Cold urticaria is a kind of chronic inducible urticaria characterized by wheals, angioedema, or both in reaction to cold. Cold hives are itchy, raised lumps on the skin that form after exposure to cold temperatures. It's an uncommon hive that affects just a tiny fraction of the population.
What Is Cold Urticaria?
Urticaria is a dermal reaction to cold that emerges minutes after exposure to the cold. Itchy welts appear on the affected skin. You may acquire cold hives if you drink ice-cold water, walk outside on a chilly day, or stand near freezers. When a person warms up after being chilly, hives may appear. Severe responses might put your life in jeopardy. Cold urticaria causes a wide range of symptoms in its victims. Some people have modest cold reactions, while others have severe ones.
What Causes Urticaria in the Cold?
Cold urticaria is brought on by being exposed to the cold. The reason for the activation of mast cells and subsequent release of histamine and other inflammatory mediators by a cold stimulation is unclear.
Cold urticaria can be idiopathic (without a known cause) or related to a haematologic (blood) or infectious disorder. The majority of cases are idiopathic.
Symptoms
Symptoms of cold urticaria appear shortly after the skin is exposed to a quick drop in air temperature or cold water. A flare-up of symptoms may be more prevalent under wet and windy weather. Each episode might last up to two hours. Symptoms and indicators of cold urticaria include:
- Itchy welts (hives) on the skin exposed to the cold for a short time.
- Anaphylaxis, which might result in fainting, racing heart, limb or torso swelling, and shock.
- Wheezing and shortness of breath
- Irritable bowel syndrome, gastrointestinal ulcers
- Hands swell while they are handling cold items.
- Lips swell after drinking cold food or drink.
- Heartbeat that is fast and erratic.
- Swelling of the tongue and throat, which makes breathing difficult.
Who Gets Cold Urticaria?
Cold urticaria is an uncommon ailment that affects just around 0.05 percent of the population. It most commonly affects young and middle-aged individuals, although it can also affect children and the elderly. It affects twice as many women as it does males. Physical urticarias such as dermographism and cholinergic urticaria, as well as regular urticaria, are frequently connected with it.
Conclusion
Cold urticaria is a kind of chronic inducible urticaria that is relatively infrequent. Young adults are the most commonly affected by cold urticaria. Consult your doctor if you experience skin responses after exposure to the cold. The symptoms appear suddenly and linger for 1–2 hours. If you have hives with swelling in your mouth and airways or anaphylaxis, see a doctor.
Even if the responses are minor, your doctor will want to rule out any underlying diseases that might be the source of the issue. Preventive measures such as antihistamines and avoiding chilly air and water are commonly used in treatment.
