10 Ways to Get Rid of Hives Fast

A cooling cloth or cold pack may be just the thing to ease the warmth and swelling of hives. Apply as needed.

One exception: If you think exposure to the cold triggered your hives, skip the cold compress. People with “cold urticaria” should avoid situations that worsen their symptoms, such as cold water, cold weather, and use of cold packs.

For temporary itch relief, immerse yourself in H2O. The question is, at what temperature?

Whether cool water is more comforting than warm depends on your sensory perception of itch, explains Walter Ryan III, DO, an allergy and immunology specialist with the Florida Center for Allergy and Asthma Care in Boca Raton, and a fellow of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology.

Cold provides numbing relief, he says, while heat can sometimes distract your brain from the itch.

Opt for cooling relief if you think you have “cholinergic urticaria,” a type of hives believed to be caused by sweating due to exercise, fever, or hot baths or showers, for example.

RELATED: 5 Causes of Hives You Wouldn’t Expect

Oatmeal has long been considered a natural soothing and anti-inflammatory agent.

Colloidal oatmeal—oats that are ground, boiled, and milled into a fine powder—can be found in many body washes, bath soaks, and moisturizers on the market. Or, you can add colloidal oatmeal powder directly to your tub for a calming soak.

If you have hives, your skin is already inflamed–so be kind to it. Avoid harsh soaps and other skin irritants since itching and scratching can make hives worse. Drinking alcohol can also make your hives worse.

Wear loose, comfortable clothing, especially if you have “physical urticaria,” a type of hives caused by a stimulus like squeezing or rubbing.

“Even just the pressure in their clothing will make them hive,” says Dr. Fonacier, professor of medicine at the State University of New York at Stony Brook and head of allergy at NYU Winthrop Hospital in Mineola, New York.

RELATED: 31 Everyday Things You Didn’t Know You Could Be Allergic To

This topical astringent is derived from the leaves and bark of the witch hazel shrub. It’s rich in tannins (which reduce swelling) and polyphenols (antioxidant-rich compounds).

Dabbing witch hazel on hives may provide temporary relief while you’re waiting for your antihistamine to kick in.

It will “constrict the skin for soothing purposes—not relieve the hives,” Dr. Fonacier says.

Calamine is the bubblegum-pink liquid your grandma dabbed on your bug bites when you were a kid. As a hives remedy, it can also provide temporary itch relief.

Calamine contains itch-relieving zinc oxide. Caladryl, a similar product, combines calamine and pramoxine, a topical anesthetic. But these lotions are messy, especially if you’ve got hives all over your body.

“It’s still probably more effective for you to just get in the car and go buy an antihistamine,” Dr. Ryan says.

Antihistamines, the ones you buy in the pharmacy aisle, are the go-to medicines if you really want to get rid of hives.

Benadryl (diphenhydramine) helps by blocking the production of histamine. It works great but can make you drowsy, so it’s best to take it before you go to sleep. Same goes for Chlor-Trimeton (chlorpheniramine), another older antihistamine.

Fortunately, newer, second-generation antihistamines such as Allegra (fexofenadine), Claritin (loratadine), Clarinex (desloratadine), Xyzal (levocetirizine), and Zyrtec (cetirizine) are non-sedating, and “all of them are equally effective,” Dr. Fonacier says.

RELATED: How to Pick an Over-the-Counter Cold Remedy

When over-the-counter antihistamines fail to resolve hives, see an allergist who can assess your triggers and prescribe other treatment regimens.

One option may be to increase your dose of over-the-counter medicine, Dr. Fonacier explains. “Sometimes we have them on Zyrtec, two tablets twice a day, for example.”

Or, your doctor may prescribe oral or injectable steroids (such as prednisone); an antibiotic called dapsone; or an injectable drug called Xolair (omalizumab).

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Could your hives breakout be stress-related? Emotional stress is a well-known, non-allergic cause of hives.

It’s been shown that people can develop “stress hives” in connection with a particularly stressful life event, for example.

But if you remain stressed, it can make your hives even worse. Relaxation techniques like meditation or muscle relaxation may be just what you need to chill out and heel your skin.