Have you got rashes, reddish bumps, or patches on the skin?
Are you experiencing rashes on the itchy skin with a burning sensation?
If so, you could be suffering from hives.
Besides hives, rashes on the skin can be caused by infections like eczema, poison ivy, or an athlete’s foot.
Insect bites, allergic reactions, sunburns, medical conditions, or microbial infections can also cause rashes on the skin.
When it comes to treating familiar skin problems like itchy rashes on the skin, natural remedies are the best solutions you can try.
Many essential oils help soothe and heal hives, eczema, and sunburn.
A report published by the Mayo Clinic says, “Essential oils are aromatic liquids obtained from flowers, trees, seeds, leaves, stems, grasses, fruits, and roots.”
Essential oils may help treat various skin conditions as they contain antioxidants, astringents, antiseptics, and antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties.
According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, certain essential oils contain natural chemicals that are “essences” of the plants from which they are obtained.
They have medicinal potency in treating various health and skin allergies.
What are hives?
Hives, also known as Urticaria, is a type of allergy that affects 20 percent of people at some point in their lives.
Certain situations or substances trigger it. It initially appears as an itchy patch on the skin, then turns into swollen red welts (bumps).
Triggers
Some of the living conditions and substances that trigger hives are:
- Medications
- Some foods
- Insect stings or bites
- Latex
- Blood transfusions
- Pet Dander
- Pollen
- Some plants, such as poison ivy and poison oak
- Some viral infections
- Some bacterial infections
- Physical stimuli such as heat, cold, or exposure to the sun.
Symptoms
Symptoms of hives infection can last for a few hours to many months.
A hive often goes away in 24 hours or less, but new hives may appear as old ones fade.
They can appear on any part of the body. They may move around, change locations, disappear, and reappear quickly.
They produce red or skin-colored bumps with clear edges on the skin.
Interestingly, pressing red hives may turn white; this process of changing color is known as “blanching.”
There are two types of hives: long-term (chronic) and short-lived (acute).
A chronic hive can appear daily for more than a month, and they are itchy.
Both of them may cause painful swelling (angioedema) of the lips, eyelids, and throat.
Do Essential Oils Work For Hives?
Health-conscious people are looking for effective natural remedies that can replace prescription medicines.
Essential oils are getting massive acclaim for their effectiveness in healing several common diseases.
Essential oils can help manage skin conditions like hives, psoriasis, eczema, sunburn, seasonal allergies, and others.
They are effective remedies for hives because of their anti-inflammatory, antihistamine, antimicrobial, and astringent properties.
Using a few drops of essential oils can produce incredible healing power. If used correctly, some of the essential oils can give fast relief from the symptoms of hives.
7 Best Essential Oils for Hives
Essential oils are volatile and liquid aroma compounds from natural sources, usually plants.
They are not oils in the true sense, but they are called oils because of their poor solubility in water.
They contain powerful chemical compounds like prescription medicines’ synthetic compounds.
There are over 150 types of essential oils collected from different plant sources are available. Most of them have one or more therapeutic properties.
Essential oils that contain anti-inflammatory and antihistamine, analgesic, and astringent properties effectively treat hives.
We have handpicked the seven popular essential oils to treat symptoms of seasonal allergies and skin inflammation.
1. Lavender Essential Oil
Lavender oil is one of the best essential oil, with several therapeutic qualities. It is the most studied and commonly used oil in aromatherapy.
This oil has anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties useful for suppressing the symptoms of hives.
It reduces swelling, itching, and burning sensations caused by this allergy. This oil protects the skin from irritants and microbes that cause allergic reactions and hives.
A few drops of lavender essential oil can soothe irritated skin.
How to use:
Lavender oil works best for hives when used in bathwater.
Add 7 drops of lavender oil and 1 cup of Epsom salt to a jar or tub of warm water that you will use for bathing.
Alternatively, you can use baking soda or oatmeal instead of Epsom salt.
Soak your body in this warm water for at least 15 minutes; repeat the treatment twice daily.
2. Peppermint Essential Oil
Peppermint oil is a proven remedy for hives.
The menthol in this oil produces a cooling sensation to relieve pain and itching caused by the hives.
According to a research report published by the Iranian Journal of Pharmaceutical Research, menthol decreases itching caused by histamine.
Peppermint oil for hives helps reduce inflammation and prevents the spread of infection to other areas of the body.
Peppermint oil begins to work on hives very quickly, as the symptoms of the infection begin to subside within a day.
How to use:
Using diluted peppermint oil as a spray gives maximum benefit in removing the symptoms of this skin condition.
Add 10 drops of peppermint essential oil to a cup of distilled water. Transfer the diluted oil into a spray bottle and spray on the hive’s affected area.
You can also dilute it with almond or jojoba oil and apply directly to the affected area.
3. Tea tree Essential Oil
Tea tree oil (TTO) is a volatile essential oil derived mainly from the Australian native plant Melaleuca alternifolia.
According to a study published by Clinical Microbiology Reviews, TTO is an effective alternative to topical antimicrobials for antibiotics.
This oil has been used for its antiseptic and anti-inflammatory actions for hundreds of years. It works well for managing almost every type of microbial infection that appears on the skin.
Tea tree oil helps strangulate the activities of the microbes responsible for hives. It quickly lessens inflammation and stops itching on the skin.
This oil contains powerful chemical compounds. Dilute tea tree oil with a carrier oil before you use this oil to treat skin allergies.
How to use:
Add 5 drops of tea tree oil to a liter of warm water. Use this water to apply a hot compress to the affected area for five minutes. Repeat the tea tree oil hot-compress treatment three times a day.
