Cold allergy? Exists? Yes! Cold intolerance, cold hypersensitivity, and cold urticaria: are some of the names by which this condition is known, which is rare and characterized by the appearance of a skin rash upon exposure to any cold stimulus such as wind. Low temperatures, contact with complex objects, immersion in cold water, and even cold food and drinks consumption.
Do you want to know more about this strange condition? Then keep reading this FastlyHealarticle carefully where we inform you everything you need to know about cold allergy: symptoms and treatment.
Table of Contents
Symptoms of cold allergy
Have you ever had hives on your skin after being exposed to low temperatures? Is your skin your worst enemy when winter comes? Then you may be one of the few people who suffer from a cold allergy. This condition is scarce (less than 3% of chronic hives), and it is not an allergy since an allergen does not cause it. Therefore, it is much more appropriate to speak of hypersensitivity to cold.
People who suffer from this pathology usually inherit it from their relatives, and the first outbreaks of urticaria appear during adulthood in most cases. In general, the symptoms of this condition appear between 10 and 30 minutes after being in contact with any cold stimulus, that is, when the skin begins to regain its average temperature. The symptoms of cold allergy are caused because the body when in contact with low temperature, releases histamine and other chemicals into the bloodstream that are responsible for producing:
- Urticaria or skin rash, especially on the hands, neck, and face.
- The allergy can be worse when the affected area is heated.
- Itch.
- Inflammation of the skin or lips when consuming something cold.
- Redness
- Fever.
- General discomfort.
- Headache.
- Difficulty breathing.
- To.
Cold allergy treatment
Cold allergy is a condition that can recur spontaneously; that is, it may be present for a few months and years or not. However, when faced with a reaction to cold, the best thing to do is to wait for the allergy to disappear on its own since once the exposure to cold is interrupted, the skin makes a temperature change, and the hives begin to progress. Even it may disappear completely after 2 hours.
However, when the itching, fever, and hives are very acute, it is necessary to treat the cold allergy with medications to alleviate its symptoms and make the rash subside as soon as possible. Using over-the-counter topical dermatitis creams and antihistamines helps relieve the unconscious reaction.
If you already know that the cold will trigger a reaction, it is recommended to take antihistamines daily to prevent symptoms from appearing.
Natural treatment for cold allergy
Despite what we have discussed in the previous section, it is essential to note that the best treatment for this condition is prevention, which is why we invite you to carry out the following recommendations :
- Always go out warm on the street.
- Use gloves to go out and to touch icy objects.
- Avoid the contact of your hands with the ice.
- Consume all foods and drinks at room temperature.
- Avoid drinking drinks with plenty of ice.
- Do not bathe in beaches or pools with cold water.
- Avoid frigid temperatures of air conditioners and changes in temperature.
- Take an antihistamine before being out in the cold.
How to know if you are allergic to cold
Since no allergen causes this hypersensitivity, there is no scientific evidence to determine that you have a cold allergy. However, there is a very effective way to know if a person suffers from a cold allergy, and anyone can do it from home.
The ice cube test consists of placing an ice cube on the forearm for 5 minutes. If once the ice cube is removed, some skin reaction occurs in the next 10 minutes, it is considered that the person is allergic to cold.
This article is merely informative, at FastlyHeal .com we do not have the power to prescribe medical treatments or make any type of diagnosis. We invite you to see a doctor in the case of presenting any kind of condition or discomfort.
If you want to read more articles similar to Cold Allergy: Symptoms and Treatment, we recommend that you enter our Immune System category .
I am a Surgeon with a diploma in comprehensive ultrasound and surgical care residency, an area I am specializing in. During the exercise of my profession, I have realized the need for patients to know the diseases they suffer, and I can tell you that a large part of their complications is due to a lack of information. Being a health web writer allows me to transmit my experience, without borders, to all those readers eager for knowledge, educate them in the prevention of diseases and promote a healthy lifestyle.