With the onset of frost, people often begin to have problems. Someone immediately gets a runny nose or a cough, and someone gets strange spots on the body. They usually indicate the presence of an allergy to cold. This ailment is very different from other similar reactions, therefore it is called pseudo-allergic. The disease is not inherited, is not chronic and is not contagious. Some patients suffer from such an allergy for only a few winters, provided timely treatment, of course.
This pathology is a fairly common phenomenon. Approximately one third of the population feels uncomfortable due to low temperature. They just have to go outside, as the face becomes covered with red spots, difficulties in breathing appear and other symptoms attack. Allergies to cold in adults and children will be discussed in our material.
Description of the pathology development mechanism
Cold urticaria is the more accurate name for pseudo-allergy. This disease is included in the International Classification of Diseases. There it stands for rash caused by exposure to low temperatures. In order not to get confused, we will call the phenomenon under consideration an allergy to cold.
Now a little about the mechanism of its development. This type of reaction provokes the effect of mediators, that is, especially active substances, the main among which is histamine. When ingested, it is attacked by immune cells. If there are enough immunoglobulins, they throw out a mediator.
Here we come to the most interesting. What can be called a low air temperature allergen, if it is not a protein and does not penetrate the body? But when exposed to cold, mediators are produced by themselves, without the help of immunoglobulins. That is why the described reaction is called pseudo-allergic.
Why is there an allergy?
The opinion of experts on this issue was divided: some believe that cold allergy is only a symptom, while others say that pathology can be independent. In most cases, this reaction develops with hypothermia:
- the wrong choice of clothes, the absence of scarves and hats at low temperatures, wearing short skirts and thin tights;
- interacting with cold water, such as washing dishes or visiting the pool;
- constant consumption of cold drinks;
- stay in the draft.
An allergy to cold in adults appears as a result of a weakened immune system. It can be concluded that severe long-term illness provokes the onset of the reaction. In addition, there are other risk factors:
- regular long-term stay on the street at low air temperature and contact with cold objects;
- the presence of allergies in close relatives and friends;
- prolonged use of antibacterial drugs;
- excessive physical and psychological stress.
It is worth noting that most often allergies are found in women aged 25 to 30 years. Also at risk are children, adolescents and middle-aged men.
Classification
In medicine, several types of allergies to cold are distinguished. We will consider each of them in detail:
- Chronic and acute urticaria. This disease is characterized by severe itching of all parts of the body. In areas of irritation, swelling soon appears, and then blisters. If the pathology is quite pronounced, then the patient will feel chills, weakness in the body, joint pain. Such an allergy is manifested to cold on the face, hands and other parts of the body. Usually lasts throughout the frosty period.
- Recurrent type. In this case, exacerbations are observed year-round, especially in autumn, winter and early spring. Redness on the skin occurs as a result of contact with cold water.
- Reflex urticaria. This is a local reaction to cold, in some situations it appears only if the whole body is cooled. It manifests itself as a rash around the affected area, while the skin area itself in contact with the cold does not undergo changes.
- Family urticaria. This species is considered rare, characterized by a papular rash and burning several hours after interacting with low temperatures. In addition, the patient feels fever, pain in the joints and muscles, chills. Such urticaria is difficult to diagnose, often confused with idiopathic pathology.
- Cold rhinitis. It would seem like a common cold, but there is a significant difference - symptoms appear only in the cold. As soon as a person enters a warm place, all signs disappear.
- Dermatitis is cold. An allergy to cold on the hands in this case is manifested by peeling of the skin and severe itching. If the pathology has passed into a severe form, edema of the whole body is detected.
It is not necessary to confuse the described conditions with one of the normal protective reactions of the body. The latter can be treated with symptomatic drugs and pass quickly. But if in doubt, it is best to consult a dermatologist. The doctor will conduct a study and make a diagnosis.
Symptoms of an allergy to cold on the hands and not only
Calculating this ailment is not easy, because it is skillfully disguised as dermatitis or ordinary colds. When going outside with a low air temperature, the patient immediately begins to hurt his head. It reduces the muscles of the face and neck, presses on the back of the head, due to painful sensations, a feeling of nausea appears. When the patient enters a warm room, the symptoms disappear after 15-20 minutes. A sign of a headache can occur not only due to subzero air temperature, but also when consuming cold water.
