Treatment of allergies to cold and ways to relieve symptoms of the disease

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.

Skin manifestations of allergies to cold

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:

• diseases of the gastrointestinal tract (peptic ulcer of the stomach and duodenum, chronic pancreatitis, hepatitis, cholecystitis, severe intestinal dysbiosis);
• foci of chronic infection (vaginitis, salpingitis, pyelonephritis, cystitis, periodontitis, otitis media, tonsillitis, sinusitis);
• systemic lupus erythematosus and other autoimmune pathologies;
• hemoblastosis;
• thyroid diseases;
• helminthic infestations;
• diabetes.

Thyroid disease increases the likelihood of developing allergies to cold

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.

Symptoms of cold urticaria

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.

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.

With cold rhinitis, a runny nose occurs after exposure to the cold.

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:

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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 cold test helps determine an allergy to cold: a piece of ice is applied to the skin for a while

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.

It is important to limit the patient's skin contact with cold

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.

Hardening procedures are recommended for people with allergies to cold.

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:

• spicy, salty, fatty and fried foods;
• strong broths;
• spices;
• smoked meats;
• sausages;
• seafood;
• eggs;
• ice cream;
• processed and sharp cheeses;
• industrially made sauces (ketchup, mayonnaise);
• pickles and marinades;
• some vegetables (bell peppers, tomatoes, spinach);
• nuts;
• mushrooms;
• citrus;
• confectionery.

It is recommended to include in the diet:

• dairy products;
• cereal dishes (except semolina);
• lean meat;
• mild varieties of cheese;
• green apples;
• vegetable oil;
• 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:

• 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.
• anaphylactic shock - its first symptom is usually 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.

Like other allergic reactions, cold allergies can cause anaphylactic shock.

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 beverages in the cold for the purpose of warming up is strictly prohibited! 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.

Video from YouTube on the topic of the article:

Source: https://www.neboleem.net/allergija-na-holod.php

What is cold allergy and how to treat it?

Cold allergy - what is it?

This is a pathological reaction of the immune system to a physical catalyst, in this case to low temperatures. However, symptoms of the disease do not necessarily occur in winter. Sometimes symptoms become fully apparent after doing laundry or washing dishes, or even when drinking iced drinks.

• Research confirms that after direct contact with a physical irritant, the amount of histamine in the blood increases.
• The causes of allergies to cold should be looked for in the same place as the causes of any pathology of the immune system.
• Cold allergies are always a marker of problems in the body; in a healthy person, physiological reactions to neutral physiological stimuli are always within normal limits.

One of the main provocateurs of immune system disorders is stress. At the same time, stress does not always mean a psychological disorder; stress can be a sudden change in climate, pregnancy, or even a respiratory disease. For example, people often encounter cold allergies for the first time after suffering a pathology.

For the onset of the disease, the presence of provoking factors is necessary, for example:

• the patient already has other allergies;
• there are sources of chronic infection in the body;
• there is a history of endocrine pathologies and dermatological diseases.

Thus, any burden on the immune system when a provoking factor appears can result in a cold allergy.

Manifestations of rash due to cold allergies

Types and forms

Depending on the symptoms accompanying the pathology, three forms of allergy to low temperatures can be distinguished:

• skin allergy - when symptoms predominate in the form of skin rashes, this form may be called “cold dermatitis” and “cold erythema”;
• allergies with symptomatic signs of rhinitis - when the predominant symptom is severe runny nose and nasal congestion;
• allergy with symptoms of conjunctivitis - a form in which the patient begins to experience tearing, pain in the eyes, swelling of the orbital region.

You can also consider the following classification of pathology:

1. Reflex cold allergy - that is, a pathological reaction of the immune system to an irritant (cold), developing directly in those places where the skin was in contact with the cold. For example, if symptoms arose after washing dishes with cold water, only the hands will be affected, if after a walk in the cold, then the face, and so on.
2. Familial cold allergy is a pathology that is transmitted genetically. Unlike the reflex form, in which a rash is present on the body, in the familial form the formation of papules, fever, and leukocytosis predominates. Symptoms can occur 1-3 hours after exposure to cold on the body, or even a day later. The longer the incubation period, the more pronounced the symptoms of general malaise.

And finally, doctors distinguish between year-round and recurrent cold allergies. In the first form, signs of the disease can appear at any time, in the presence of cold water or air. In the second case, exacerbations occur only when the seasons change, when the body adapts to new external factors.

What danger does the disease pose?

Like any allergic reaction, cold allergies are dangerous due to their complications. Mainly angioedema or anaphylactic shock. Such complications are especially dangerous for children.

Swelling due to cold allergies

In addition, the pathological activity of the immune system can become a catalyst for the development of autoimmune diseases, which are currently incurable and can lead to complete disruption of the functioning of the organ.

