With the inherited allergy, it takes 24 to 48 hours for symptoms to appear, and the symptoms last longer — about 24 hours. The cause of the common form of cold urticaria is not well understood, Dr. It is thought to involve antibodies.
Cold urticaria symptoms may be triggered an infectious disease, insect bite, certain medications or blood cancers. But most often, symptoms may appear for seemingly no reason or underlying trigger, Dr. The allergy is fairly rare, occurring in about 5 percent of people, Dr.
The age of onset tends to be during adolescent years; many people with urticaria experience the allergy for about five years and then it disappears. To diagnose the allergy, Dr. Silver says, an allergist will place a cold object such as an ice cube against the skin on the forearm for one to five minutes. People with cold urticaria will generally develop a distinct red and swollen rash within minutes. Our board-certified pediatric and adult allergists and immunologists provide leading-edge evaluations and treatments for children and adults with allergies and related conditions.
If you have skin reactions after cold exposure, see your doctor. Even if the reactions are mild, your doctor will want to rule out underlying conditions that may be causing the problem. Seek emergency care if after sudden exposure to cold you experience a whole-body response anaphylaxis or difficulty breathing. No one knows exactly what causes cold urticaria.
Certain people appear to have very sensitive skin cells, due to an inherited trait, a virus or an illness. In the most common forms of this condition, cold triggers the release of histamine and other chemicals into the bloodstream. These chemicals cause redness, itching and sometimes a whole-body systemic reaction. The main possible complication of cold urticaria is a severe reaction that occurs after exposing large areas of skin to cold, for example, by swimming in cold water.
Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. This content does not have an English version. This content does not have an Arabic version. Overview Cold urticaria ur-tih-KAR-e-uh is a skin reaction to cold that appears within minutes after cold exposure.
Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic. Share on: Facebook Twitter. Medication can be helpful for someone who cannot go outdoors in the winter without getting hives. It can prevent hives if your child wants to swim in a pool with friends during the summer.
One medication that helps many people who have cold urticaria is an antihistamine. It can prevent hives from developing. An antihistamine can also prevent symptoms like itchiness. If antihistamines fail to prevent hives, your dermatologist may prescribe a stronger medicine, such as omalizumab. This medication helps prevent allergic reactions. Another medication may also be an option.
Some people who have cold urticaria see it go away on its own within a few weeks or months. About half the people who get cold urticaria will see it disappear within five years. Once this happens, most patients never get hives from the cold again. By seeing a dermatologist, you can find out whether you have cold urticaria.
If you do, a dermatologist can help you manage it. Hives: Symptoms, causes, and treatment. Deza G, Brasileiro A, et al. Kim G. Singleton R and Halverstam CP. If you develop welts on your skin from the cold, it could be hives.
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