What is Cold Urticaria? 4 Important Things You Should Know About!

Cold urticaria is an allergic reaction affecting your skin when it is exposed to cold temperatures. It triggers mast cells, a type of immune cell in the skin. The reaction leads to the release of chemicals like histamine. Major symptoms show within a few minutes of the exposure to cold and include:

• Redness
• Itching
• Rashes

Cold urticaria is the medical term for the hives that form on your skin once you are exposed to chilly temperatures. Essential (acquired) cold urticaria and familial (hereditary) cold urticaria are the two types of this disorder. 

Essential cold urticaria forms about 1% to 3% of all urticaria cases and is mostly diagnosed in young adults [1, 2]. This affects both men and women equally. Read on to learn more about this rare reactive skin disorder.

Additional Read: What is Skin Psoriasis and How to Effectively Treat Symptoms of Different Types?

Cold Urticaria Causes

This is caused when you are exposed to cold temperatures such as going outside in chilly weather, swimming or bathing in cold water, or sitting in an air-conditioned place. This exposure to cold temperatures makes your body release histamines which further causes urticaria symptoms. The reason for this reaction is unknown. 

You are more likely to be at risk if you are a young adult with:

• an underlying health condition like hepatitis or cancer
• certain inherited genes

Cold urticaria may occur due to:

• sensitive skin cells
• blood cancer
• drugs
• insect bite
• virus
• illnesses
• infections

However, the exact cause of the disease is not known in most cases.

Cold Urticaria Symptoms

The symptoms may appear immediately, within 2 to 5 minutes after exposure to cold. They may also disappear in 1 to 2 hours. In some cases, symptoms may take a couple of hours or days to appear and may take up to 2 days to vanish. If you experience a delay in your cold urticaria symptoms, your condition may be inherited. 

Here are the most common symptoms.

• Red, itchy hives 
• Swelling of your hands, lips, tongue, and throat
• Swelling at the site of cold exposure
• A burning sensation
• Fatigue
• Anxiety
• Fever
• Headache
• Joint pain
• Fainting
• Shock
• Breathing difficulty
• Low blood pressure
• Heart palpitations
• Anaphylaxis, severe acute allergic reaction 
• A worsening of the reaction as your skin warms

Cold Urticaria Treatment

The first and foremost thing you need to do is stay away from the cold temperature if you have cold urticaria [3]. The condition goes away on its own. However, it can last longer in some cases. Although there is no cure available, the condition has certain treatments and can be managed by taking preventive steps. Your doctor may advise you to try a cold urticaria home remedy or ask you to take antihistamines. 

Some prescription medications include non-drowsy antihistamines such as:

• loratadine (Claritin)
• cetirizine (Zyrtec)
• desloratadine (Clarinex)

Your doctor may also prescribe Omalizumab (Xolair), a drug used to treat asthma. This has been used effectively for treating people with this. 

If your cold urticaria is due to an underlying health condition, you may need to take medications for that health problem too. Your doctor can also prescribe an epinephrine autoinjector to carry if you have a history of a systemic reaction.

Cold Urticaria Home Remedy

Here are some effective cold urticaria home remedies. 

• Cold compress

Take a cold pack and place it on the affected skin to get relief from hives. Placing a towel dipped into cold water on the rashes can help ease the itching caused by cold urticaria. You can also use ice packs as they have an anti-inflammatory effect. They will help soothe your skin by shrinking your pores.

• Aloe vera

Rub the gel of the aloe vera leaf to the affected area. You can also buy pure aloe vera gels and lotions. Aloe vera can help ease the burning sensation of skin rashes.

• Coconut oil

The benefits of coconut oil are many. It can improve the health of your hair and skin. It is a natural moisturizer that has abilities to heal urticaria. It is rich in antimicrobial properties that reduce itching from hives and soothe your skin. Make sure that you use virgin oil to treat rashes. 

• Castor oil

Benefits of castor oil include its anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial properties that can help you reduce acne. With the help of the fatty acids in castor oil, you can restore uneven skin tones as well as help healthy skin tissues grow. You can also use it to keep urticaria symptoms at bay!

Additional Read: Skincare Tips: 7 Top Ways to Address Aging Skin!

If you experience any symptoms of this disease or find that cold weather is one of the persistent causes of dry skin, seek immediate medical help. You can even book an appointment and consult dermatologist online on Bajaj Finserv Health. By talking to a skin specialist, you can get the best skincare tips.