FreeMD® Allergy Home Care: Hives

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hives

Allergy Home Care: Hives

Home care for hives:

Avoid scratching: this can cause infection.
Take prescription medications as directed.
Apply 1% hydrocortisone cream to the area, such as Cortizone 10 or Cortaid.
Try nonprescription antihistamines, such as diphenhydramine.
Use cold compresses to soothe the itching and swelling.
Wash your skin with a gentle soap.

Medications for allergic skin rashes and hives include:

An oral antihistamine such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl) or chlorpheniramine
Prescribed oral antihistamines or steroids should be taken as directed
For a skin rash, anti-itching creams such as:

Calamine
Benadryl Itch Stopping Cream

Steroid creams such as a 0.5 to 1% hydrocortisone cream or ointment such as:

Cortaid Maximum Strength
Cortizone 5
Cortizone 10
Cortizone for Kids

Domeboro Astringent is used as a wet compress on itching skin.

Diphenhydramine Dosing Chart

Age	Each Dose	Interval	Max Daily Dose
2-5 years	6.25 mg	4-6 hours	37.5 mg/day
6-11 years	12.5-25 mg	4-6 hours	150 mg/day
12 and older	25-50 mg	4-6 hours	300 mg/day

Chlorpheniramine Dosing Chart

Age	Each Dose	Interval	Max Daily Dose
Under 6	consult your physician
6-11 years	2 mg	4-6 hours	12 mg/day
12 and up	4 mg	4-6 hours	24 mg/day

Continue to Allergy Home Care: Itching

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Last Updated: Mar 13, 2008

Authors: Stephen J. Schueler, MD; John H. Beckett, MD; D. Scott Gettings, MD

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