What is cold allergy?

This is a little-studied phenomenon that is observed in people with cold intolerance. Cold allergy is a peculiar reaction of the human body to sub-zero temperatures, with hives appearing on the skin. Externally, the pathology manifests itself when a person is exposed to rain or cold wind, contact of the skin with snow, cold water, ice, or consumption of chilled drinks and food.

What is cold allergy

Even doctors do not come to a consensus on the answer to the question “is there an allergy to cold?”, so many of them reject such a diagnosis, arguing that there is no allergen that causes a specific reaction in the body, and cold is a physical effect. However, when exposed to low temperatures, some people experience a release of histamine, which provokes allergic reactions - vasodilation, itching and redness of the skin or mucous membranes, and the development of edema. Cold allergy is a negative response of the body to an irritant in the form of low temperature.

Symptoms of an allergy to cold

This problem can manifest itself in any way, and the symptoms of an allergic reaction can follow each other or develop in isolation, forming one pathological process. In this case, the symptoms of an allergy to cold, as a rule, are complex and occur in a certain order. By tracking the timing of their manifestation, it is possible to distinguish cold urticaria from another disease with similar symptoms. The most common signs of pathology:

1. Quincke's edema;
2. bronchospasm;
3. red skin rashes;
4. anaphylaxis.

The manifestation of cold urticaria is not yet a fully understood pathological process. Doctors can only say that irritation on the hands from cold appears due to the body’s increased sensitivity to cryoglobulin (protein), which begins to transform when a person is exposed to low temperatures. As a result of this process, an allergic reaction occurs.

Cold allergy on the hands, which is widespread today, has a complex mechanism of development and manifestation, which modern medicine cannot yet explain. Often the disease is disguised as dermatitis, so it is sometimes difficult for an ignorant person to distinguish between these pathologies. An allergy to cold begins to manifest itself with itching and flaking of the skin, after which rashes similar to hives begin to appear on the skin of the hands and the limbs swell.

In addition to hives, blisters may appear on the skin of the hands, the formation of which is accompanied by unpleasant sensations - increased itching and burning. As a rule, cold allergies resemble burns. In some cases, the body reacts more seriously to an irritant - snow, frost, cold rain or wind - and the hands immediately become covered with swollen red blisters filled with a transparent substance. These symptoms become more pronounced after warming up (person’s contact with warm water or clothing). After half an hour or an hour, the skin becomes clean again.

Mastocytes, cells that are found in the upper layers of the skin, are responsible for the appearance of skin allergic reactions. Cold is a strong irritant for them, so the cells react negatively to it, stimulating the occurrence of swelling, peeling of the skin, headaches, and chills. Cold allergies on the face appear with reduced immunity, but it can also be triggered by various chronic (rhinitis, sinusitis, sinusitis, etc.) and acute viral diseases.

A healthy body copes with the effects of cold, while a weakened one cannot prevent the development of unpleasant symptoms. At the same time, normally, after walking down the street in winter in the cold, redness of exposed skin occurs due to a rush of blood into the vessels, which first narrow under the influence of low temperature, and then expand in warmth. This reaction in a healthy person lasts no more than 40 minutes.

How does an allergy to cold manifest itself? In people with this type of allergic reaction, low temperature provokes:

1. profuse lacrimation;
2. sneezing/coughing;
3. swelling of the tongue, larynx, lips, sinuses;
4. the appearance of compactions and blisters;
5. blue skin;
6. headache;
7. noise in ears;
8. chills;
9. dizziness;
10. mild cramps;
11. the appearance of pink or bright red spots.

Cold urticaria occurs in the lower extremities and has the appearance of a rash (more often the allergy affects the thighs and calf). Moreover, the disease is more often diagnosed in women, which is associated with wearing short skirts during cold periods of the year. An allergy to cold on the legs can only manifest itself after direct contact of the limbs with the allergen, and a reaction can be triggered by a temperature of +4 and below. Typically, symptoms of an allergic reaction on the feet are:

1. pain, discomfort in the joints of the knees;
2. dermatitis, which is accompanied by a small rash and peeling;
3. small blisters on the skin of a pink-red color;
4. chills, low-grade fever (rare).