Often an allergy to cold on the hands begins. The skin at first simply itches slightly, then coarsens, becomes dry, cracks appear. After some time, rashes are found, which subsequently spread throughout the body.
As for children, they are primarily allergic to cold on the face. The cheeks and chin turn red, there is a burning sensation, the child begins to rub these places, which leads to the formation of unpleasant blisters. As already noted, young girls are more prone to this pathology. This is due to wearing thin tights in the winter, resulting in redness on the inside of the thighs and under the knees.
An allergy to cold, a photo of the manifestations of which you can see in the article, proceeds differently:
- prolonged runny nose is possible;
- nasal congestion;
- conjunctivitis;
- sore throat.
Coming out in the cold, the patient feels short of breath, the bronchi narrow, which leads to shortness of breath. The patient feels chronic fatigue, a sharp jump in mood is characteristic.
But an allergy of this kind may also be a symptom of other diseases, for example, avitaminosis of vascular dystonia, thyroid dysfunction, etc. It should be noted that against the background of diseases, cold urticaria is more difficult, and the patient actually has to deal with two ailments at the same time.
Allergy to a cold in a child
Children are more difficult to tolerate all diseases due to the unformed immune system of the body, allergies are no exception. There is a high risk of complications. Therefore, the treatment of the disease, especially in childhood, should be timely.
During pregnancy, the expectant mother should avoid hypothermia in order to avoid unpleasant consequences. Cold urticaria is manifested in a more severe and severe form precisely in babies. Its symptoms occur during a walk in the fresh air at low temperatures. Consider the symptoms of a cold allergy in children:
- the main blow is taken over by the face - there is a redness of the cheeks, which does not pass for a long time;
- itchy blisters appear;
- profuse lacrimation is observed.
In babies up to a year, the described ailment can be observed even with a slight decrease in temperature. Therefore, you can not leave the child in a cold room or without consulting a specialist to conduct hardening procedures at such a young age.
In rare cases, even newborns may be allergic to cold. This is usually due to either a hereditary problem or a violation of hygiene rules. A child from the womb falls into a new environment, where, accordingly, the temperature is reduced. It will freeze instantly, after a few minutes, if you do not put it under a heat source.
After talking about how an allergy to cold is manifested, it is necessary to consider the procedure for identifying an ailment.
Diagnostics
It is difficult to overestimate the importance of diagnosis, because the effectiveness of further treatment depends on this. The detection of the disease is based on a specific clinical picture, and in addition, an allergy test is recommended. This method is the most accurate, but also sensitive. Therefore, it is worth treating this with caution. You can conduct a study at home, but it is better to leave this business to professionals.
To identify an allergy to cold, use the following methods:
- applying a cold object to the skin, such as an ice cube for 15 minutes;
- immersion of hands in cold water for 10-15 minutes. In this case, it is necessary to ensure that there is no draft, and the legs are warm;
- Exercise in cool air for 10 minutes.
Evaluation of the results is carried out instantly. First of all, you need to pay attention to the upper limbs. As you know, at first an allergy to cold appears on the skin of the hands, and if swelling and rashes appear against a background of worsening general condition, the doctor conducts laboratory tests to confirm the diagnosis.
Disease treatment
I must say that the most effective method in this case is complex therapy. To begin with, it is worth excluding the irritant, that is, the cold. Allergy sufferers do not need to be in the air for a long time at a low temperature. If you still need to go outside, you should dress according to the weather, to minimize the area of open areas of the body. An allergy to cold, the photo of which is not much different from images of a normal allergic reaction, in fact, does not require special treatment, the symptoms go away by themselves after a while.
However, if the symptoms are disturbing on an ongoing basis, and also remain longer than an hour, then it's time to contact a dermatologist. After identifying the disease, the doctor will offer a comprehensive treatment. To get rid of this problem, you must follow all the doctor's recommendations.
Drug therapy
Drug treatment is aimed at combating the manifestations of allergic reactions, such as rashes and respiratory disorders. To cope with cold urticaria, it is necessary to use local remedies. Which ones are the most effective?
