Urticaria can usually be treated well. Depending on the form, three main approaches are available – individually or combined.
Sometimes it is enough to identify and avoid personal triggers. If you know what causes the skin reaction – for example:
you can often prevent or reduce future flare-ups.
Second-generation antihistamines are most commonly prescribed. They can also be taken in higher doses and over longer periods of time. If high-dose antihistamines alone are not sufficient, urticaria can additionally be treated with biologic and biosimilar therapies. These modern medicines are usually antibodies that inhibit specific substances or immune cells in the body and thus reduce excessive immune reactions. In severe flare-ups, systemic corticosteroids may also be used for short periods.
In certain forms of chronic inducible urticaria – such as cold, solar or cholinergic urticaria – repeated exposure to the trigger can lead to temporary tolerance. However, this usually lasts only a few days, meaning the procedure must be repeated regularly (for example daily cold showers in cold urticaria). Since such methods can trigger stronger reactions or circulatory problems, they should only be carried out after medical consultation and, if necessary, under medical supervision.