My 13 year old son recently started puberty and about the same time, unexpectedly and out of the blue came down with a pretty bad case of hives (urticaria). Â They started on his thighs and then within a day or so, covered his whole body except for his face, neck, hands, and feet.
Being a bit of an analyst in this area, I sat down with him and thoroughly reviewed what he had been eating and drinking over the past few days. Â We came up with nothing unusual that could have triggered the event including any exposures to possible environmental allergens.
My son has no allergies or sensitivities of any kind and had never had hives or a skin rash before, so I was completely baffled!
Not wanting to resort to any meds, even over the counter diphenhydramine (Benadryl), I consulted a professional who advised that the hives were likely caused by the sudden burst of testosterone and were nothing to worry about long term.
She advised the homeopathic preparation “Skin” which he was to take whenever he started to itch or feel uncomfortable.
He was to take 1-2 tablets on the tongue and let them dissolve before swallowing taking care to ensure that he had nothing to eat or drink 15 minutes before or after taking them.
This homepathic preparation, a completely natural remedy for hives, worked wonderfully well. Â He had to take these pills off and on for about a week before the hives gradually faded away on their own.
The hives haven’t come back since so my hope is that using homeopathics instead of short circuiting the immune process with meds like Benadryl allowed him to adjust to his changing hormonal pattern without causing any long term imbalances in any way.
Has your child had hives before? Â What natural remedy for hives did you use that worked for you?
Sarah, The Healthy Home Economist
thehealthyhomeeconomist via Facebook
Yes, all sorts of symptoms can crop up from GAPS. It is called a “healing crisis”.
Julia
I don’t see where to find “Skin” or what it is…couldn’t find anything helpful about it on the web. Can you please help?! Several people have asked and it seems like their pleas for help are being ignored. It’s no good to know that “Skin” helps if you can’t figure out what it is or how to get it… 😉
Heather Halliday Chambers via Facebook
Does anyone know if hives are a side effect of being on the GAPS diet? Not finding enough info. Ive been on gaps about 3 months and just got my first case of hives ever and it’s a biggie! Had to resort to meds! That does not make me very happy. Any info would be awesome!!!
Molly
This is really interesting. I regularly use homeopathics from a homeopath when needed. However, I am wondering why you would treat the skin and not a hormone balancing remedy. Obviously, puberty is normal…but to the point of an all over body skin hives…. not too sure. I would think that treating the skin is like treating just the symptom and not the real problem.
Sarah, TheHealthyHomeEconomist
It was from the sudden burst of testosterone that the body had not experienced before. He has since adjusted and been fine. If it continued to recur, that would have indicated a persistent imbalance. He has obviously adjusted fine. It could have also been brought on by the physical stress of starting puberty also which is a huge change physiologically.
Lisa G.
I developed a raging case of hives in my 20s about 2 weeks before I left for full-time University. It was my big move away from home and I had to leave a job in the corporate world to attend. I was so nervous about the University, quitting my job, leaving friends and family behind, etc. that the hives popped up and destroyed my skin from head to toe! I went to see the doctor but they said there was no way for them to identify the cause of the hives without further testing. So I rode it through and within 10 days, it had cleared completely. But it was itchy non-stop!!!!
Rayhana Umm Ayman via Facebook
am wondering if one can get hives because of dust mites? no one else has it except me. i get it almost every night, but on some nights, i don’t.
Renee
By “at night” I’m assuming it is happening in bed.? What are you washing your sheets with? You could be sensitive or allergic to something in the bedding that others are fine with. The sheets? The blanket? I can not use Tide to wash anything because it makes me itch. I use Cheer and have no problems. Also I double rinse my sheets when I wash them. Also wearing lotion on my skin helps protect it from whatever touches it.
If it’s in the pillow, you may need to change out your pillow. They can collect dust and dust mites. New pillow and new cover. Look all around your bed and see what you may be sensitive too.
Abi Haddad via Facebook
so it’s just called “skin”? is it a capsule of some sort?
Chrystle Fiedler
Hi Sarah – I posted a piece on hives on http://www.chrystlefiedler.com. Perhaps it can help your son?Thanks! Chrystle Fiedler
1. Drink a Detoxifying Tea that contains calendula, chamomile, dandelion leaf and root, nettles, plantain and red clover. This will help your body’s normal channels of elimination such as the kidneys, liver and lymph glands.
2. Take a Bath. Soak in the bathtub with a couple of handfuls of oatmeal tied into a washcloth. Afterwards, pat your face and back with the mucilage that comes out of the cloth on the skin. You can also bathe with a pound of alkalinizing baking soda.
3. After the Bath. Apply cooled chamomile tea or aloe vera with clean fingers or a soft cloth. It acts as an anti-inflammatory.
4. Skip spicy foods and eat a more bland diet that includes celery, cucumbers, kale and other green leafy veggies. It will make your body more alkaline than acidic. The body functions better this way.
5. Get Tested for Common Allergies such as citrus fruit, strawberries, mangoes, tomatoes, shellfish, nuts and chocolate.
thehealthyhomeeconomist via Facebook
Your homeopath should have some. A few healthfood stores carry homeopathic remedies also.
Abi Haddad via Facebook
how do we get the remedy??? i’d love to get my hands on it! 🙂