Ask the Health Leaders: What Is Your Current Treatment?

Chronic hives can look different depending on the person. Because of that, treatment and management can look different as well. We wanted to check in with our Health Leaders here at Chronic-Hives.com and find out what they have been doing lately to treat and manage their chronic hives.

If you are curious to get more detailed explanations of their tactics and tips, click on their names to be taken to their profiles and find all of their individual articles!

Current treatment for chronic hives

Response from Elisa

I am treating my chronic hives with Xolair. I first attempted a wide range of antihistamines, as I also have mast cell activation syndrome. The two conditions definitely go hand-in-hand, and I was taking triple-max dosages of a few different medications, some of which I still take. I noticed a slight decrease in the intensity of my hives when I began taking triple the max dosage of Allegra, as instructed by my allergist.

The approval process for Xolair took almost 6 months, but I was approved almost immediately once I had the formal diagnosis of chronic spontaneous urticaria from my dermatologist along with proper documentation from my current allergist. Since starting Xolair, I’ve seen a near-complete elimination of my hives. Recently, I’ve had a few outbreaks because my system was too inflamed.

Response from Ambre

I’m currently using a combination of high-dose of Allegra daily, with Xyzal and Benadryl as needed for flare-ups. I have considered trying Xolair, but I've been hesitant as it’s a biologic and would affect my already weakened immune system. My current team is very on the fence about trying it. My current combination is working, so for now, we’ve tabled the Xolair. In the future though, we’ll revisit the discussion.

Response from CJ

Currently, I am taking 10 mg of Zyrtec every single day. I am also monitoring my blood sugar levels, which may also have contributed to the hives I have been experiencing. It has been a while since I tried anything different. My last outbreak was over 3 years ago. Since I am comfortable with my current management plan, I don't have any immediate plans to change it in the near future.

Response from Christy

I spent much of 2022 figuring out the best treatment plan for my hives. Many medicines failed, some worked but caused ugly side effects, and others just weren’t an option because of other medicines I’m on and other health issues that I deal with. I spent lots of time working with my doctor trying to figure out how to get my symptoms under control.

Toward the end of the year, my hives went into remission, which I’m incredibly thankful for. It’s not that I don’t have any issues with my skin or angioedema, but the symptoms I do have are mild enough that I am not taking any of the “big gun” medications. Right now I’m just taking high doses of antihistamines and taking a short, low dose of steroids when I need to. I know it’s a blessing to be going through remission. My doctor and I do have a plan for when my hives do come back, which is inevitable, but I’m relishing my hive-free days.

Response from Lynn

In the past few years, I have felt more in control of my chronic hives flare-ups. With no way of knowing for sure, I attribute this to my daily detoxing and stress control through setting boundaries. Hives have so many causes that, sometimes, it feels almost impossible to pinpoint all your personal triggers. I switched all my toiletries to “clean beauty“ products free of dyes, chemicals, and allergens; have been diligently detoxing much more over the past few years; and practicing meditation, yoga, and boundary-setting to reduce stress. For these reasons, I attribute getting my hives under control to my lifestyle changes.