Chronic hives or a skin rash is a common symptom of thyroid disease, and especially when one has Hashimoto’s disease (a thyroid autoimmune disease).
This was one of the main symptoms I had when I was struggling with thyroid disease, so I can understand how painful and frustrating chronic hives and rashes can be. Thankfully, I was able to put Hashimoto’s into remission and my hives haven’t returned for over 14 years. I’ve also been able to help many clients with this symptom!
So, let’s walk through hives, skin rashes and Hashimoto’s and holistic steps you can take.
Thyroid disease, skin rashes, chronic hives (aka chronic urticaria):
Hives or skin rashes are actually quite common with those with Hashimoto’s. In fact, about 25-30% of chronic urticaria patients also have Hashimoto’s disease.
The hives are usually patches of raised red or skin-colored welts. The welts can change shape and size and sometimes can fade and then reappear later. The rash can also often come with itching, stinging or burning.
While researchers don’t have the full cause figured out, chronic hives have been long thought to be associated with thyroid autoimmune disease such as Hashimoto’s.
Hashimoto’s is an autoimmune condition where your immune system attacks your thyroid tissues. It’s important to understand that Hashimoto’s is an immune system issue that can affect the thyroid. But, it’s not inherently a thyroid issue. Hashimoto’s disease is also known as Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis and chronic autoimmune thyroiditis.
Here’s a photo of me when I had chronic hives for about 18 months and then after I recovered.
How does Hashimoto’s disease cause a rash or chronic hives?
While the conventional medical community doesn’t have an answer for this, the functional community often sees that the hives and rashes are from some form of liver congestion.
When the liver becomes overloaded from things such as: pharmaceuticals, pesticides, herbicides, toxins in skincare, body care, house cleaning products, synthetic fragrances, heavy metals, toxins in the water, air, etc. or it doesn’t have the nutrients it needs to function optimally, the body can start to experiencing rashes, hives and itching.
I saw this in my own personal health journey, and I’ve seen this also be the case for the clients I’ve worked with who’ve had these issues.
It’s important to note that liver congestion usually plays some sort of role in thyroid autoimmunity.
How can you get rid of a thyroid rash or chronic hives?
One of the best ways that I’ve found to reduce the itching and rashes is to support the liver and reduce stressors to provide the body with the nutrients and energy it needs to perform natural detoxification.
And of course, always talk to your practitioner about the best steps for you!
Here are my top tips to get rid of a thyroid rash naturally:
1. Start moving away from processed foods and eat real, grain-free, nutrient-dense foods. Processed foods contain hundreds, if not thousands of different toxins that will continue to put a burden on your liver and make it difficult to see changes in your skin.
When you’re sick, I know this can feel completely overwhelming (I’ve been there!) but removing all gluten and processed foods from your diet can make a significant difference in your symptoms and antibody levels.
Here’s a quick list of the foods you should be focusing on:
Organic, pastured meats
Wild seafood
Healthy saturated fats such as butter, ghee, lard, tallow, and duck fat
Cooked vegetables
Fruits
Soaked and cooked legumes and lentils
Sprouted seeds and nuts
Raw or cultured dairy such as: raw milk and cream, cultured yogurt, cultured sour cream, kefir, butter, raw cheese, etc.
Meat stock (this is a better option than bone broth right now if you have rashes)
Fermented vegetables like raw sauerkraut and kimchi for good probiotics
Wild sea vegetables
Here’s more info about the kind of diet that is best for Hashimoto’s. And, here are lots of family-friendly recipes for you!
2. Start switching out all laundry products, skincare, body care, housecleaning products, candles, etc. to completely non-toxic alternatives. These products contain so many toxins in them that enter your bloodstream through your skin and can cause continual skin irritation, hormone imbalance, and also place a burden on your liver.
If I had to choose the first place to start I would switch to completely non-toxic laundry detergent, fabric softener, and skincare. Here’s my full list of healthy products that I personally use and recommend.
3. Keep your sugar intake at 20-30 grams or lower a day (this does not include carbohydrates from healthy sources such as vegetables, soaked grains, raw dairy, etc.). I realize this is probably the least favorite tip of all, but it’s important to understand that the liver is one of the three organs responsible for blood sugar balance.
When you eat too much sugar, this makes it very difficult for the liver to do its job. If you struggle with sugar cravings right now, make this recipe for buttermints and follow the directions listed.
