Chronic spontaneous urticaria is a skin disorder characterized by hives, angioedema, or both in the absence of specific external stimuli. Evidence suggests that this condition has a long duration and can negatively affect quality of life. The pathogenesis is not fully clear, but it is known to involve autoimmune mechanisms in most patients. New research findings are summarized in a short video. See all Quick Take videos: https://www.nejm.org/multimedia/quick-take-video | The New England Journal

Do you get itchy, raised red rashes that suddenly appear and disappear within hours? These are commonly known as hives or wheals, and they shouldn’t be ignored. Dr. Ankur Kumar Jindal explains what urticaria really is, how to identify it, and why the duration of your rashes matters. When hives last for a few days, they are usually acute urticaria, often linked to allergies. But when they persist for more than six weeks, it may indicate chronic urticaria, which is commonly autoimmune in nature. W