Causes of cold allergies

Experts say that allergies to snow and frost are not an independent disease, but only a symptom of a somatic pathology. The likelihood of developing cold urticaria increases when another illness, characterized by a long duration, can greatly weaken the human body. In this case, cryoglobulin serves as a stimulator of the allergic reaction, and low temperature serves as the trigger.

The causes of cold allergies are numerous - from colds and infectious diseases, to chronic forms of pathologies, parasitic infestations and vitamin deficiency, which leads to weakened immunity. Doctors name the following factors that can cause a pathological skin reaction to cold:

1. drinking very chilled drinks or food;
2. direct contact with cold water (when swimming in ponds in winter, while cleaning, etc.);
3. a person leaving a warm room into a windy/cold environment.

Types of cold allergies

The skin's reaction to cold is not fully understood, however, experts who study this phenomenon divide it into several different types. What types of cold allergies are there? There are two main types of pathological reactions:

1. hereditary/familial (passes in an autosomal dominant manner from parent to child and manifests itself at an early age);
2. acquired.

There are other classifications of cold urticaria. So, experts highlight:

1. local allergy to cold (appearing in a certain limited area of ​​the body);
2. with delayed and immediate reaction to a stimulus;
3. systemic urticaria (severe pathological reaction of a generalized type).

Treatment of allergies to cold

You should not choose therapeutic measures to combat allergies on your own. If characteristic symptoms occur, contact a specialist who, taking into account the test results, will determine the original source of the disease and recommend adequate therapy. Treatment of allergies to cold is complicated by the specificity of the allergen - it is impossible to always avoid it. Patients with cold urticaria are treated symptomatically with antihistamines.

For mild symptoms of the disease, external agents are used - creams and ointments. You can buy them at any pharmacy, the main thing is to check the composition of the drugs, giving preference to those made from hypoallergenic raw materials. The ointment for cold allergies produces an effect after only a day of use, and the unpleasant symptoms of the pathology gradually disappear (burning sensation, peeling, itching, redness, etc.). Doctors recommend paying attention to the following remedies for cold urticaria:

1. Skin cap;
2. Gistan N;
3. Panthenol cream or spray;
4. D-Panthenol;
5. La-Cri (can be used after the rash disappears to prevent their reappearance).

To be able to breathe freely and not suffer from such manifestations of cold allergies as red rashes on the skin, itching and peeling, adults should take antihistamines during periods of exacerbations. Thanks to their action, you can quickly eliminate the unpleasant manifestations of an allergic reaction. Popular, effective medications for cold allergies that you can take when the first signs of the disease appear are:

Treatment of allergies to cold with folk remedies

Alternative medicines can be used together with antihistamines to reduce the intensity of the allergic reaction. Treatment of cold allergies may include the use of vegetable and herbal juices, tinctures, decoctions, rubs, compresses, and ointments. Badger fat is often used to treat cold urticaria, which effectively eliminates the unpleasant symptoms of the disease. Treatment of allergies to cold with folk remedies can be carried out using the following recipes:

1. Herbal collection against cold urticaria. It is necessary to combine violet flowers, burdock roots and walnut leaves in equal proportions. Then pour 2 tbsp. l. mixture with boiling water (1 tbsp), leave for an hour, then strain. The daily dose of the allergy medicine should be drunk 3 times.
2. Celery juice. Prepare a fresh drink from the root of the plant and take it three times a day, ½ tsp. before meals.
3. Tincture of pine bud oil against cold allergies. Pour young pine shoots (50 g) with the same amount of vegetable oil and leave the mixture for 5 months. Rub the resulting product easily into the rash areas 1-2 times a day.
4. Pine baths. Pine branches need to be boiled in water and then poured into a filled bath. The remedy will help eliminate the symptoms of cold urticaria if taken daily.
5. Oil tincture of herbs against allergies. Mix equal amounts of burdock roots, calendula flowers, celandine herb, and mint leaves. Pour 10 g of the product with oil in a 1:2 ratio and leave for a day. Keep the tincture in a water bath for 10 minutes, stirring the contents of the container. From the moment the product is ready, use it 3-4 times a day. After about 5-7 days, the skin will look better.