4. Use castor oil packs to gently detoxify and support the liver and thyroid. Here’s an article I wrote that explains why they are so helpful, lists the supplies you need, and explains exactly how to do one.
5. Practice letting go of anger and practicing forgiveness. If you’re unfamiliar with the book The Body Keeps Score the main idea is that when the body walks through difficult times, traumas, etc. sometimes the body doesn’t have the resources or understanding to process these emotions. So, the body stores them in various organs, glands and tissues.
Two key emotions that are often connected to the liver are anger and resentment. So, it can be really helpful to let go of anger and practice forgiveness.
I recommend talking to a counselor or therapist, someone you trust at your local church, or a friend that will help you walk through this process.
6. Eat healthy fats from animal sources each day to provide the body with plenty of vital nutrients to support the liver (especially retinol). Some of my favorite sources are: butter, ghee, tallow, duck fat, pastured eggs, and raw dairy.
7. Drink a small glass of beet kvass first thing each morning. This tonic is fabulous for the liver and very easy to make. Here’s the recipe.
8. Walk or do other gentle exercise such as pilates, yoga, etc. to lower cortisol and stress levels to reduce putting stress on the liver. Exercise also helps improve blood flow to the liver.
9. Consider supplementation. A few supplements that I’ve seen to be incredible helpful to support the liver and and in turn to reduce rashes or hives are:
a. Betafood – This is my favorite supplement to get going with when you want to support the liver and gallbladder. It’s also very economical!
Here are some ways Betafood supports the liver:
– Betafood provides methyl donors to support liver’s natural detoxification processes
– Contains naturally occurring betaine for liver and cardiovascular health
– Supports normal processing of dietary fats
b. Livaplex – this is a big step-up from Betafood and provides a wealth of nutrients to support natural liver detoxification.
Here are some benefits of Livaplex:
– Supports healthy liver function, normal bile production and the body’s normal toxin-elimination function
– It’s an excellent source of vitamin B6 and zinc and a good source of iron, copper, niacin, and antioxidant vitamin A.
Livaplex does contain iron, so keep this in mind if you’re on any iron supplements so you don’t accidentally consume too much iron.
c. Milk Thistle Forte – a concentrated liver support formula containing milk thistle seed that helps support liver function and protect liver structure.
Milk thistle forte benefits:
– Protects liver tissue by supporting normal cellular defenses.
– Supports general healthy detoxification function and toxin elimination function.
– Supports normal bile production and secretion to help relieve mild symptoms of occasional mild digestive discomfort.
d. LivCo – is a combination of schisandra, rosemary and milk thistle to provide liver cleansing support.
The herbs in LivCo have been traditionally used in herbal preparations to:
– Support and maintain cellular health
– Aid in the elimination of naturally occurring toxins and support healthy general detoxification
– Support healthy liver function
Please note: Some of these supplements have contraindications, so as always, talk to your practitioner about the best supplements for your situation.
10. Make sleep a priority. I recommend aiming for at least 8-9 hours a night. Sleep and liver health are closely linked. Your liver filters your blood to remove toxins while you sleep, so it’s incredibly important to get plenty of quality sleep.
How can I learn more about the steps I can take for Hashimoto’s?
I have four fantastic options for you!
- To download my 50 of my top tips to support the thyroid and immune system naturally, tap here. I’ll also send you an educational email every few days to help you learn how to support your body naturally.
- If you’d like to learn from first steps you can take to help support your thyroid, check out my class, “5 Keys to Thyroid Hormone Balance”. It’s just 45 minutes and I promise you’ll learn something new!
- If you’re looking for a step-by-step plan for Hashimoto’s that truly works (no more piecing together info!), check out my 90-Day Thyroid Reset Program.
- Book a consult with me for one-on-one help. Here’s info about what working with me looks like.
Sources:
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6302681/
https://journals.lww.com/japtr/fulltext/2018/09040/relationship_between_chronic_urticaria_and.9.aspx”>https://journals.lww.com/japtr/fulltext/2018/09040/relationship_between_chronic_urticaria_and.9.aspx
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10214500/”>https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10214500/
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6302681/
https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/immunology/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2019.00627/full”>https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/immunology/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2019.00627/full
https://liver.org.au/
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/17665-hashimotos-disease
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5822693/
