Start from the basics and build your knowledge on chronic hives. Each section goes a little deeper, with The Itch Podcast as your guide.
16 episodes · Patients, families & clinicians
Chronic urticaria (hives)
Learn about hives in 6 Modules
2. Living with chronic hives
MODULE 1
The basics: what are chronic hives?
New to chronic urticaria? These episodes cover what it is, how it differs from a typical allergic reaction, and the most common myths.
Start here!
Ep. 75
Understanding Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria: Hives Demystified
What urticaria actually is, how CSU differs from other types of hives, and why triggers are often absent.
Ep. 80
Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria Myths & Misconceptions
Is CSU caused by allergies? Is it rare? Dr. Gupta and Kortney bust the most common myths patients and clinicians encounter.
MODULE 2
Living with chronic hives
Chronic urticaria isn't just a skin condition — it affects sleep, mental health, and daily life. These episodes put the patient experience front and center, including what the research says about the real stakes of undertreated disease.
Ep. 79
Living with Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria
Heather shares her personal journey with CSU. From intense itch to finding the right treatment, including antihistamines and Xolair, plus the mental health toll.
Ep. 148
How Do You Know Your Chronic Hives Are Under Control?
What "controlled" actually looks like, how to track symptoms, what to do during a flare, and when to ask your doctor for better treatment.
Latest research
Ep. 122
Mortality in Adult Patients with Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria — A Real-World Cohort Study
How CSU may increase risk of death, findings on CSU and suicide, and the critical importance of proper treatment.
MODULE 3
Diagnosing chronic hives
New to chronic urticaria? These episodes cover what it is, how it differs from a typical allergic reaction, and the most common myths.
Ep. 76
Diagnosing Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria
The diagnostic process for CSU includes medical history, physical exam, and limited testing. Plus, we explore why allergy panels and food restrictions are often unnecessary.
Ep. 128
Is Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria an Autoimmune Disease?
Why CSU isn't caused by allergies, and how mast cells drive hives in autoimmune and autoallergic urticaria subtypes.
MODULE 4
Treatment: antihistamines, biologics & step-up care
Treatment follows a step-up approach. These episodes cover the full range, from antihistamines to omalizumab (Xolair) and what patients should know when treatment isn't working. Check out module 5 to learn more about BTK Inhibitors.
Ep. 78
Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria Treatments
Antihistamines, Xolair, cyclosporine, and non-medical strategies — a practical overview of the current treatment landscape.
Dive deeper!
Biologics: what they are & how they work
Want to know more about biologics? These episodes build the foundation: what biologic medications are and which ones are available for allergic conditions.
Ep. 83
What Is a Biologic Medication?
What biologic medications are, how they're made, and why they're transforming treatment for conditions like asthma, eczema, and chronic hives.
Ep. 87
What Biologic Therapies Are Available for Allergic Conditions?
The landscape of biologic therapies — what they are, how they work, and which conditions they're approved for.
MODULE 5
Advanced & emerging therapies for chronic hives
For patients not controlled on standard therapy, the pipeline has expanded significantly. These episodes cover the science behind new biologics, BTK inhibitors, and what the research shows.
Ep. 82
The Future of Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria Treatments
Groundbreaking advances in CSU care include dupilumab, remibrutinib, barzolvolimab, and the evolving understanding of CSU's root cause.
Ep. 131
What Is a BTK Inhibitor?
How BTK inhibitors block mast cell activation to reduce hives and swelling in CSU, and what this new treatment class means for hive care.
Ep. 147
The REMIX Trial: Remibrutinib for Chronic Hives
A breakdown of the REMIX trial results and what the Phase 3 remibrutinib data mean for CSU patients.
MODULE 6
Health equity: hives in underserved communities
Chronic urticaria doesn't look the same on all skin tones and not all patients face the same barriers to diagnosis and care. These episodes address gaps that are too often overlooked.
Ep. 90
Challenges in Diagnosis and Treatment of Chronic Urticaria in Skin of Color
How hives present differently on darker skin, why diagnosis is often delayed, and the urgent need for culturally sensitive care.
Ep. 91
A Patient's Experience with Chronic Urticaria and Skin of Color
Meka shares her journey from diagnosis to advocacy, and what it means to manage hives on darker skin.
Ep. 107
Hives in the Latinx Community: Understanding Urticaria in the Hispanic/Latino Population
Cultural beliefs, language barriers, and skin tone as factors in diagnosing and treating chronic hives in Latinx patients.