Prevention of cold allergies

People who have experienced this pathological reaction at least once must constantly follow preventive measures, since allergic diseases are chronic and tend to recur. Prevention of cold allergies implies compliance with the following rules:

1. before going out into the cold, you should try to cover as many unprotected areas of your skin as possible with clothes (be sure to wear mittens or gloves, a scarf, a hat);
2. use rich cream for face, hands, lip balm;
3. Pay careful attention to the choice of warm clothes - prefer models made from natural materials;
4. use rubber gloves when cleaning;
5. wear outerwear with a hood - it will protect you from the winds.

Cold allergy is one of many types of negative responses of the body to various external stimuli. The very name of this allergy suggests that an allergic reaction occurs under the influence of cold temperatures.

Until recently, medicine rejected such a diagnosis, since there is no allergen that provokes a specific reaction of the body as such, there is only a physical effect - cold. No allergen means no allergies.

But when exposed to cold air, some sensitive people experience a significant release of histamine, which causes reactions similar to other types of allergies - the development of swelling, vasodilation, redness and itching of the skin and mucous membranes. This is a response to a decrease in the temperature of the skin's thermal receptors.

Causes of cold allergies

Why does cold allergy occur? Medicine does not yet know the exact answer to this question, but with the following factors, particularly sensitive people may experience this strange type of allergy:

1. When there is a sharp change in a person’s presence in an environment with normal air temperature to an environment with low temperature - in winter, especially in windy weather
2. In contact with cold water - in everyday life when washing dishes, cleaning, swimming in open water
3. When drinking very cold drinks or cold food

Allergy to cold often develops after severe illness and long-term treatment with antibiotics; it is believed that it has a genetic predisposition; it can occur against the background of infectious diseases (for example, tuberculosis) or parasitic diseases (roundworms in children, adults, pinworms in children, giardiasis.

In a strong, hardened organism with a strong immune system, such temperature changes do not cause any reactions.

However, in the event of a decrease in protective forces, systemic disorders, serious illnesses, or metabolic disorders in the body, this type of allergy may occur. Stress, as we know, is the most important risk factor for immune failure, so stress-resistant people tend to get sick less often and have good health.

Provoking factors for the development of cold allergies

1. The presence of allergic reactions to other irritants - food, pollen (allergy to poplar fluff), household allergies
2. Some infectious diseases - mumps, measles (see symptoms of measles in adults), mycoplasma pneumonia, rubella
3. Thyroid diseases, systemic lupus erythematosus, cancer
4. The presence of chronic diseases - sinusitis, sinusitis, various worm infections, intestinal dysbiosis
5. Recurrent skin diseases – neurodermatitis, eczema, psoriasis
6. Hereditary factor

There are cases when such a reaction is hereditary in nature, that is, it is inherited and most often it is the body’s reaction to windy weather than to cold. The symptom of such an allergy is a burning sensation, not itching of the skin.

How does an allergy to cold manifest itself?

How does an allergy to cold manifest itself? Symptoms of such an allergy can have various forms of manifestation - from mild symptoms that disappear some time after contact with a cold environment, to serious recurrent skin rashes.

Skin manifestations are the most common signs. These include redness, swelling, itching of open areas of the body that have come into contact with a cold environment. After some time, the skin begins to hurt, itch, and may become blistered, similar to hives.

Cold allergies in children can even affect the inner surface of the legs, thighs, knees and manifest themselves in the form of hives. The rash is pink, dense, itchy, but goes away within a few hours. There are cases when, after a cold, the skin not only turns red and itches, but also becomes covered with a layer that begins to peel off, as with dermatitis. Sometimes bruises appear at the site of the allergy over time.

Most often, cold allergies occur on the face and hands, since these places are more exposed to the external environment, they are always open and more vulnerable.

General malaise - increased blood pressure, shortness of breath, headache and weakness.

Allergic rhinitis - the appearance of a runny nose, sneezing when going out into cold air. Swelling of the mucous membranes of the nose can either greatly complicate nasal breathing or completely block it, and upon returning to a warm room, all allergy symptoms disappear.

Signs of allergic conjunctivitis are tearing, swelling around the eyes, swelling of the eyelids, pain in the eyes. Hypersensitivity to bright light also occurs. To differentiate the diagnosis, you should definitely consult an ophthalmologist and dermatologist, since if profuse lacrimation occurs in the cold, this may be a sign of tick-borne infection (demodex) or fungus, etc.

