Chronic spontaneous urticaria is an inflammatory skin disease associated with medical and psychiatric comorbidities and impaired quality of life. It is the most common problem I see as an allergist. Many doctors ignore it but it has a tremendous impact on quality of life. African Americans often face disparities in diagnosis and treatment for this condition. These differences can stem from various factors, including access to healthcare, cultural perceptions of symptoms, and a lack of representation in medical research, which can lead to variations in the quality of care received.
- First decide if you know what triggered your hive attack and don’t expose yourself to that trigger again
- If you are sure you have hives only, for a few days, use non-sedating antihistamines for a few days. Drugs like Zyrtec, Claritin, or Allegra
- If your hives are very aggressive or associated with areas of swelling or respiratory issues, you should see your doctor and a short course of steroids should be considered
- If you have chronic urticaria (hives lasting more than 6 weeks), your doctor may prescribe a different treatment plan, such as a combination of antihistamines and other medications omalizumab.
- You have the most information about your hives. If you don’t know what’s causing them, then as a specialist, I have less than a 7 % chance of finding a cause. Skin testing for allergies is usually not helpful,
While it’s very often not possible to find a cause for hives, you CAN be treated. You should insist that your doctor go all the way
