Hives and itching

the only thing that helps me for itchy red marks is after-sun cooling gel.
i got mine in lidl; green bottle, orange top.
others available but pricier.
worth a try maybe.
good luck.

Hydrocortisone is used to treat redness, swelling, itching, and discomfort of various skin conditions. Hydrocortisone is in a class of medications called corticosteroids. It works by activating natural substances in the skin to reduce swelling, redness, and itching.
It's brilliant. I highly recommend it. It's cheap to buy too.

Thank you so much for all your advice I very much appreciate it.
Apart from Hives I have allergies to unknown things could be food or something I put on my skin.
It appears that the cream I have been using for the itching I am allergic too which made the itching worse. It's a cream I have used without problems over many years.
My GP told me to stop using the cream to see if that made a difference and it did.
There as been a big improvement and although there is some itching still it's not as bad.
I do take Fexofenadine 180mg up to 4 times a day with short courses of steroids if needed. The Steroids work well but I do hate taking them because it depresses my immune system and I have to stay in for a week.
The Fexofenadine doesn't have any effect on the itching unfortunately.
I think there are many things at play with my condition, however the Immunologist at the hospital is wonderful and always provides me with emergency supplies of medication if I am going away.
Thanks again everyone and I will take on board some of the ideas you gave me.

I am plagued by hives too. Try running hot and I mean very hot water over the affected area. Does something to the histamine in the skin.
This is a fact as I have bought an insect bite relief pen with a small metal pad on the end which heats up and relieves bites.
There must be some science in this method somewhere.
Anyway it does relieve the itching for several hours.
It’s got to be so hot though that you nearly can’t bear it

I have had what was diagnosed as chronic spontaneous urticaria for over a year now, I'm on four times the reccomended dose of anti histamines, montelukast fexofenadine,and until recently steroids as well, but I weaned myself off them. Last week I was seen by five dermatologists at a clinic for difficult cases, they now think it might be bullos pemphigoid, but I don't have the blisters which occur with that. So now in addition to everything else I'm now taking doxycycline and vitamin B for three months! Thank goodness for the NHS!

timetogo2016

Just a thought jeanie99,have you tried witch hazel.
You can get it from pretty much anywhere,the liquid/lotion one i find is the best.
You dab it on using cotton pads.

When I saw the title, I was about to recommend Witch Hazel. I've only ever had one bout of hives, but it lasted for weeks and kept moving about. I was given all sorts of prescriptions, but nothing worked. Somebody recommended Witch Hazel and it went within days.

henetha

I've got a tick bite at the moment, and the only thing which helps the itching for me is Antisan.
I do hope you find something which helps as it must be a very difficult thing to live with, so good luck.

If it’s making you itch might you need to have antibiotics? Have you got a rash?

I'm sure after 55 years you've tried everything. So I'm not sure my experience is relevant.

However, when I had hives 8 years ago, both my GP and the dermatologist I was referred to were unable to help. I was plagued by them. I had them all over the trunk of my body, on my arms and legs. Twice I had them on my face, including making my mouth swell up. They made wearing my work clothes so uncomfortable.

Eventually, I tracked it down through trial and error to be related to thrush, or a yeast infection (I did not feel that I had thrush in the usual way however). I bought several doses of the over-the-counter thrush one treatment pill and took two a day for a week.

The hives went, never to return.

Try putting porridge oats into a sock/ muslin bag and put onto the bath tap when running the bath.
The water will run milky and after a good soak your skin will feel soft and for me reduces inflammation on my skin.
Work well for my grandson who has Eczema.

I've got a tick bite at the moment, and the only thing which helps the itching for me is Antisan.
I do hope you find something which helps as it must be a very difficult thing to live with, so good luck.

I get a bad lumpy rash due to heat. None of the prescribed creams helped, then in Cambodia I had Swan brand Prickly Heat Powder recommended by a pharmacist.
After bathing and drying thoroughly you dust it on and within a minute is feels like you are standing in front of an a/c unit. I now buy it online. It is the only thing that works for me.

Morning Jeanie, I've got exactly the same problem at the moment it's so uncomfortable especially at night. I can't imagine how it's been for you over the years you've been suffering.

I think mine is possibly caused by sugars, obviously I could be wrong bu tI've been on a Keto diet for several months with good results so decided to reintroduce some carbs. Within a week I've got hives and itches in my lady parts ! I used to get the itches before and assumed it's down to age and post menopause but didn't realise until the past few days that I've been fine since being on Keto.

I'm going back on Keto and seeing if it helps better than the ineffective antihistamine. I've not gone mad with refined sugars, cakes n biscuits as I've lost my sweet tooth but carbs are sugars and I've certainly had some over the past week.

Other than thinking you could try reducing your carbs / sugars to see if that helps I have no other suggestions and hope you get some relief as it's exhausting.

Aloe vera is very soothing.

I know you say you dont want to go down the medication path but this year my GP changed my antihistamine to Fexafenadine as my allergic rhinitis and associated excema/itching was out of control and it works like a dream

Just a thought jeanie99,have you tried witch hazel.
You can get it from pretty much anywhere,the liquid/lotion one i find is the best.
You dab it on using cotton pads.