Methods to stop hives from itching

[SOS8260456]

Daughter came home from a friends house covered in hives. Apparently, she wore someone else's clothes, so I am thinking it came from touching a different detergent. I gave her benedryl. But she is so itchy, she's making me itch.

Thanks.
Lisa

 

[Rose Pink]

It could be from any number of things. My daughter has idiopathic urticaria. She is on a number of meds for it but resorts to benedryl for the flare ups. If this is the first time your daughter has experienced this, you may want to get her to a doctor to make sure it isn't something more serious. If she has trouble breathing, call 911 ASAP.

 

[robcrusoe]

Out here we call our pharmacist or our Doctor
too important to ask amateurs on a community BBS

 

[Rose Pink]

I just texted my DD. She said oatmeal lotion and distraction. She also carries an epi pen.

This could also be a viral illness or any number of things. If the benedryl is not working, get to a doctor. This could be the first sign of something life threatening.

 

[MommaBear]

Out here we call our pharmacist or our Doctor
too important to ask amateurs on a community BBS

Some of us "amateurs" are doctors or pharmacists or nurse practitioners or physician assistants!

If your daughter has not had hives before, these may not be hives... They could be reactions to bites or an infection. If these do not clear up with common sense treatments such as bathing to remove any offending agents, benadryl for itch control, oatmeal lotion or steriod ointment for symptom control, your daughter should see her medical provider. IF she is having shortness of breath, lip or tongue swelling, she should call 911.

Good luck! Often finding the root of a dermatological condition can be very frustrating. Let us know how this turns out.

 

[SOS8260456]

Thanks everyone! The benedryl seems to be working. They are fading. I knew that she wore someone else's clothes, but I didn't know she still had them on. She said that the girl said they were washed in "Dawn". I never heard of laundry detergent by that name. I know the "Dawn" that you use to hand wash dishes. Hopefully it is something as simple as this. I'll be keeping an eye on her throughout the night.

Lisa

 

[Passepartout]

Obviously, get her out of the borrowed clothes. Get her into a shower with her usual soap, etc. A maximum adult dose of Benedryl- or perhaps double (the prescription strength before it went OTC) and watch her. If eyeballs or tongue swell- usually caused by mucus membrane trying to flush the irritant away- you might want to consider getting her to the ER.

Unforeseen allergic attacks are scary! I developed one for crab after being able to eat anything for decades. Eyes swelled shut, tongue lolled out. It was a lovely sight til the Benedryl kicked in.

Jim

 

[SDKath]

Benadryl and Zyrtec for about a week. If they don't go away and it's because of some sort of contact with an allergen, she will probably need a steroid cream too...

 

[Big Matt]

Many times hives are idiopathic (no known reason)

I get them some times and my son also. His are usually when he is exposed to too much real cold weather (sledding, etc.). I get mine when my stomach is upset or right after the stomach flu.

Hives are caused by too much histimine. Take an antihistimine (benadryl). My doctor once told me that you can take several claratin if necessary and you won't overdose on them. One or two usually do the trick for me.

 

[SOS8260456]

She still had a few this morning. The doctor put her on a steriod for 5 days. She is doing a lot better this evening.

Thanks everyone!

Lisa

 

[normab]

temporary itch relief

The steroid will do its work over the course of a couple days.

Meanwhile, I have found that menthol is the best anti itch topical ingredient while you are waiting for the benadryl or steroids to do their thing. I can get some bad itching from any number of allergic skin reactions, including poison ivy, and menthol seems to cut it pretty good. It immediately stops the sensation, and typically will last for quite a while before another application is needed.

Several of the arthritis rubs (Bengay, etc) have menthol in varying conentrations and they have helped me when I felt like scratching my skin off! Just look at the ingredients and get the one with only menthol and not the methyl salicylate which stinks!


Norma