Chronic Idiopathic Urticaria

Celebrity Vicki Lawrence shares how she was diagnosed with chronic idiopathic urticaria.
Hives tend to be an allergic reaction to food or cleansing products. Most people experience hives at least once in their lives.

But, what if those hives don’t go away?

Chronic idiopathic urticaria (CIU) is a chronic form of hives. It takes about six weeks to get a CIU diagnosis, because doctors try to treat it as an allergic reaction first. You try to find triggers right away.

An allergist who is experienced with CIU should be able to help. Take photos of your rash and keep a diary of your condition so you can present the information to your doctor. This can help work out the best treatment option for you.

Listen as celebrity Vicky Lawrence joins Melanie Cole, MS, to share her story of being diagnosed with CIU.

Additional Info

  • Segment Number: 1
  • Audio File: lifes_too_short/ts53.mp3
  • Featured Speaker: Vicki Lawrence
  • Guest Facebook Account: www.facebook.com/Vicki-Lawrence-175449725830747/
  • Guest Twitter Account: @vickilawrence #CIUandYou
  • Guest Bio: Vicki LawrenceVicki Lawrence, best known for her iconic characters on Mama’s Family and The Carol Burnett Show, is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the show’s original debut on CBS this September. She is also currently appearing on NBC’s new comedy Great News from Tina Fey and Tracey Wigfield. In addition, she has taken on a different role for the past couple of years.

    Vicki has been traveling across the U.S. to share her story about chronic idiopathic urticaria (CIU), a form of chronic hives with no known cause, which impacts approximately 1.5 million people in the U.S. Her visits are part of a national program called CIU & You, designed to educate and empower patients who have the disease. The program is developed in partnership with the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA), and made possible by Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation and Genentech, Inc.

  • Length (mins): 11:40
  • Waiver Received: Yes
  • Host: Melanie Cole, MS