Urticaria Day (UDAY) - Key Messages

2026 Urticaria Day Key Messages

Below you will find the full UDAY 2026 key messages, providing more detailed background and context around this year’s campaign theme, Take Back Control – From Itch to Understanding.

We encourage organisations, healthcare professionals, advocates, and community members to use these messages across awareness activities, events, presentations, social media, patient organisation communications, and local campaign initiatives to help improve understanding of urticaria worldwide.

For easier use across different audiences and platforms, downloadable simplified key messages are also available with shorter, accessible versions suitable for social media, community activities, and campaign promotion.

Itch Should Not Disrupt Your Life

Chronic urticaria can disrupt daily life in ways others may not see. It does not have to.

Many people living with chronic urticaria struggle every day with itch, swelling, and unpredictable flare ups. These symptoms can sleep, work, relationships, and confidence. Many patients feel that their condition is not fully understood.

UDAY helps raise awareness of the real impact of urticaria. Recognising the burden of the disease is the first step toward better care, support and management.¹

Listening Leads to Understanding

When patients are heard, understanding grows.

The experience of urticaria is often difficult to explain during short medical appointments. Symptoms can change from day to day, and the impact on daily life may not always be visible.

UDAY encourages patients to speak openly about their symptoms and experiences, and healthcare professionals to ask the right questions and listen carefully. When patients are heard, we gain better insight into the condition and how it affects real lives.²

There are differences in how patients and doctors might perceive the CSU burden.
In a study of physician-patient communication in CSU, over 1 in 4 patients reported symptoms as more severe than their physician (n=460). These differences may arise from intermittent CSU symptoms and unpredictable flare-ups, making it difficult for patients to communicate the full impact of symptoms during appointments².

Good Conversations Improve Care

Patients, caregivers, and doctors should make decisions together.

Shared decision-making allows patients and healthcare professionals to work as partners. Talking openly about symptoms, treatments, and the impact on daily life helps healthcare professionals understand the full picture.

When patients feel comfortable explaining their experiences, and healthcare professionals explore the wider impact of urticaria, treatment decisions can be better tailored to their needs.

Basic Treatments Are Not Enough

Research Brings Better Solutions

Research helps improve treatment and care.

Research helps scientists and doctors understand urticaria better. It also helps improve understanding of urticaria and supports the development of new and more effective treatments.

When patients take part in research, including surveys, advisory boards, or clinical studies, they help improve understanding and care for people living with urticaria today and in the future.

Community Creates Strength

No one should face urticaria alone.

Patient organisations, healthcare professionals, and support groups play an important role in helping people manage urticaria. They provide information, guidance, and emotional support.

By working together, the global urticaria community helps people feel informed, supported, and understood.³

Take Part in UDAY

Speak up, share your experience, and help build global insight.

UDAY invites patients, caregivers, and healthcare professionals to take part in an interactive experience on the UDAY website.

By sharing your experiences and insights through a short participation tool, you help create a clearer picture of how urticaria affects people around the world.

Your voice helps turn itch into insight.

References

EAACI/GA²LEN/EuroGuiDerm/APAAACI Guideline for Urticaria (2022) https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/all.15090 Maurer et al., The burden of chronic spontaneous urticaria is substantial (2017) https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/all.13209