Ep. 91: A Patient's Experience with Chronic Urticaria and Skin of Color
Part of the series: Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Innovations Podcast
This podcast was made in partnership with Allergy & Asthma Network. We thank Genentech for sponsoring this podcast. While they support the show, all opinions are our own, and sponsorship doesn’t influence our content or editorial decisions. Any mention of brands is for informational purposes and not an endorsement.
LISTEN TO EPISODE 91:
Discover Meka's journey with chronic hives in skin of color—a powerful story of resilience, self-advocacy, and building the right support system to get the care she deserves.
Emmeka, or "Meka," joins Dr. Gupta and Kortney to share her personal experience of living with chronic urticaria as a person with skin of color. Meka describes her journey from a lack of resources addressing hives on black skin to finding effective support and resources. She opens up about the long path to her diagnosis, the depth of her online research into chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU), and the importance of finding knowledgeable, empathetic healthcare providers.
Meka’s optimism highlights how a proactive approach, a trusted care team, and a strong support network can make a difference in managing CSU
What we cover in our episode about living with hives in black skin:
Identifying Hives on Darker Skin: Meka shares the challenge of finding accurate images of hives on darker skin tones, which can complicate the first steps of recognizing your condition and create feelings of isolation.
Advocating for Yourself in Healthcare: Meka provides strategies for effective self-advocacy during the diagnosis process, including tips for clear communication with healthcare providers.
Building a Support Network: Meka emphasizes the value of connecting with others who share similar experiences, including support groups and online communities.
Managing Symptoms & Minimizing Scars: Meka offers practical advice for managing CSU symptoms, reducing scarring, and strategies to avoid scratching.
About Our Guest: A Patient with Chronic Urticaria in Skin of Color
Emmeka, known as "Meka," is a 27-year-old advocate and content creator who began her journey in 2020 to inspire others transitioning to natural hair. Her passion for beauty and self-care deepened in 2021 after being diagnosed with chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU), leading her to focus on gentle, effective products for skin and hair care. Through @emmeka.irl, Meka highlights the importance of self-advocacy, building support networks, and finding inclusive care for people with skin of color, while sharing clean beauty tips to nurture both wellness and confidence.
Connect with Meka on Instagram
More resources about spontaneous hives:
Other episodes about urticaria:
Timestamps
Living with Hives in Skin of Color
02:23 Introduction to Emmeka "Meka" and her background
03:23 Navigating the healthcare system with a chronic condition with skin of color
08:05 How hives appear on darker skin tones
09:45 Self-advocacy during the diagnosis process
11:10 Meka’s journey to discovering her condition was hives
13:03 The impact of having a doctor with skin of color on Meka’s care experience
14:31 Developing a support network for living with 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 Misconceptions due to the visibility of hives on darker skin
20:45 Approaching conversations about CSU with others
22:20 Understanding the tendency of darker skin to scar more easily
25:00 Meka’s strategies for minimizing scratching
26:53 Meka’s parting advice for others with chronic urticaria in skin of color
