Itch in Urticaria Management

Urticaria is a common skin disorder defined by the occurrence of itchy and even painful wheals, angioedema, or both. The lifetime prevalence for its acute and chronic form is 20 and 1%, respectively. The patients' quality of life is impaired because of itch, disfigurement, and high associated comorbidity. To understand the pathophysiology of the wheal in order to ensure a correct therapeutic approach is critical. Mast cells are the primary effector cells in urticaria, which produce and secrete a variety of inflammatory mediators, mainly histamine. Their peripheral effects are responsible for the signs and symptoms of the disease, such as cutaneous swelling and pruritus. Management of itch in urticaria includes both nonpharmacological (avoidance or minimization of aggravating factors) and pharmacological treatments. The main therapeutic objective is to obtain complete relief of signs (hives and angioedema) and symptoms (pruritus) as quickly as possible. Licensed and up-dosed nonsedating H1-antihistamines are currently the first- and second-line therapies according to the European guidelines. When antihistamines are not enough, other treatments include anti-IgE antibodies, mast cell modulators, mast cell mediator blockers, and immunomodulators. As the knowledge of the pathogenesis of urticaria improves, the development of alternative therapies targeting these pathways may improve the patient's quality of life through the control of the pruritus, its main symptom.