How do you prevent/get rid of hives?

Depends on the Cause: If the hives are caused by an allergy, staying away from the source of the allergy is the best way to prevent them. Over the counter antihistamines (like benadryl, (diphenhydramine) allegra, zyrtec or claritin) can sometimes help with swelling and itching, as well. Occasionally, topical steroid creams, like hydrocortisone, can help spots that remain itchy or inflamed.

Difficult to do: The best prevention is to avoid the allergen that causes the hives, but it's not all that often that we can figure out what is causing them. Most cases of hives can be controlled by antihistamines such as zyrtec or allegra (fexofenadine). Your allergist will be able to help identify the allergen exposure that is causing the hives, and/or develop a treatment program that controls both the hives and their itching.