How to prevent urticaria (hives on the skin)

Urticaria (or hives on the skin) is a skin condition in which there are light-to-angry red rashes on different parts of the skin, accompanied by raised bumps, swelling, excessive itching and pain, and even facial swelling. For most people, the cause may be allergic and the skin may develop red rashes after being exposed to the foreign allergen – this disappears within a few days. However, for others, urticaria occurs frequently, without even having a cause. Chronic hives can stay in a patient for as long as eight-ten years and might cause other skin conditions and abnormalities as well.

Skin hives result from the overproduction of histamine (which causes inflammation) as a response from blood vessels under the skin. In children, it might develop as an allergic reaction to certain foods like peanut, butter, shrimp, eggs etc. It might also develop from a highly infectious cold, during pregnancy, from the pressure of tight-fitting inner-wear (like the impact of a tight bra-strap on the skin). Whatever the case may be, it is possible to get rid of hives by adopting a natural diet and without resorting to a huge dosage of antibiotics and steroids.

Diet and prevention

A very important step is to identify the allergen causing the reaction (if you think that the cause is allergic). Children frequently develop hives from peanut, shrimp and shellfish, so it’s necessary to see if the child’s diet contains foods which can trigger allergies. Food additives can be very harmful for a patient suffering from hives, so food with artificial flavoring or additives must be avoided.

The skin must be kept clean and washed at all times. Washing the infected area with warm water and baking soda or borax powder is a very beneficial practice. It is important to avoid scratching the affected area. Even if you are tempted to do so, rub the area gently with a sterilized towel, but never bring your fingers in direct contact with the area.

It has been found that a stressful mind can alleviate symptoms of skin rashes and hives, so it’s important to work towards a healthy, stress-free lifestyle. Some traditional herbs have been praised for soothing skin infections, and they can be taken in herb-form or even as capsules.

A good example is Aloe Vera, which shrinks skin bumps and prevents swelling. The herb can not only be applied directly to the affected area, it can also be ingested regularly for a healthier skin.

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