His whole body was itchy, he thought it was an allergy and was diagnosed

The first step in getting treatment is to figure out if you actually have hives. In most cases, a doctor will be able to determine if you have hives from a physical exam. Your skin will show signs of the welts that are linked with hives.

A doctor may also perform blood tests or skin tests to find out what may have caused your hives — especially if your hives were the result of an allergic reaction.

You may not need prescription treatment if you’re experiencing a mild case of hives not related to allergies or other health conditions. In these circumstances, a doctor might suggest that you find temporary relief by:

taking antihistaminesTrusted Source, such as diphenhydramine ( Benadryl) or – cetirizine (Zyrtec)
avoiding irritating the area
avoiding hot water, which may aggravate the hives
taking a cool or lukewarm bath with colloidal oatmeal or baking soda
Seek emergency medical care
See a healthcare professional if you have severe hives or hives that last for more than a few days.Continue reading…