Hives and Their Triggers

Patients rarely arrive describing their symptoms as chronic inducible urticaria. Instead, they may mention hives after scratching, exposure to cold, or a workout, often with photographs of a rash that has already disappeared. Jill Cowan, FNP-BC, explores the clinical clues that help distinguish CIndU from chronic spontaneous urticaria, including the importance of reproducible triggers and the possibility that both conditions may coexist. Through practical examples of patient histories, common CIndU subtypes, and simple provocation techniques, she shows how targeted questions can help clinicians identify the pattern and begin addressing a disease that cannot always be managed through avoidance alone.