Alternatively, add 5 drops of tea tree oil to half an ounce of olive or coconut oil. Apply this oil mixture to the hive-affected area. Rinse the area with ice-cold water before applying the oil mixture.
Adding a few drops of tea tree oil to your warm water bath is beneficial for calming down the symptoms of Urticaria. Keeping the affected area soaked in this water for 15 minutes is good.
4. Myrrh Essential Oil
Since the historical period, myrrh oil has been used for treating various health conditions, especially skin problems.
According to a study published by Scientific Reports, frankincense, and myrrh are highly useful for the treatment of inflammatory diseases,
This oil contains powerful therapeutic properties known to possess antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory qualities.
Topical application of myrrh oil on the hives-affected area can soothe itching, burning, and swelling.
This oil can also keep all allergens responsible for the occurrence and spread of hives at bay.
How to use:
A mixture of shea butter and myrrh oil is highly efficient for the faster healing of hives.
Take a tablespoon of warm shea butter and add 5 drops of myrrh oil to it. Blend this mixture topically and adequately apply this balm to the hives-affected area. Repeat the treatment three times a day for the best results.
5. Chamomile Essential Oil
Chamomile oil contains anti-inflammatory agents that help to suppress the itching and swelling caused by hives.
A handful of studies have indicated that chamomile has anti-inflammatory properties.
German chamomile oil is more efficient than Roman chamomile oil for treating hives and other allergenic infections on the skin.
This oil also treats other skin conditions like eczema, psoriasis, acne, rashes, and sunburn.
How to use:
Add five drops of German chamomile oil to two tablespoons of coconut or olive oil.
After cleansing the hives-affected area with ice-cold water, apply the oil mixture. Repeat the treatment three times a day for fast relief from hives.
6. Lemon Essential Oil
Lemon oil, rich in anti-inflammatory and antiseptic components, helps to soothe pain, itching, and swelling caused by hives.
The chemical compounds in lemon oil, such as α-Pinene, Camphene, Sabinene, and Myrcene, are known for their anti-inflammatory capacity.
The antioxidants in the lemon oil help eliminate the irritation from hives caused by insect bites.
This oil is also a traditionally used remedy for dealing with allergic reactions and poisonous effects on the skin caused by bee and wasp stings and insect bites.
Lemon oil is prone to producing a photosensitivity reaction, so it is better to avoid direct exposure to sunlight after applying this oil to the skin.
How to use:
Add 5 drops of lemon oil to two tablespoons of coconut or olive oil. Apply this oil mixture to the hive-affected area three times per day.
7. Helichrysum Oil
Helichrysum oil is a commonly used natural ingredient in many skincare products. This oil is known for its anti-aging effect on the skin; it reduces blemishes and scars.
Helichrysum oil contains antiallergenic and anti-inflammatory properties that work well for managing the symptoms of hives.
Some experimental studies have indicated the ‘strong abilities of Helichrysum oil to lower inflammation due to several mechanisms: inflammatory enzyme inhibition, free radical scavenging activity, and corticoid-like effects.’
It calms the rashes and reduces inflammation.
Helichrysum oil is most suitable for healing hives caused by bug bites.
How to use:
A mixture of Helichrysum essential oil and Aloe Vera gel is effective for dealing with allergies and hives caused by bug bites.
Take an ounce of Aloe Vera gel and add six drops of Helichrysum oil.
Apply the gel to the affected area three times a day. Cleanse the hive-affected area with ice-cold water before applying this topical remedy.
Essential Oil Blends for Hives
Essential oil blends have more health benefits than using them individually.
It is possible to enhance the therapeutic power of essential oils by combining two or more oils.
Essential oil recipe:
- Lavender Oil: 10 drops
- German chamomile oil: 10 drops
- Coconut Oil: 4 ounces
Preparation:
- Heat the coconut oil till it turns into a fine liquid.
- Add the essential oils to the warm coconut oil and blend them thoroughly.
- Store this oil mixture in a tightly closed jar.
- Apply this oil blend to the hives-affected area as required.
- Repeat the treatment thrice a day.
Prescription Medicines for Hives
If you have chronic hives, it is better to use prescription medicines to treat them and home remedies for hives.
Diagnosing what triggers hives on your skin is crucial to eradicating this infection. First, you have to eliminate the triggers that cause hives.
Medicines that dermatologists prescribe to treat hives include:
- Antihistamines
- Corticosteroids like prednisone (for short-term use)
- Dapsone (an antibiotic for relieving inflammation)
- Omalizumab (an injectable medicine for chronic idiopathic Urticaria)
Warnings and Tips
- The effectiveness of essential oils in treating hives lacks scientific backing, and thus the effects of such treatment are not guaranteed.
- If the conditions of the hive do not improve after using essential oils for 2–3 days, you should consult a physician for treatment.
- Essential oils contain powerful chemical components that can be harsh on the skin; always dilute them in distilled water or carrier oil before use.
- The use of essential oils is not recommended for babies or pregnant women.
- If you use essential oils for the first time, do a small patch test to examine your skin’s tolerance to the chosen oil.
- While you have hives, use loose-fitting cotton clothes.
- Avoid direct exposure to the sun and the humid environment when you have hives.
- A cold compress and a warm-water bath with Epsom salt, baking soda, essential oils, or sea salt can relieve the symptoms of hives.
- Do not scratch or pick at the inflamed hives.
- Consult a doctor if you experience severe swelling, dizziness, breathing difficulty, chest pain, or wheezing when you have hives.
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