What is cold urticaria? As the specialists of the Spanish Society of Allergology and Clinical Immunology (SEAIC) [1] point out , cold urticaria is a type of physical urticaria, which manifests itself mainly as a skin reaction that arises from direct contact with cold.
Low temperatures, a gust of icy wind, taking a full bath or immersing a part of the body in cold water, contact with a ‘frozen' object, or even eating very cold food or drinks could trigger it.
If you ask yourself “Why am I allergic to cold?” Pay attention to the causes of hives , which can be very diverse:
- Excessive skin sensitivity or other disorders that affect the skin.
- Cold intolerance.
- Allergic reactions.
- hereditary factors.
- The alteration in the immunoglobulins present in the blood, which could be behind the episodes of cold urticaria, which usually occur mainly in young adults.
Symptoms of cold urticaria
The cold is what triggers the symptoms of hives, the most common being the appearance of reddish welts or hives accompanied by an intense r peak, characteristic of any type of hives. In addition, it is common for swollen areas to appear to a lesser or greater degree.
How do you know if you have a cold allergy? Pay attention to the following symptoms, which may be located in the area of the skin most exposed to cold . For example, swelling in the lips if you have eaten ice cream, in your hands if you have held a cold object or in specific areas of the face if you have been exposed to a cold wind.
In the most severe cases, the symptoms can spread to the body as a whole , causing serious manifestations, such as swelling of the tongue and throat or even tachycardia or drop in blood pressure, in which case it will be necessary to receive immediate medical attention.
With these exceptions, in general the symptoms of cold urticaria are mild, itching together with a slight redness and possible swelling of areas of the skin.
How to know if you have a cold allergy
If you have doubts about whether or not you suffer from it, the ‘ ice cube test ‘ can give you the answer. It is a simple test but an allergist must always perform it in order to correctly interpret its results, also avoiding any risk.
It consists of applying ice to the forearm for about five minutes and, after ten, observing any possible adverse reaction in the area.
How long do hives symptoms last?
They appear immediately after contact with the cold and usually disappear spontaneously between 30 minutes and two hours after that contact. This is an important detail when it comes to recognizing cold urticaria, which has nothing to do with other skin disorders, which can be caused by low temperatures such as excessive dryness of the skin or the presence of chilblains.
Given its main symptoms, it is important to consult a specialist doctor to be able to correctly identify the ailment and, if necessary, establish the corresponding treatment.
How to cure cold urticaria
Cold urticaria, in most cases, is an allergic reaction, so there is no specific treatment to cure it, since it will always depend on the degree of severity that this reaction manifests in each person who suffers from it.
Now, how do you cure cold urticaria? Preventive measures are the best tool to combat this type of reaction by avoiding risky situations. Therefore, pay attention to the following tips to cure hives:
- Do not expose to low temperatures .
- Avoiding the intake of cold food or drinks and sudden baths in ice water are premises that people who suffer from this ailment must keep in mind.
- Dress comfortably without forgetting gloves, a hat and a scarf.
If the reactions occur frequently or have serious symptoms, the specialist will establish the treatment that keeps them controlled, generally with antihistamine medications, which stop the manifestations of the allergic reaction.
It must be remembered that cold urticaria can hide other diseases that require specific treatment, so if you suffer from it, it is always important to detect it in order to take the appropriate measures against it.
If you liked this article about what cold urticaria is and how to cure it, we recommend you consult our post How to feel less cold with tips to prevent the typical ailments of this intolerance to low temperatures.
This article is merely informative, we do not have the power to prescribe any medical treatment or make any type of diagnosis. We invite you to go to a doctor in the event of presenting any type of condition or discomfort.
If you want to read more articles similar to Cold urticaria: what it is and how to cure it, we recommend you visit our Diseases and secondary effects category .
