Urticaria Day (UDAY) - Key Messages

2025 Urticaria Day Key Messages

Despite medical advances, many people living with urticaria still face daily challenges that disrupt their lives. From ineffective treatments to limited awareness and support, the unmet needs are clear and urgent. Clinical research – including trials – offers a vital opportunity to bridge these gaps, but participation remains low due to mistrust, lack of information, and access barriers.

This Urticaria Day, we call for a united global effort to:

Together, we can turn unheard stories into research priorities and unmet needs into medical breakthroughs.

Understanding the true burden of CSU

Patient Experiences

Stories That Must Be Heard

Many people living with Urticaria around the world feel their voices are overlooked. Despite treatment, they still face daily discomfort, emotional strain, and the burden of an unpredictable condition. Their stories show that current care often falls short. Listening to patients and patients speaking up about the burden of itch are keys to guiding research, improving care, and changing lives globally.

Impact on Quality of Life

Every Day, Every Night

Uncontrolled itch from CSU substantially impacts quality of life, disrupting sleep and interrupting daily activities¹. This condition disrupts daily routines, relationships, sleep, work, school, and mental well-being. Around the world, patients often feel unable to participate fully in society due to the unpredictability and discomfort of urticaria. It is not only a medical issue but a significant barrier to living a full and confident life. The global burden of this disease must be recognized and addressed with urgency.

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.

Why Research Matters

Research is more than clinical trials

It’s every survey, every interview, every focus group. It’s listening, learning, and using real experiences to shape better care. Whether it’s understanding how urticaria affects daily life or testing new treatments in a lab, every piece of research adds to the full picture of what patients truly need.

Surveys and focus groups help us uncover the emotional, social, and practical challenges people face.
Clinical trials test new therapies for safety and effectiveness.
Observational studies track patterns and outcomes in real life.
When people from all backgrounds take part in research, we ensure that tomorrow’s treatments are built on real voices and real lives.

Your experience is evidence. Your voice shapes the future.

Basic Treatments Are Not Enough

Gaps in Therapy

It’s Not Just Skin Deep

Existing therapies often don’t address the full complexity of urticaria. Many patients continue to suffer from incomplete itch relief and frequent flare-ups, even while using common treatments like antihistamines³. There is a critical need for patients to have new treatment options that are more effective, accessible, and aligned with the diverse needs of patients in every region.

Research

The Key to Better Care

Without patient participation, progress in urticaria care slows down. Clinical research – including trials, surveys, and interviews – is essential to developing safer, more effective treatments and understanding the real-life impact of the disease. Yet many patients hesitate to take part due to fear or uncertainty. Today’s research is strictly regulated, patient-centered, and based on informed consent. By participating, patients help shape the future of care – not just for themselves, but for others. Using the CRUSE app is the easiest way patients can directly contribute to the understanding of their daily life.

Early Access

Hope Through Innovation

For patients with limited options, clinical trials can offer early access to new treatments. But it’s more than that: it’s about being part of a bigger effort to create change, offer hope, and give voice to those who need better answers.

Your voice shapes the future in urticaria. Speak up!

Physicians might not always have enough time to discuss all treatment options.
Therefore, it is even more important to share about the impact of your itch with concrete examples: for example, how itch is impacting your sleep, or your daily activities. This can allow your doctor to imagine your daily life with CSU with more details and recommend treatment which can be more helpful for you.

Patient voice matters to get better treatment.
Studies have shown that the patient’s voice is critical in getting doctors to prescribe more efficacious treatments. As such, getting access to the right information on existing treatments and reporting how itch is impacting key aspects of your life, such as sleep or daily activities, is critical to getting better care.

Stronger Together

The Power of Patient Support

Living with chronic urticaria can feel isolating, but patient organizations offer vital community, guidance, and emotional support. They also help patients learn about clinical trials, existing and new treatment options, and how to advocate for better care.
By connecting with others and sharing experiences, patients can feel empowered, informed, and less alone on their journey.

¹ Maurer M, et al. Allergy 2017;72(12):2005-2016.; Sánchez-Díaz M, et al. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2023;20(4):3508.; Abdel-Meguid AM, et al. J Public Health Res 2024;13(2):22799036241243268; Baudy A, et al. Acta Derm Venereol 2024;104:adv36122.; Reilly M, et al. Pharmacoeconomics 1993;4(5):353-365.
² Mosnaim G, et al. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol 2025;134(3):315-323.e3; .Maurer M, et al. Allergy 2017;72(12):2005-2016.Abdel-Meguid AM, et al. J Public Health Res 2024;13(2):22799036241243268., Winders TA et al. Presented at EAACI Congress 2024, 31 May-03 June; Valencia, Spain. Poster FT ; Bernstein J, et al. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. Oral abstract. 2023;131:S3−S13.
³ Guillen-Aguinaga S, et al. British J Derm 2016;175:1153-1165.; Kaplan A, et al. Allergy 2023;78(2):389-401