitic urticaria or chronic urticaria, in situations where there is a lot of discomfort and/or where other treatments have not been effective.
The main corticosteroids recommended by the doctor are generally:
- Prednisone tablets (Meticorten or Corticorten);
- Prednisolone tablets or drops (Prelone or Predsim);
These corticosteroids should only be used with medical guidance and indication, with well-determined doses and for the time indicated by the doctor, on an individual basis.
In cases of severe acute urticaria, with symptoms such as swelling in the mouth, throat or tongue or difficulty breathing, corticosteroids can also be used in injection form in hospitals for emergency care.
3. Immunosuppressants
Immunosuppressants are medicines with anti-allergic action as they act by reducing the action of the immune system, which helps to alleviate the symptoms of severe chronic idiopathic or autoimmune urticaria, such as the formation of blisters, redness or itching of the skin.
This type of medicine includes:
- Cyclosporine cápsulas (Sandimmun Neoral);
- Tacrolimus dermatological ointment (Atobach or Tacroz).
These medications are generally indicated when antihistamine treatments have not been effective and/or when the required dose of corticosteroids is very high, and should only be used under medical advice.
4. Other medications
In some cases, the doctor may also add other medications to the treatment:
- Montelucaste (Singulair, Montelair): it is a substance that, although it acts differently from antihistamines, also reduces typical allergy symptoms;
- Hydroxychloroquine (Reuquinol, Plaquinol) ou colchicine (Colchis, Coltrax): can be added after hydroxyzine and before (or together) with systemic corticosteroids, in the treatment of persistent vasculitic urticaria;
- Omalizumab: is a type of anti-IgE monoclonal antibodies, indicated for the treatment of chronic urticaria induced by the activation of mast cells and basophils by an autoantibody.
Before starting to use any medication, it is important to consult a doctor to decide the best form of treatment.
Home remedy options for hives
A good way to complete medical treatment for urticaria, especially in mild cases, is to take a bath with oatmeal and lavender, or use chamomile tea compresses on the affected area of the skin.
The use of these, or any other natural remedy, should not replace the medicines recommended by your doctor, but is simply a way to help alleviate symptoms more quickly. See some home remedy options for hives.
Furthermore, other natural measures that can help alleviate the symptoms of hives are: wearing light, comfortable and not tight clothing, preferably cotton; avoid abrasive soaps and opt for those that are mild and have a neutral pH; apply mineral sunscreen before leaving home; and avoid scratching your skin.
