What is chronic spontaneous urticartia (chronic hives)?
Chronic spontaneous urticaria, also called chronic idiopathic urticaria, is a type of chronic hives that come and go unexpectedly. These hives persist daily for a minimum of six weeks without a clear cause or trigger. While this condition can affect anyone at any point, women experience it twice as often as men, and it’s most common between the ages of 20 and 40.
In this blog, we’ll provide an overview of chronic spontaneous urticaria, symptoms associated with the condition, and potential treatments that may work for individuals.
What is chronic idiopathic urticaria?
Chronic idiopathic urticaria refers to hives (urticaria) that last more than six weeks (chronic) and have no known cause (idiopathic). Because of their nature, the condition can be frustrating for both the affected individual and their medical team, as addressing the issue can require many rounds of trial and error.
Chronic spontaneous urticaria symptoms
Chronic idiopathic urticaria symptoms are typically the same as shorter instances of hives, but occur more frequently and persist for more than six weeks. Affected individuals commonly develop raised, itchy bumps that may appear red, purple, or skin-colored. In the instance of red-colored hives, the center of the hive will “blanch” (turn white) when pressure is applied. Because of how significantly these symptoms can impact school and job performance in addition to sleep, the impact of chronic spontaneous urticaria on a person’s life can be substantial.
How to treat chronic idiopathic urticaria
Individuals will typically work with an allergist to address and plan treatment for chronic spontaneous urticaria. The first line of treatment is typically nonprescription antihistamines, either orally or topically in the affected area. If these are ineffective, doctors will typically prescribe stronger antihistamines that are used daily to block the development of hives. However, these treatments are not always effective, and the process of trying various medications can be frustrating and time-consuming.
Chronic spontaneous urticaria clinical trials
Ongoing research aims to uncover the many aspects of chronic spontaneous urticaria that remain unclear to experts. This exploration seeks to better comprehend the condition’s cause and discover optimal treatments. For this process, clinical trials are essential, as they make medical advancement possible. To learn more about currently recruiting clinical trials, click the button below to get started.
