A Patient’s Experience with Chronic Urticaria in Skin of Color

Welcome to the second episode of the Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Innovations podcast series on managing chronic urticaria in skin of color. In this episode, Emmeka, or “Meka,” shares her journey of living with chronic hives as a person with skin of color. She discusses the path to her diagnosis and how she found support along the way.

This episode is produced in partnership with The Itch Podcast. Meka joins co-hosts Payel Gupta, MD, and Kortney to discuss her experience navigating a healthcare system that often lacks resources for people with darker skin. She talks about the importance of self-advocacy and building a network that truly understands her needs.

You can learn more about the podcast and the hosts on ItchPodcast.com. The podcast can be downloaded on all major platforms for listening anytime, anywhere:

This podcast is sponsored by Genentech.

All opinions on the show represent the views of the podcasters and the guest. Sponsorship does not influence content or editorial decisions. Any mention of brands is for informational purposes and not an endorsement.

Living with chronic urticaria in skin of color

Meka’s story highlights unique challenges people with skin of color face when dealing with chronic urticaria. She shares her insights on the difficulties in finding visual resources that accurately depict hives on darker skin.

Meka also discusses the challenges of connecting with doctors and support groups who understand the specific needs of patients like her.

Key takeaways from managing chronic urticaria in skin of color

In this episode, we discuss practical tips for managing chronic urticaria in skin of color:

  • Identifying hives on darker skin: Meka explains the difficulty in finding accurate images and resources that represent her experience.
  • Self-advocacy in healthcare: Tips on effectively communicating with healthcare providers during diagnosis.
  • Supportive care team: Meka shares why finding a care team that understands chronic conditions in skin of color is essential.
  • Building a support network: The value of connecting with others who share similar experiences.
  • Managing symptoms: Practical advice on reducing scarring and managing the urge to scratch.

Podcast timestamps for living with chronic urticaria in skin of color

  • 02:23 – Emmeka (“Meka”) shares her story
  • 03:23 – How Meka navigates the healthcare system with a chronic condition and skin of color
  • 08:05 – How hives look on darker skin
  • 09:45 – Tips for speaking up during diagnosis
  • 11:10 – How Meka discovered her condition was hives
  • 13:03 – How having a doctor with skin of color helped Meka
  • 14:31 – Building a support network for chronic urticaria
  • 15:45 – Finding support groups for chronic urticaria
  • 18:29 – Using Reddit to learn more about CSU in skin of color
  • 19:40 – Misunderstandings because hives aren’t as visible on darker skin
  • 20:45 – When to talk about CSU with others
  • 22:20 – Why darker skin scars more easily
  • 25:00 – Meka’s tips for not scratching hives
  • 26:53 – Meka’s advice for others with chronic urticaria

Additional resources for chronic urticaria

Chronic spontaneous urticaria podcast series