Condition education
Hives lasting six weeks or more, often with no obvious trigger, that can be brought under control.
What it is
Chronic urticaria is the medical term for hives, itchy raised welts, that recur for six weeks or longer. Some people also have deeper swelling called angioedema. In most cases no specific external trigger is found.
More than skin-deep. Chronic urticaria is driven by the immune system's mast cells releasing histamine and other signals. It is usually not an allergy, and it can sometimes be associated with autoimmune conditions.
Signs and symptoms
Associated conditions
Chronic Urticaria can travel with other conditions, which is why whole-person assessment matters, not just treating the skin.
The burden
Unpredictable, itchy welts and swelling interfere with sleep, work, and quality of life, and not knowing when a flare will come adds to the strain.
Care has expanded
Chronic urticaria can usually be well controlled with a stepwise approach, and many people improve over time. Care requires accurate diagnosis, severity assessment, and monitoring, with specialty input when standard measures are not enough.
How AURORA helps
AURORA connects local clinics across rural and remote Alaska to dermatology hubs, so chronic urticaria can be recognized, documented, and managed without a long trip away from home whenever clinically appropriate.
This page is general education, not medical advice. If you have a skin concern, please talk with a clinician. For a severe or rapidly worsening problem, seek local care right away.