The Itch: Allergies, Asthma, Eczema & Immunology

Join Kortney and Dr. Payel Gupta as they unpack chronic spontaneous urticaria. Together, they define what hives actually are, explain how CSU is different from an allergic reaction and other types of hives, and walk through what is happening under your skin to cause all that itching.

This episode was originally published June 6, 2024. We re-released it on June 25, 2026 with a new intro as the perfect foundation before our episode on the new chronic urticaria guidelines.

Do you get hives and have no idea why? Then this episode is for you.

What we cover in this episode about chronic hives:

What hives really are. Urticaria is the medical word for hives, and the two signs are that it itches and it comes and goes.

CSU versus other hives. How CSU differs from inducible hives (CINDU) and from an allergic reaction.

Histamine and the itch. Why histamine drives the swelling and itch, and why scratching feels so good.

What makes hives flare. CSU has no true trigger, but stress and other culprits can set off your mast cells.

The Itch Podcast Hives Episodes
Explore our full catalog of hives episodes

Diagnosis and the basics

Ep. 76 Diagnosing Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria

Ep. 128 Is Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria an Autoimmune Disease?

Ep. 90 Challenges in Diagnosis and Treatment of Chronic Urticaria in Skin of Color

Treatment

Ep. 78 Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria Treatments

Ep. 131 What Is a BTK Inhibitor?

Ep. 147 The REMIX Trial: Remibrutinib for Chronic Hives  

Ep. 116 Why Fexofenadine Is Considered a Truly Non-Sedating Antihistamine

Living with chronic hives

Ep. 148 How Do You Know Your Chronic Hives Are Under Control? 

Ep. 122 Mortality in adult patients with chronic spontaneous urticaria: A real-world cohort study 

Ep. 80 Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria Myths and Misconceptions

Ep. 79 Living with Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria: A patient story

Ep. 91 A Patient's Experience with Chronic Urticaria and Skin of Color

Ep. 107 Hives in the Latinx Community


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This podcast is made in partnership with Allergy and Asthma Network. 

We thank Novartis for originally sponsoring this episode.

This podcast is for informational purposes only and does not substitute professional medical advice. Any mention of brands is also informational and not an endorsement. Always consult with your healthcare provider for any medical questions or concerns.

Treatment options for eczema have come a long way, with many new non-steroidal choices. One type is the JAK inhibitor, which offers two things people have long wanted: a non-steroidal option and a more advanced option that, unlike a biologic, does not require injection.

Kortney and Dr. Payel Gupta sit down with returning guest Dr. Nicole Chase, to break down what a JAK inhibitor actually is, how the pill and cream versions differ, how JAK inhibitors compare to biologics, and what to know about safety. They also cover what is new, including a topical JAK now approved for children as young as two.

What we cover in this episode about JAK inhibitors for eczema

What eczema really is. 

How JAK inhibitors work. 

Pills versus creams. 

JAK inhibitors versus biologics. 

Safety and side effects. 

Made in partnership with The Allergy & Asthma Network.

Thanks to Incyte for sponsoring today’s episode. 

This podcast is for informational purposes only and does not substitute professional medical advice. Always consult with your healthcare provider for any medical concerns.

Most adults with asthma never receive education about managing their condition, even though it is proven to help with better asthma control. The reason comes down to access. In this episode, we explore a digital platform called BREATHE, built from the ground up to change that.

Dr. Payel Gupta and Kortney sit down with the two lead authors behind “Development and Usability of a Digital Asthma Self-management Education Platform: BRinging Exercise, Asthma Assessments, and TeacHing to Everyone (BREATHE)” published in JACI: In Practice, March 2026. De De Gardner and Sheryl Flynn, CEO, talk about how BREATHE was developed, what the app includes, and what the data showed after patients and providers put it to the test.

What we cover in this episode about asthma self-management

Asthma self-management education and why most adults never receive it.

How BREATHE was built using a user-centered design process, shaped by what adults with asthma and healthcare providers said they actually needed.

What the BREATHE platform includes: asthma lessons, validated control assessments, and an Asthma Action Plan, all in one app, in English and Spanish.

What the usability study found: adults rated the app in the 81st percentile, providers rated the dashboard in the 76th percentile, and 80% considered making a behavior change after just two weeks.

Where the program is now and where it is going, including how to access the free Allergy and Asthma Network Virtual Asthma Coaching Program today.

Allergy and Asthma Network Virtual Asthma Coaching Program and the Spanish program.

This podcast is made in partnership with the Allergy & Asthma Network.

We are continuing our series of interviewing thought leaders in the field of allergy and immunology. Dr. Gupta and Kortney sit down with Dr. Carla Davis, the president of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology.

What we cover in this episode about Dr. Davis and the AAAAI

What the AAAAI is and why it matters to patients. A 7,000-member organization working behind the scenes to support allergy and immunology care across the US and around the world.

Dr. Davis's path to the presidency. From her early experiences advocating as a fellow to her major pivot from Baylor to Howard University, the journey that shaped her priorities.

Initiative: AAAAI Advocate. A new platform connecting patients and physicians directly to their legislators, making it easy to share your story and push for better access to allergy care.

Initiative: AAAAI AI Task Force. A dedicated group bringing AI tools into allergy care, including AAAAI Ignite, a Netflix-style platform that helps members find and curate personalized allergy content.

Initiative: The Collaborative Translational Mechanistic Research Seed Award. A $100,000 grant pairing laboratory scientists with clinical allergists to move new discoveries directly into patient care.

More resources

American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology

AAAAI Advocate platform

Allergy & Asthma Network health equity resources



 

This podcast is made in partnership with the Allergy & Asthma Network.

Kortney and Dr. Payel Gupta are joined by Tamara Hubbard, MA, LCPC, a licensed clinical professional counselor and food-allergy parent. Together, they dig into what food allergy anxiety actually looks like in teenagers, why some teens take more risks as they get older, and what parents can do to support their teens without making things worse.

What we cover in this episode is about food allergy anxiety in teens:

What makes teenagers a high-risk group for food allergy reactions. Independence is increasing at the exact same time parental oversight is decreasing, and that combination creates real safety concerns.

What food allergy risk-taking actually looks like. It is not always what parents expect, and some of it is just teens figuring out how to belong.

Food allergy social anxiety is its own distinct experience. The fear of looking different, being a burden, or standing out can drive behavior just as much as the fear of a reaction.

Why parental anxiety matters more than most parents realize. The way parents talk about food allergies often directly affects how teens handle them.

How to build confidence and ownership in your teen. What to do when a teen is either too anxious or not anxious enough.

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Made in partnership with The Allergy & Asthma Network.

Thanks to Genentech and Kaléo for sponsoring today’s episode. 

This podcast is for informational purposes only and does not substitute professional medical advice. Always consult with your healthcare provider for any medical concerns.