October 1, 2025, is World Urticaria Day.
Urticaria is the medical phrase for hives — itchy crimson welts that seem in your pores and skin. Acute urticaria occurs in response to an allergy or another supply you may establish, like solar publicity. The welts normally go away with time or remedy. However continual spontaneous urticaria, or CSU, are hives that happen all of a sudden, final for greater than six weeks and, in contrast to acute urticaria, haven’t any identified trigger.
About 1% of individuals around the globe get CSU. Most get it after they’re of their 20s to 40s, though you will get it at any age — even childhood. Girls are twice as prone to get CSU than males, and Black and non-white folks get it extra typically than white folks. Decrease socioeconomic standing may also improve your possibilities for CSU.
Having hives could seem innocent, however the fixed, long-term itching from the welts can have a robust impression in your high quality of life. And, for those who scratch them, they may develop into contaminated.
CSU Signs
CSU welts might appear to be bug bites, however there are variations. The hives:
- Seem wherever on the physique, particularly alongside the waist, beneath the arm and within the groin
- Change shapes
- Disappear and reappear
- Transfer to completely different places
- Look crimson or pores and skin coloration
- Flip white or disappear whenever you press on them
When you’ve been scratching, you may see scratch marks and blood as effectively.
CSU Causes
Not like acute hives, the reason for continual hives is unknown. Researchers imagine that half the time, CSU is brought on by an autoimmune drawback, and your physique is sending out histamine, which is a chemical your physique releases to battle allergies. Virtually 1 in 10 folks with CSU have an autoimmune disease, like rheumatoid arthritis or Sort 1 diabetes.
In case you have CSU, you may discover that some conditions could make it worse, like whenever you’re burdened or have an an infection, or whenever you’re chilly.
Diagnosing CSU
Your healthcare supplier (HCP) will decide in case you have acute urticaria or CSU. They’ll ask for an in depth medical historical past, on the lookout for allergy symptoms or something that would clarify the hives. A bodily examination is subsequent, wanting on the hives and the place they’re.
Blood checks don’t diagnose CSU, however they’ll rule out different causes and even verify for autoimmune illnesses in case your HCP suspects this is likely to be the case.
Treating CSU
Your HCP may refer you to an allergist, immunologist or dermatologist. The primary remedy will doubtless be antihistamines (allergy medicines). Nonetheless, antihistamines aren’t efficient for most individuals with CSU. In the event that they don’t work, omalizumab, which can also be used for bronchial asthma, is likely to be the following possibility, however many individuals don’t have success with omalizumab both. A 3rd possibility is cyclosporine, which suppresses the immune system.
Researchers are additionally on the lookout for various medicines for folks with CSU. In 2025, the Meals and Drug Administration accredited a biologic medication known as dupilumab, which controls irritation by blocking the immune system, and there are different biologics which can be nonetheless present process medical trials. These medicines may very well be added to different remedies or assist individuals who haven’t been capable of management their CSU with current remedies.
This instructional useful resource was created with help from Sanofi, a HealthyWomen Company Advisory Council member.
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