Diagnosis of cold allergies

If you experience similar symptoms, then first of all you need to visit a therapist and an immunologist - an allergist. After a set of diagnostic and laboratory tests, it will be possible to accurately determine the cause of the allergic reaction. Cold allergies, the symptoms of which are similar to other types of allergic reactions, should be differentiated from a number of other diseases.

1. Sometimes in small children of preschool age, cold allergies on the face are similar to atopic dermatitis, neurodermatitis.
   
   
   
   
2. Often similar allergic symptoms occur with idiopathic dermatosis. With this disease, heat and cold skin receptors are deregulated. Swelling, lacrimation, sneezing, and difficulty breathing occur in both cold and heat.
3. Intolerance to the fur of some animals - rabbits, mink, chinchillas, woolen fabrics, sheep's wool - can also be confused with an allergy to cold. When putting on clothes and going out into the cold, a person returns with a rash and swelling of the nasopharynx; as a result, this can be assessed as a reaction to the cold, and not an allergy to wool or fur.
4. The situation is similar with perfume products. Typically, perfume is applied to the forearm, neck, face, and an allergic rash can be caused by cosmetics and perfumes, and not by cold.

When symptoms appear, it is important to make a correct diagnosis, and only after differentiating the signs of allergy can a doctor confirm this disease. Then, the question arises: is an allergy to cold treatable?

How to treat allergies to cold

The inability to eliminate an allergen such as cold makes the fight against such an illness quite difficult. If the patient is diagnosed with an allergy to cold, treatment in this case is purely symptomatic. It is only possible with the help of antihistamines to slightly reduce its manifestations, or to protect exposed areas of the body as much as possible from exposure to negative temperatures. You can reduce the occurrence of allergic reactions if:

1. Before going out into the cold, lubricate your face and hands with baby cream, for adults, with any rich cream. Lips should be lubricated with hygienic lipstick. This will partially protect uncovered areas of skin from cold air.
2. Badger fat has a very good effect; it is rich in unsaturated fatty acids and vitamins B and A, which have only a positive effect on the skin. 20 minutes before going out into the cold, you can lubricate exposed areas of the skin with badger fat (lips, cheeks, nose, hands); if there is no serious liver damage, then you can consume it orally 40 minutes before. before breakfast, 1 tbsp. a spoonful of fat.
3. Long warm gloves, preferably waterproof mittens for children, warm scarves, it is preferable to have hoods in outerwear - this will effectively protect from the wind and better retain heat.
4. Medicinal herbs, if there is no allergy to them, can also help with the development of urticaria, which appears as an allergy to cold. Burdock root, tricolor violet and walnut leaves are very useful. To collect, mix the raw materials in equal proportions, 2 s. Pour a tablespoon of the mixture into a glass of boiling water, leave for 1 hour, strain, consume the resulting broth 60 ml 3 times a day.
5. Pine cones (see pine cones for stroke) or spruce cones also have beneficial properties; 4 cones are required to prepare the decoction; they should be ground in a mill or meat grinder, poured with water and simmered over low heat for half an hour. After straining the broth, you can wipe it on chapped and rough skin every evening.
6. If you have a cold allergy, the symptoms of which are minor, then gradual hardening and rubbing can strengthen the immune system and reduce the body's reaction. But for young children and people with intense symptoms, hardening is contraindicated, as it is fraught with the development of complications in the form of anaphylactic shock, Quincke's edema, and laryngeal edema.
7. During the cold season, you can use antihistamines (A complete list of all allergy pills is in our article.)

An allergy to cold is a pseudo-allergic reaction that occurs as a result of exposure of the human body to low temperatures. Despite the fact that the disease is widespread, modern medicine has recognized its existence relatively recently.

Allergy to cold is diagnosed several times more often in women than in men. It usually manifests itself at 20–30 years of age.

Symptoms of a cold allergy can appear when exposed to cold water, being outside in cold weather, strong cold winds, or consuming cold food or drinks.

