Chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) is the medical name for hives that:
- They have no known cause
- They last a long time
Chronic = Lasts 6 weeks or longer
Spontaneous = Has no obvious cause or trigger
Hives = red, raised, itchy skin inflammation (hives)
What is the cause of the CSU?
When your immune system detects a threat, it releases histamine and other inflammatory chemicals.
Histamine can dilate blood vessels, which can cause inflammation, itching, and redness of the skin.
What triggers hives?
Common triggers for hives include:
- Allergies
- Bacterial infections, including urinary tract infections and strep throat
- Viral infections, including colds and mononucleosis
- Certain medications, including antibiotics and ibuprofen
- Extremely hot or cold temperatures
Unlike other types of hives, CSU usually has no identifiable trigger and the cause is unknown, but it is often associated with type 2 inflammation.
Type 2 inflammation = an overactive immune response that can cause inflammatory diseases.
CSU treatments
- Antihistamines are used first
- Biopharmaceuticals (monoclonal antibodies that specifically attack the immune system) if symptoms are still not controlled
Help for the UCE
If you have hives that last six weeks or longer or keep coming back, talk to your primary care doctor, dermatologist, or allergist.
This educational resource was created with support from Regeneron and Sanofi.
