October 1, 2025, is World Urticaria Day.
Urticaria is the medical phrase for hives — itchy purple welts that seem in your pores and skin. Acute urticaria occurs in response to an allergy or another supply you possibly can establish, like solar publicity. The welts normally go away with time or remedy. However power spontaneous urticaria, or CSU, are hives that happen abruptly, final for greater than six weeks and, not like acute urticaria, don’t have any identified trigger.
About 1% of individuals all over the world get CSU. Most get it after they’re of their 20s to 40s, though you may get it at any age — even childhood. Girls are twice as more likely to get CSU than males, and Black and non-white individuals get it extra typically than white individuals. Decrease socioeconomic standing also can enhance your probabilities for CSU.
Having hives could seem innocent, however the fixed, long-term itching from the welts can have a powerful affect in your high quality of life. And, should you scratch them, they might turn out to be contaminated.
CSU Signs
CSU welts could appear to be bug bites, however there are variations. The hives:
- Seem anyplace on the physique, particularly alongside the waist, underneath the arm and within the groin
- Change shapes
- Disappear and reappear
- Transfer to completely different areas
- Look purple or pores and skin shade
- Flip white or disappear once you press on them
Should you’ve been scratching, you would possibly see scratch marks and blood as properly.
CSU Causes
Not like acute hives, the reason for power hives is unknown. Researchers consider that half the time, CSU is attributable to an autoimmune downside, and your physique is sending out histamine, which is a chemical your physique releases to battle allergic reactions. Virtually 1 in 10 individuals with CSU have an autoimmune illness, like rheumatoid arthritis or Sort 1 diabetes.
You probably have CSU, you would possibly discover that some conditions could make it worse, like once you’re pressured or have an an infection, or once you’re chilly.
Diagnosing CSU
Your healthcare supplier (HCP) will decide when you’ve got acute urticaria or CSU. They’ll ask for an in depth medical historical past, searching for allergic reactions or something that would clarify the hives. A bodily examination is subsequent, wanting on the hives and the place they’re.
Blood assessments don’t diagnose CSU, however they will rule out different causes and even verify for autoimmune ailments in case your HCP suspects this is likely to be the case.
Treating CSU
Your HCP would possibly refer you to an allergist, immunologist or dermatologist. The primary remedy will seemingly be antihistamines (allergy medicines). Nevertheless, 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 choice, however many individuals don’t have success with omalizumab both. A 3rd choice is cyclosporine, which suppresses the immune system.
Researchers are additionally searching for various medicines for individuals with CSU. In 2025, the Meals and Drug Administration authorized a biologic drugs known as dupilumab, which controls irritation by blocking the immune system, and there are different biologics which might be nonetheless present process scientific trials. These medicines may very well be added to different therapies or assist individuals who haven’t been capable of management their CSU with current therapies.
This academic useful resource was created with help from Sanofi, a HealthyWomen Company Advisory Council member.
Associated Articles Across the Internet
