Facts About Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria

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Chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) is the medical term for hives that:

Have no known cause
Last a long time

Chronic = Lasts for 6 weeks or longer

Spontaneous = No obvious cause or trigger

Urticaria = Red and itchy raised welts or patches on the skin (hives)

What causes CSU?

When your immune system detects a threat, it releases histamine and other inflammatory chemicals.

Histamine can widen blood vessels, which can lead to skin swelling, itchiness and redness.

What triggers hives?

Common triggers of hives usually include:

Allergies
Bacterial infections, including UTIs and strep
Viral infections, including colds and mono
Certain medicines, including antibiotics and ibuprofen
Extreme hot or cold temperatures

Unlike other types of hives, CSU usually has no identifiable trigger and the cause is unknown. But it is often linked to type 2 inflammation .

Type 2 inflammation = an overactive immune response that can contribute to inflammatory conditions.

Treatments for CSU

Antihistamines used first
Biologics (monoclonal antibodies that target the immune system) if symptoms still aren’t controlled

Help for CSU

If you have hives that last 6 weeks or longer or keep coming back, talk to your primary care provider, dermatologist or allergist.

This educational resource was created with support from Regeneron and Sanofi.

Alex Fulton

Alex Fulton has been working in the wellness field for more than 20 years. She has written extensively about integrative medicine, herbalism, supplements and other topics related to holistic health. Alex also focuses on issues related to women's health, from menstruation to menopause. She has collaborated with physicians, midwives and functional medicine practitioners to promote natural approaches to health care for women. She has a BA in English from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

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