Cold urtitaria or better known as cold allergy is a skin reaction within a few minutes after you are exposed to cold exposure, both from water and air.
There are many factors that can cause cold allergies, some of which include being in an air-conditioned room, swimming, or after bathing in the morning. Usually skin that has allergies to cold will turn red and experience itching.
However, the symptoms of this cold allergy in each person may be different. Some people may develop cold allergy symptoms that tend to be mild, but some others experience anaphylactic shock such as drastic reduction in blood pressure, unable to breathe, until fainting.
How common are allergies cold?
Cold allergy is a common disease. But in many cases, this disease is more common in young adults and will usually improve in a few years. Please discuss with the doctor for more information.
Signs & symptoms
What are the signs and symptoms of cold allergy?
Common symptoms of cold allergies are:
1. Itchy and reddish rash appears
The most typical symptoms of cold allergy are the appearance of a reddish rash on the skin and itching. This one cold allergy symptom tends to be difficult to lose even though the sufferer moves to a warmer environment. In some cases, cold allergy symptoms can worsen and last up to 24 hours or even more.
2. Swollen hands
If after making contact with cold-temperature objects your hands will swell, then you may have cold allergies. This swelling usually occurs when you hold a cold drink, bathe in the morning, and are exposed to other cold temperatures. In addition to the hands, swelling due to cold allergies can also occur in other body parts.
Even in the most dangerous cases, swelling can occur in the tongue and throat and make a person experience pharyngeal edema. If you don't get immediate medical attention, this can cause a person to have difficulty breathing and can lead to death.
3. Red bumps appear
The emergence of reddish bumps or hives is the same as other allergic symptoms. Exposure to cold allergies makes white blood cells release histamine into the bloodstream. As a result, the body provides an inflammatory response by producing red bumps, swelling, itching, and other skin changes that commonly occur as allergic reactions.
Doctors will usually test this allergic reaction by placing ice cubes on the patient's skin and seeing the inflammatory response that might arise. If the skin becomes red and a rash develops, chances are that you have a cold allergy.
4. Heredity factors
If you have or are experiencing cold allergies, try asking your family if they also experience the same thing or not. Because, according to research conducted by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease in 2012, cold allergies can be caused by hereditary factors.
Symptoms of cold allergy due to hereditary factors usually appear 30 minutes after exposure to cold temperatures and can last up to 48 hours. Generally, sufferers experience reddish and itchy skin accompanied by fever, headache, joint pain (arthralgia), and excessive white blood cell reaction (leukocytosis) in the blood.
There may be cold allergic signs and symptoms not mentioned above. If you have concerns about a particular cold allergy symptom, consult your doctor. Usually, the doctor will prescribe an antihistamine and ask you to avoid exposure to cold air until the allergies improve.
In severe cases, cold allergies can cause undue stress, especially because the symptoms are often misinterpreted by other diseases. That's why, don't underestimate the allergic symptoms you experience.
When should I see a doctor?
You should contact your doctor if you experience the following cold allergy symptoms:
- Reaction to the skin after being exposed to cold, even though the reaction is mild.
- Sudden reactions after being exposed to cold such as feeling dizzy, difficulty breathing or swelling of the tongue or throat.
If you have the above signs or symptoms or other questions, consult your doctor. Each person's body is different. Always consult a doctor to deal with your health condition.
What causes cold allergies?
The exact cause of cold allergy is still unknown. Some people become more sensitive to cold because of offspring, being exposed to a kind of virus, or having a disease that causes skin cells to become more sensitive.
But in general cold exposure delivers histamine and other chemicals to the bloodstream which cause redness and itching reactions.
What increases my risk of getting cold allergies?
Some risk factors that can cause cold allergies are:
- Children and adolescents. In many cases, children and adolescents are at a higher risk of developing cold allergies. However, this condition can usually improve in a few years.
- Have certain medical conditions. People who have basic health conditions: such as hepatitis or cancer have a high risk of experiencing cold allergies.
- Heredity factor. If your parents, siblings, grandparents, or grandmothers have a history of this disease, you are also at higher risk of having it. However, cold allergies are rarely inherited.
Medicine & Medicine
The information provided is not a substitute for medical advice. ALWAYS consult your doctor.
How do you diagnose cold allergies?
Cold allergy can be diagnosed by attaching ice to the skin for several minutes. If you have a skin allergy, itching will appear after a few minutes the ice cube is removed. Many cold allergies occur without obvious causes. But in allergies caused by certain conditions, doctors can undergo further tests such as blood tests to see what allergens are causing the reaction.
After the doctor discovers the cause of your allergies, the doctor may suggest allergic injections or allergy drops.