The first step in controlling hives is to identify the cause, if possible. Once you have identified the source of the problem, try to avoid exposure to it in the future. To relieve itching, apply calamine lotion or a cold compress to the area.

A mild case of hives often disappears on its own after a few hours. A longer-lasting case should respond to the manufacturer’s recommended dosage of an over-the-counter oral antihistamine. If your hives don’t disappear in a few days, see a doctor. If you develop symptoms of angioedema or anaphylaxis, get medical help immediately.

For chronic or especially troublesome outbreaks of hives, your doctor will probably order a course of prescription antihistamines. Treatment with oral corticosteroids will sometimes reduce swelling when antihistamines don’t work, but they are usually reserved for more severe cases. Ultraviolet light treatments are effective for hives caused by exposure to cold. If you have the subsurface welts of angioedema, you may require hospitalization.

At-Home Remedies

One of the best remedies for hives is a soothing bath. Add five or six tablespoons of oatmeal and three tablespoons of cornstarch or sodium bicarbonate to your bathwater. If you are allergic to specific things, such as bee stings or other insect bites, certain foods or medications, ask your doctor about prescribing an emergency kit containing epinephrine (also called adrenaline), which is used to treat the severe or acute hives of anaphylaxis.

Call Your Doctor If:

Burning or itchy welts begin to develop in your throat. You may be at risk of suffocation.
You develop hives accompanied by dry throat, cough, cold sweats, nausea, dizziness, difficult breathing, or a sharp drop in blood pressure after an exposure to such things as a bee sting or insect bite or a new medication. This may be a severe allergic reaction known as anaphylaxis.
You have recurring bouts of hives lasting a month or more. You may have a chronic condition that needs professional treatment.
You develop symptoms of angioedema, particularly in the head and neck. This requires medical attention before the condition spreads to the throat or tongue and blocks the air passage to the lungs.
You develop hives after a blood transfusion. You may be having an allergic reaction to donor blood.

* Avoiding further contact with whatever you suspect is causing the hives.
* Using a cool washcloth to help relieve itching.
* Taking an antihistamine, such as Benadryl or Chlor-Trimeton, to help treat the hives and relieve itching. (Read and follow any warnings on the label. Check with your doctor before giving an antihistamine to a child younger than 1 year.)
* Not using strong soaps, detergents, and other chemicals, which can make itching worse.

-lanacane

-use not too harse soaps when taking a bath..