There is no urticaria cure. The goal is to treat the symptoms until they are no longer there.
Individual wheals normally resolve within 24 hours, but new wheals can continue to appear. Acute hives will spontaneously resolve within 6 weeks. And 80% of people with chronic spontaneous urticaria will spontaneous resolve within 12 months without treatment.1 However during this time both chronic and acute hives may need treatment to help with the symptoms.1
Hives treatment options
- Identify/avoid the physical trigger (if there is one)
- Avoid aspirin and other non-steroidal, anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
- Determine if dietary changes are required; special diets may benefit only a small number of people with chronic hives2
- There are a number of medications that may be prescribed to relieve the symptoms and help prevent hives recurring.1
If hives and itch are interfering with your quality of life, there are effective treatment options. For some of these treatments you need to be in the care of an immunologist or dermatologist. Speak to your GP about a referral to an urticaria specialist.
Assess the impact of hives on your life and take the results to your doctorSYMPTOM CHECKER
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Locate a specialist
Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy (ASCIA) Skin Cancer Foundation Australasian College of Dermatologists
References
- Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy. ASCIA HP Position Paper Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria Guidelines 2020. Available from https://allergy.org.au/images/stories/pospapers/ASCIA_HP_Position_Paper_CSU_2020.pdf Accessed July 2024.
- Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy. ASCIA PC Hives Urticaria 2024. Available from https://allergy.org.au/patients/skin-allergy/urticaria-hives Accessed July 2024.