Allergy to Cold.

Everyone thinks I'm kidding when I say I'm allergic to cold...but really I'm not. The doctor even told me so. I developed it when I was about 6 or 7 months pregnant with my now two year old son. It was the oddest thing, I would break out in hives when I came in contact with anything cold. I'm so miserable now that its winter and there's snow everywhere. I can't even swim in the summer time with everyone else because I get hives cause the water isn't warm, even a getting caught in a downpour or gust of cold wind can give me hives. I'm wondering if there is anyone else that has the same problem and if there is something I can get to make this stop. I'm going crazy.

[Schuyler_T]

After looking into it, what you have is truly an allergy to cold. Refered to as 'cold urticaria'. With cold urticaria, exposure to cold temperatures causes redness, itching, swelling and hives on your skin. People with cold urticaria should avoid exposure to cold air or water as much as possible. (Source: Mayo Clinic, http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/cold-urticaria/DS01160)
This completely agrees with everything you have said, and thus proves your cold allergy. Try taking antihistamines before exposure to cold, air, water or otherwise. Also try to talk to your doctor again, see if you can convince him/her.

Hope I helped,
Schuyler

[sammy192834]

I have tried benadryl and claritin and reactin, none of them seem to help, he prescribed me an antihistamine but it doesn't get rid of my problem ether.. I'm also wondering does this ever go away??

[Schuyler_T]

I'm sorry, but I don't know if cold urticaria will ever go away. However there is a drug called Ebastine (may be sold as Kestine, Evastin, Ebastel, Aleva(I'm not sure of its availability)) which has been shown to greatly improve resistance to cold and may help you. It is a pill taken once daily, in doses of 10 to 20 mgs.

Good luck,
Schuyler

[Amanda731]

hello, my names amanda im 25 years old and i am going thru the same thing, ive been going through this since i was pregnant with my 4 year old and everything u said i am going thru. some days are even that cold but its like anything under 65 degrees or it could be warmer and if the wind blowing is chilly i break out too. i couldnt figure out why but i knew it was because of anything cold. i was finally diagnoised with cold urticaria but still havnt found any medication that helps. hope this made u feel a little better that ur not alone