Cold Urticaria: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment For This Skin Allergy
Moms, did you know that it's possible to have an allergy to cold? The condition is cold urticaria, and it's something that you need to be aware of.
When your child has been exposed to the cold, have you ever noticed a strange bumpy rash appear on their skin? If you have, you will definitely want to read this. Asne Marohombsar, a netizen from the Philippines, recently shared her experiences on a type of allergy known as cold urticaria.
This is a type of allergy that manifests as a result of exposure to the cold — whether this is via the environment, cold water or even food like ice cream.
She shares, “People with cold urticaria experience widely different symptoms. Some have minor reactions to the cold, while others have severe reactions.
“For some people with this condition, swimming in cold water could lead to very low blood pressure, fainting or shock.”
She also mentioned that she has a hard time staying in cold places as a result of her allergy. She added that as a K-pop fan, it saddens her that she won’t be able to go to Korea or other cold countries because of her condition.
Here are some photos she shared on Facebook of her allergic reaction to cold:
She gets itchy hives on her skin when it touches cold objects, or if she’s in a cold place.
She shared that she breaks out in hives or welts when she gets exposed to cold.
What you need to know about cold urticaria
Cold urticaria can sometimes be easily confused with other types of allergies. That’s because its symptoms are similar to those of other allergic reactions.
While most reactions are limited to hives, red welts on the skin, and some itching, the more severe reactions can be anaphylactic shock, or even swelling of the throat and tongue, which makes it difficult to breathe.
Here are some of the more common reactions that people with this condition have:
- Hives or itchy, reddish welts on the skin that was exposed to the cold.
- Swelling of the hands when holding cold objects.
- Swelling of lips when drinking cold beverages or eating cold food.
The more severe reactions include the following:
- Anaphylactic shock, or a whole-body response to cold. This can cause fainting, a racing heart rate, swelling of limbs, torso, and shock.
- Swelling of the mouth or throat, especially when you drink cold beverages or eat cold food.
Right now, there isn’t a cure for cold urticaria. However, it does happen that the condition goes away on its own after a few weeks or months, sometimes longer.
A simple way to test for this type of allergy would be to place an ice cube on the skin for five minutes. If a person has this condition, then there will be an itchy, red hive right where the ice touched the skin.
In some cases, cold urticaria can also be related to a problem with a person’s immune system. It can also be related to cancer, so it would be best to check with a doctor first just to be safe.
How can it be treated?
Thankfully, this condition can easily be managed. While there is no cure, it can be controlled, and the symptoms can be reduced through the use of prescription medications.
Here are some ways to deal with it, if you or your kids suffer from this particular kind of allergy:
- Avoid cold exposure. Since this type of allergy is triggered by cold, it’s best to avoid any cold temperatures, drinking cold drinks, or consuming cold food. Swimming or bathing in cold water can also cause an allergic reaction.
- Antihistamines can help deal with some of the milder symptoms. This is especially helpful for those living in cool climates, or have air-conditioning.
- A drug called Omalizumab (Xolair) which is commonly used to treat asthma can also be used to treat cold urticaria. This treatment has been successfully used in people who didn’t respond well to other types of medication.
It’s always a good idea to consult with your doctor first so that they can also help you with how to treat the condition. This is especially true when it comes to children who have been diagnosed with this type of allergy, as it can sometimes result in a severe reaction for younger children.
You learn something new every day, right moms and dads? We hope you’ve found this information useful!
Source: Mayo Clinic
Photo from: Facebook
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Republished with permission from: theAsianParent Singapore
