Urticaria or hives is a fairly common skin condition. Most cases of urticaria are acute and they may appear for days to weeks and settle within 6 weeks.
In some cases, the urticaria can be more persistent and last beyond 6 weeks. This is termed as chronic urticaria.
Urticaria is due to the release of histamines in the body and this causes the skin to develop the wheals. There are a variety of triggers for urticaria including physical factors like temperature changes and pressure on the skin and avoiding the triggering factors will be helpful.
Sometimes, there can be associated medical conditions like thyroid problems, and autoimmune problems and blood tests can be done to rule out these conditions.
Antihistamines are the treatment of choice. This may be prescribed for a period of time to suppress the urticaria. Often, the urticaria will eventually subside with the treatment.
In some cases, the urticaria can be very persistent and last for months to years. Other treatments like can oral immuno-suppressants may be used. There is a new treatment for chronic urticaria called omalizumab. This is biologic treatment and is indicated for patients with persistent and difficult to control hives.