It is best to use hormone-based drugs, as they will quickly remove the symptoms of dermatitis and save you from external manifestations in a short time. If there is no serious damage to the skin, you can use the funds yourself. But, despite the minimal risk of developing an additional infection, it is better to consult a specialist.
Typically, the following medications are prescribed:
- spray in the throat from possible manifestations of the common cold;
- oral antihistamines - Tavegil or Suprastin (injections are used only if complications are found);
- Mandatory use of local medicines, that is, ointments and creams (for allergies to cold on the legs and other parts of the body, the anti-inflammatory Bepanten, the healing La Cree, etc. will help).
Sometimes scars appear on the skin. If you have chosen the wrong local topical medications or you have signed up with a dermatologist too late, it will be difficult to get rid of them forever. Cicatricial changes practically do not disappear without a trace, especially if significant areas of the skin are affected.
If an allergy is detected in a child, it is necessary to carry out restoration in a similar way. Only before completing the actions, coordinate them with the doctor.
Folk remedies
Treatment of allergies to cold on the hands, face and legs is carried out comprehensively, and recipes of alternative medicine will help you with this. Decoctions and tinctures from various herbs are especially effective. A positive result can be achieved by using hawthorn, chamomile, St. John's wort, duckweed, etc. Folk remedies eliminate symptoms and support the body during an exacerbation of the disease.
It is worth noting that the use of funds in the presence of allergies to them is strictly prohibited. Among all the recipes, the following stand out:
- Raspberries. Here you will need the roots of the plant, previously crushed. It is necessary to fill in 50 g of roots with 0.5 l of water and obscure for half an hour on low heat. Ready broth should be consumed three times a day, two tablespoons. Within 2 months, if you do not miss a dose, all symptoms will be removed. For a better effect, as well as for prevention, you can drink a decoction a month before the onset of cold weather.
- Celery. Freshly squeezed juice of this plant copes with an allergy to cold. You need to take half a teaspoon three times a day.
- Birch juice. This tool has a mild diuretic effect and fights well with signs of allergies. Especially effective juice relieves swelling from the face and hands. You can use the drink in unlimited quantities, an adult needs at least one liter per day. If a cold allergy is detected in a child, it is worth giving half a liter of fluid daily.
- Lemongrass juice. They rub areas of the skin. This is an excellent remedy for severe itching on different parts of the body. It must be used carefully, without injuring the skin, and only in a warm room.
- Baths from needles. To do this, collect twigs with needles, boil and take a bath. It is recommended, plus everything, to wash twice with a decoction: morning and evening. There are no clear proportions here.
All of the above folk remedies are quite effective, but you need to use them only after consulting with your doctor. Do not self-medicate, this can lead to complications.
Reviews
The symptoms and treatment of cold allergies are relevant and discussed topics. This is not surprising, because many people are faced with this problem, and share their experiences with other users. Each organism is individual, and therefore the course of the disease and symptoms may vary slightly.
In this regard, the reviews are of a different nature: some talk about heavy treatment, others claim that the allergy went away in a few days. Among all types of ailment, urticaria is most widespread, it is she who worries many people.
Users note that the most effective remedies for it are hormonal ointments and antihistamines - Suprastin and Claritin. If you have developed allergic rhinitis, Avamis will be an excellent solution. Despite the rather big price, it is actively bought, as it copes with symptoms in the shortest possible time. Folk remedies have a good effect, so use complex therapy for treatment.
Prevention
The main preventive measure for this case will be getting rid of the source of allergies. However, it is impossible to avoid cold as such, so you need to limit contact with it:
- wear warm clothes - no need to chase fashion at the expense of health;
- if you are allergic, minimize the number of exits in the cold;
- observe average temperature conditions.
In addition, it is necessary to constantly strengthen the immune system, especially before the onset of frost. If possible, avoid colds, refuse to consume cold drinks. If necessary, you can adjust the diet, but in this case, its usefulness is important.
Cold allergies are very unpleasant. At the most inopportune moment, symptoms appear, and you cannot enjoy the frosty season when you want to walk in the fresh air, play snowballs, ride a sled. In order not to deprive yourself of such pleasure, observe preventive measures to the maximum.