Treating Urticaria Goes More Than Skin Deep

When a patient is diagnosed with chronic idiopathic urticaria (CIU), there are several things doctors can do to help them. The process to get the proper diagnosis can take several weeks, which can complicate the situation for patients.

Calling it a "process of managing expectations," Laura Korb Farris, MD, PhD, from UPMC in Pittsburgh, said not knowing how long it will take to treat the condition means doctors need to be involved in the patient's overall health in a more personal way than they would with other conditions. In the past, antihistamines were the only real treatment option doctors had to help patients manage their symptoms. Recently, a new medication called omalizumab has been approved, which Farris said has provided a big benefit for patients and a powerful new tool for providers.