Hives : Effective Oatmeal Baths for Itching Relief
Itch-Relieving Oatmeal Baths for Hives
Hives are red, itchy welts on your skin that are also known as urticaria. They could show up somewhere on your body. Using colloidal oatmeal in a bath might help calm and hydrate irritated skin.
Usually, an allergic response to food or medication results in hives. They could also be brought on by stress, illnesses, or bug stings.
Because colloidal oatmeal serves as an emollient and hydrates the skin, it can be used as a home treatment for skin disorders like hives. Avena Sativa, often known as the oat plant, is used to make it.
Oatmeal has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant qualities that help protect and soothe the skin, especially when dissolved in bath water.
In addition to oatmeal’s health benefits, taking a warm bath can help you manage stress. Continue reading to find out more about oatmeal baths and hive treatment methods.
How to take a bath with oatmeal
Your doctor may recommend an over-the-counter antihistamine like: if you have mild hives.
Cetirizine (Zyrtec), loratadine (Claritin), and diphenhydramine (Benadryl)
Additionally, your doctor may suggest at-home treatments like oatmeal baths to assist relieve itching. Finely ground colloidal oatmeal is used in this therapy, making it simple to dissolve into warm bathwater.
Pre-made colloidal oatmeal is available online and in stores. Alternatively, you may buy ordinary oats from the grocery store and use a food processor or blender to ground it yourself into a fine powder.
You’ll know you’ve ground the oats finely when you drop some of the powder into a glass of water and see that the water turns white.
Then, to prepare the bath, proceed as follows:
- Pour warm water into a freshly cleaned bathtub. Because severe temperatures might exacerbate hives, be sure the water isn’t too hot.
- To assist the oatmeal dissolve into the water, pour about one cup of colloidal oatmeal under the faucet’s stream. The size of your tub will determine how much you add.
- When the tub reaches the required height, quickly agitate the water to ensure that all of the oats is incorporated. The water ought to feel smooth and have a milky appearance.
soaking in a bath of oats
You should stay in the bath for the prescribed amount of time given by your doctor. In general, a 15-minute bath can be quite relaxing for the skin. In fact, prolonged immersion in water can dry out the skin and exacerbate inflammation.
Keep in mind that the colloidal oats can make the tub very slippery when getting in and out. After, pat yourself dry with a gentle towel rather than rubbing, as this could aggravate your delicate skin.
>>Also Know: 7 HIV-Friendly Strategies to Help Your Mental Health
Can my colloidal oatmeal bath be customized?
Some proponents of natural medicine assert that enhancing an oatmeal bath with additional additives will enhance the experience. These items include:
- olive oil sea salt
- Salts of Epsom
- baking soda with lavender flavor
Make sure to consult your doctor before making any changes to the recipe for a conventional oatmeal bath as there is no clinical research or peer-reviewed literature to support the advantages of these modifications. Additional substances may make your illness worse, and some people may have allergies to things like olive oil or lavender.