Causes and risk factors

An allergy to cold is a pseudoallergic reaction, which differs from a true allergy in the absence of certain immunological mechanisms. With pseudoallergy, the development of the inflammatory process is associated with disturbances in histamine metabolism. Experts put forward three theories to explain the development of allergies to cold:

1. Spasm of microcirculatory vessels. Under the influence of low temperatures, a person experiences a spasm of the smallest blood vessels - capillaries, as a result of which blood supply and tissue nutrition deteriorate, which becomes the beginning of the inflammatory process.
2. Formation of special proteins. In some people, under the influence of low temperature, special biochemical processes are triggered in the body, during which proteins are synthesized that can act as an allergen. It is these proteins that trigger the release of allergy mediators (histamine, serotonin), provoking the development of allergic inflammation. These proteins are not stable and are quickly destroyed when a person warms up.
3. Dry skin. When skin is dry, its surface is not sufficiently protected. In the cold, because of this, cells quickly lose moisture, the skin becomes even drier and begins to peel off. This theory is confirmed by the fact that allergies to cold are most often diagnosed in people with sensitive and dry skin, as well as in elderly patients.

Factors that increase the risk of developing a cold allergy are:

Allergy to cold often develops in patients suffering from any other manifestations of allergies (pollen or household allergies, atopic dermatitis, etc.).

Forms of the disease

The following forms of cold allergy are distinguished:

Long-term allergies to cold also have a negative impact on the mental state of patients. During the cold season, many of them experience increased fatigue, nervousness, and in severe cases develop depressive states.

Symptoms of an allergy to cold

The most common manifestation of a cold allergy is cold urticaria. After contact with cold water or air on the contacted areas of the body (usually the face, neck, ears, hands), the skin begins to ache and itch very much. Then it gradually turns red and blisters form on it. In appearance, changes in the lesion are very similar to the symptoms of a nettle burn. With a large area of ​​rash, the patient’s blood pressure may drop sharply, even to the point of developing collapse.

A separate form of cold allergy is familial cold urticaria (one of the forms of cryopyrin-associated periodic syndrome). The disease is associated with a defect in the NLRP3 gene and is inherited in an autosomal dominant manner. With familial cold urticaria, symptoms of an allergy to cold do not appear immediately, but several hours after the body is exposed to low temperatures: a maculopapular rash appears on the skin.

Allergy to cold, which occurs as cold dermatitis, is characterized by the formation of burgundy or dark red spots with a slightly flaky surface on exposed areas of the skin. Their size reaches 2–5 cm in diameter. The appearance of rashes is accompanied by a pronounced burning sensation and severe itching. After some time, cracks form on the surface of the spots, then they become covered with crusts.

Cold dermatitis most often affects the skin of the hands, neck, ears and face, that is, those areas of the body that are not covered by clothing. In very rare cases, rashes can also appear on closed areas of the body, such as the inner thighs or knees.

The main symptom of cold rhinitis is a transient runny nose, accompanied by mucous discharge. Its characteristic feature is that it appears when the patient comes into contact with low temperatures, and in a warm room after warming it completely goes away on its own.

Cold conjunctivitis is manifested by increased lacrimation, eye pain, and slight blepharospasm. In the warmth, the symptoms of cold conjunctivitis go away on their own.

Exposure to cold air on the bronchial mucosa in some people leads to the development of bronchial hyperreactivity - a bronchoconstrictor reaction of the airways. Clinically this is manifested by an attack of bronchial cold asthma:

1. labored breathing;
2. dyspnea;
3. cyanosis of the nasolabial triangle;
4. on auscultation – multiple wheezing in the lungs.

Diagnostics

If a cold allergy is suspected, the patient should be consulted by an allergist. To confirm the diagnosis, a cold test is performed: a small piece of ice is placed on the patient's skin and left for 3-5 minutes. If the test result is positive, typical cold urticaria develops in the area of ​​ice contact with the skin. If necessary, pH-metry of the skin and dermatoscopy of the elements of the rash are additionally performed.

A blood test allows you to determine in the serum the presence of proteins specific to cold allergies (cryoglobulins, cryofibrinogen, cold antibodies).

In some patients, an exacerbation of cold allergy may be accompanied by the appearance of blood proteins in the urine (hemoglobinuria).

To identify the underlying disease that caused the formation of an allergy to cold, the patient is referred for consultation to specialized specialists (gastroenterologist, gynecologist, urologist, dentist, endocrinologist, etc.).

