The Trade-Off for Clear Skin: Living with Biologics and Chronic Hives

When hives first began appearing on my body, I thought it was a temporary allergic reaction caused by a system-wide reaction to a virus. As the months wore on and the itching grew more constant, widespread, and bothersome, I knew something had to be done. I was miserable.

Identifying the symptoms of chronic hives

Before seeing a doctor, it was difficult to keep track of what triggered a reaction and what helped. It seemed as though nearly everything caused my skin to erupt in bumps and redness. I took pictures to document the various shapes, sizes, and locations, but since my bumps didn’t fit the stereotypical appearance of hives, my online research led me to doubt myself. I wondered whether my symptoms were even worthy of help and despaired that I would just have to live with the constant itching and anxiety.

While hospitalized for a separate issue, I spoke with a hospital allergist about my skin. They recommended I see an outpatient dermatologist after I was released. Of course, that appointment ended up being a couple of months down the road.

Advocating for a diagnosis

When the day finally came, I was afraid of not being believed, as I had no hives to show at the time. Fortunately, I had taken dozens of pictures. Once I saw the dermatologist, I showed him the documentation. It was confirmed that yes, I was dealing with chronic hives—and that it was, by all means, worthy of treatment. I was already taking a multitude of allergy medications, steroids, and topicals that were failing to control the flare-ups, so the dermatologist recommended I try Xolair. Since his office was three hours from home, he sent his recommendations to my local allergist.

At the next appointment with my allergist, my doctor read the recommendations, looked through my pictures, and agreed to prescribe Xolair. He submitted the paperwork to insurance for approval. Within a week, I received word that Xolair was approved, and I would receive my first shot the following month. From the onset of my symptoms to the start of treatment, nearly a year and a half had elapsed.

Five years of relief with biologics

Since that initial shot, it has been five years of significant relief. Do I still get breakthroughs when my body is flaring? Yes. Are most of my triggers no longer an issue? For the most part, yes. Do I still get itchy? Absolutely. But the difference is night and day.

Navigating the trade-offs of treatment

In living with chronic hives, the difficult pill to swallow is that we have treatments but not necessarily cures. We often face trade-offs with these treatments. While receiving Xolair injections, one trade-off I must deal with is a slightly compromised immune system. Since I am on three different biologics and have a mild genetic immune deficiency, I have to be extra careful to protect myself. The benefits of this choice, though, have outweighed the negatives by a long shot.

Facing the future with a chronic disease

Despite all the benefits, I’m still living with a chronic condition. This is a disease that will likely follow me well into the future. Although I deal with minimal symptoms these days and I’ve learned how to better manage flares when they appear, I still carry the burden of the long haul. Thankfully, it’s a burden that has been fairly easy to bear in recent years.