Are you wondering how to get rid of hives? You're not alone - at any point in time, 20% of the population suffers with an outbreak of hives, according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology.

This article will discuss what hives are, what causes them, as well as the most effective treatments available for this condition.

Hives (also known as Urticaria) is actually an inflammation of the skin, usually caused by an allergic reaction or stress.

What happens is that plasma cells from the blood stream become inflamed and surface underneath the skin. This causes the skin to become aggravated and the rash that you experience with this condition develops.

The most aggravating part about hives is that the itchiness you experience usually causes even more irritation to the skin, so it becomes a never-ending problem.

Most people who experience hives will have break outs that last 6 weeks or longer, and some are never able to get rid of it.

So, now let's talk about how to get rid of hives.

Unfortunately, the most common treatment recommended by a doctor for this condition is the use of steroids. Although steroids are often helpful with allergic reactions and inflammatory processes (like the inflamed skin that occurs with hives), there are many side effects to these drugs that make them very unappealing.

Acne, aggression, birth defects, kidney disease, liver problems, blood clotting too quickly, cancer, heart disease, high blood pressure and weight game are just some of the side effects caused by steroids.

In addition to the side effects, steroids are not always helpful for treating hives, and could actually make the condition worse if taken over a long period of time.

There are some natural alternatives to steroids that don't have the same side effects and are usually very helpful with a hives outbreak.

The best one I've found is called OxyHives, and is a homeopathic, herbal spray that you simply spray under your tongue. It's very easy to use, and quite effective.

If you'd like to learn more about OxyHives, as well as other effective treatments for this condition, please visit http://how-to-get-rid-of-hives.com