Allergy to cold is diagnosed several times more often in women than in men. It usually manifests itself at 20–30 years of age.

If there are indications, additional laboratory and instrumental examination is carried out, which may include:

Skin forms of allergy to cold should be differentiated from dermatitis caused by other causes (contact, drug, atopic dermatitis), as well as psoriasis.

Treatment of allergies to cold

Treatment of allergy to cold, first of all, consists of preventing further contact of the patient with cold (warm clothing in winter, bathing in warm water, avoiding cold food and drinks). In winter, especially on windy days, before leaving the house, any fatty cream should be generously applied to exposed skin.

In the complex treatment of cold allergies, antihistamines, multivitamin preparations, as well as drugs that improve microcirculatory circulation and trophic processes are used. In addition, identified concomitant diseases are treated.

For patients with mild symptoms of cold allergy, hardening procedures are recommended. Hardening begins with dousing with warm water (water temperature 37–37.5 °C). Every five days the water temperature is lowered by one degree, gradually bringing it to 10 °C. If, with the next decrease in water temperature, clinical manifestations of an allergy to cold occur, the temperature is again raised to a tolerable level, then after a few days it is reduced again. Hardening treatment is allowed only in patients with a mild course of the disease. In the case of a severe cold allergy, dousing with cold water can lead to the development of anaphylactic shock, a potentially life-threatening complication.

A relatively new method of treating cold allergies is autolymphocytotherapy, which consists of injecting the patient with lymphocytes previously obtained from his own blood. The course usually includes 8 procedures, performed every other day. Autolymphocytotherapy has proven itself to be an effective and at the same time safe method of treating cold allergies.

Diet for allergies to cold

If allergies to cold worsen, it is recommended to adhere to a hypoallergenic diet. The following should be excluded from the diet:

1. spicy, salty, fatty and fried foods;
2. strong broths;
3. spices;
4. smoked meats;
5. sausages;
6. seafood;
7. eggs;
8. ice cream;
9. processed and sharp cheeses;
10. industrially made sauces (ketchup, mayonnaise);
11. pickles and marinades;
12. some vegetables (bell peppers, tomatoes, spinach);
13. nuts;
14. mushrooms;
15. citrus;
16. confectionery.

It is recommended to include in the diet:

1. dairy products;
2. cereal dishes (except semolina);
3. lean meat;
4. mild types of cheese;
5. green apples;
6. vegetable oil;
7. dishes made from vegetables, preferably green (zucchini, cabbage, squash, green beans, green peas, dill, parsley, etc.).

Possible consequences and complications

In severe clinical cases and lack of timely treatment, cold allergies can lead to the development of serious complications:

1. swelling of the larynx – usually develops after consuming cold foods or drinks. The patient suddenly develops inspiratory shortness of breath (difficulty inhaling), and a sensation of a foreign body appears in the throat. The voice becomes hoarse and muffled.
2. anaphylactic shock – its first symptom is usually a sharp pain in the area of ​​skin rashes, then vascular collapse and bronchospasm quickly develop. Symptoms of anaphylactic shock develop rapidly, and if the patient does not receive immediate medical attention, he may die.

Long-term allergies to cold also have a negative impact on the mental state of patients. During the cold season, many of them experience increased fatigue, nervousness, and in severe cases develop depressive states.

Forecast

In most cases, an allergy to cold does not pose a threat to the patient's life. However, the disease is long-term and requires regular therapy. In case of severe allergic reactions to cold exposure, it may be necessary to change your place of residence.

Prevention

As part of the prevention of the development of allergies to cold, diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, endocrine system, helminthic infestations, and also sanitize all foci of chronic infection in the body should be promptly diagnosed and treated.

In cold weather, you should dress warmly and protect exposed areas of the body with a rich cream, especially for people with dry skin.

If you plan to be in the cold for a long time, you should take a thermos with a hot drink with you. A few sips of hot liquid allow the body to quickly warm up and thereby prevent the development of cold allergy symptoms. But drinking alcoholic drinks in the cold for the purpose of warming up is strictly forbidden! Alcohol promotes the expansion of skin capillaries and thereby increases the transfer of heat by the body. As a result, hypothermia develops, and the preconditions are created for the launch of the pathological mechanism of allergy to cold.

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