Skin Care: How to Get Rid of Hives on Your Face

Hives are very unpredictable. If you get these rashes on your face, they could stick around for a few hours, days, weeks, or months. If you use one of these treatments during an outbreak, you’ll find relief long before the rashes completely go away.

Medical Treatments

If you have intense symptoms, you’ll need strong over-the-counter medications. The following meds can treat severe hives, and they’re available at your local pharmacy.

Antihistamines

Antihistamines interact with the chemical in your body that causes hives. If you take an antihistamine, it will reduce the swelling and itching for a while. When it wears off, you’ll need to take an extra dose to prevent a future breakout.

Steroid Tablets

An oral corticosteroid like prednisone can treat swollen, itchy rashes. This is a short-term treatment for a severe case of hives. You should never take steroid tablets continuously because they can cause major side effects.

Calamine Lotion

Calamine lotion soothes and cools your skin. It’s an excellent nighttime medication for itchy rashes.

When You Should See a Doctor for Hives

You’ll likely need medical attention for hives if:

• You’ve had severe symptoms for more than a week.
• Your symptoms intensify each day.
• You have painful rashes and bruises.
• The symptoms are interfering with your daily routines.
• You’re often dizzy throughout the day.

Some outbreaks can also restrict airways. If your throat, mouth, or tongue ever swells while you have hives, seek emergency medical care immediately.

Advice for Chronic Hives

The most practical way to manage a case of chronic hives is by fully understanding what triggers the outbreak. To get started, you’ll need to see an allergist. The allergist will find the root of the problem. You could be allergic to:

• A food additive
• A pain medication
• A physical stimuli like sunlight or air pressure.
• A viral infection
• Pet dander
• Pollen

You’ll have to manage underlying triggers too; these triggers relate to your emotional state. When your rashes are healing, try to stay positive and avoid stressful situations because severe emotional problems like depression and anxiety can also trigger an outbreak. If your stress is unbearable, a therapist can help you manage it throughout the recovery process.

While you’re recovering, always wear loose-fitting clothes that are made of a soft fabric like cotton. Tight clothes and constricting accessories will cause you unnecessary pain and discomfort if the rashes spread to other places beyond your face.

Key Winter Strategies

When you have hives in the winter, always take fairly warm showers or baths. Never take a hot bath or shower because the heat will cause vasodilation, which will develop more hives on your face. If you want to bathe with soap while you have hives, use an unscented variety for sensitive skin.

When it comes to hives, nothing beats professional skincare solutions. If you’re looking for an effective way to treat rashes on your face, turn to The Dermatology Group.