Symptoms and signs

The symptomatic picture appears immediately after interaction with the stimulus, that is, with a low temperature.

It is necessary to differentiate cold allergies from irritation arising from the wind or components included in the cold liquid.

Like any immune reaction, cold allergies are accompanied by a deterioration in general health and shortness of breath. There is often a persistent decrease in blood pressure, which, in turn, can cause headaches, drowsiness, and decreased performance.

It can be localized in areas that are more susceptible to direct contact with low temperatures - hands, face.

Or form in places with thin sensitive skin, for example, on the elbows or inner thighs.

Pathologies can also be accompanied by inflammation of the mucous membrane of the nose and eyes.

Diagnostic methods

In order to begin the diagnostic process, after detecting symptoms, the patient must contact a general practitioner, who will refer to an immunologist or allergist.

An important part of the examination is differential diagnosis. It is not always easy to determine whether an allergic reaction is actually due to exposure to cold temperatures. That is, skin irritation due to wind, or even an allergy to fur that comes into contact with the body, can be mistaken for a cold allergy from frosty air.

The same applies to allergies that appear after contact with cold water. It is important to know for sure that the body reacts to low temperature, and not to soap, dishwashing liquid or the chemical composition of the water itself.

There is a reason to differentiate cold allergies from other diseases, for example:

• atopic dermatitis;
• neurodermatitis;
• dermatosis

This is what hives looks like

Typically, a test that has proven itself to be as reliable as possible is used for diagnosis. It is called a “cold test” and is performed using a regular ice cube, which must be applied to the skin for 2-3 minutes. If after this cold allergy symptoms appear, the diagnosis can be considered proven.

It is also mandatory to conduct a clinical blood test to study the leukocyte formula, the indicators of which change during allergic reactions.

Traditional treatment for cold allergies

First of all, a person who knows that he has a cold allergy should try to avoid contact with low temperatures. In the winter season, you should dress warmly, wear warm scarves, gloves, and outerwear with hoods. Do not wash your hands or dishes with cold water, or drink drinks that are below room temperature.

Cold water is contraindicated in case of illness

In order to increase the skin's resistance to cold, you can use special creams with a high level of fat. They create an invisible film on the skin that prevents hypothermia. Such products can be easily found among the lines of cosmetic products for children: “Morozko”, “Rosy cheeks”.

And finally, in order for the resulting signs of an allergic reaction to disappear, drug treatment is necessary.

First of all, these are antihistamines in tablet form. They bind excess histamine in the blood and remove it until the immune system normalizes on its own.

As a treatment for cold allergies, you can choose:

• "Suprastin";
• "Claritin";
• "Tavegil";
• "Zyrtec";
• "Fexofast".

Additionally, it is necessary to use products depending on the type of allergy, that is, its location.

1. For cold skin allergies, it is recommended to use special creams and ointments that eliminate itching and promote rapid healing of the epidermis. Before using creams, you should consult your doctor so that he can decide whether it is necessary to use hormonal ointments: “Skin Cap”, “Gistan N”, or herbal preparations: “Gistan”, “La-Cri”.
2. Need to know! During the period of exacerbation of allergies, the body is extremely sensitive to any natural components, so allergy creams that contain plant extracts can cause an exacerbation of the disease.
3. In addition, you can use skin softening products. If your skin is dry and requires moisturizing, you should not use conventional lotions, as they may contain substances that irritate it and increase itching. It is better to use Panthenol in the form of cream, lotion or foam. The product simultaneously moisturizes the skin and promotes rapid skin healing.
4. If cold allergies are accompanied by rhinitis, nasal drops should be used together with pharmacological drugs. They should be used 15-20 minutes before leaving the house in the cold:

• "Allergodil";
• "Parlazin."

Treatment must be systematic and approved or prescribed by the attending physician.

ethnoscience

For allergic reactions, traditional medicine recipes are often effective and efficient. First of all, any cream to protect against cold can be replaced with badger fat. This recipe is effective and has been used for many years, and it can be used even for small children.

Decoctions for internal use serve as an excellent adjunct to drug therapy. Also, decoctions can be used to prevent signs of allergies, for example, during the seasonal course of the disease.

A decoction of fir cones has long been a reliable remedy for cold allergies. To do this, 10-12 medium-sized cones need to be chopped with a knife and pour boiling water over them. After the product has infused and cooled, you can drink it throughout the day.

There are other traditional medicine recipes for cold allergies that require the use of more components, for example:

• leaves of the walnut plant;
• tricolor violet flowers;
• burdock root.

All ingredients must be taken in equal proportions, added to a thermos and filled with boiling water. Once the decoction is infused, it should be drunk before meals. If the product tastes too concentrated, you can dilute it with water.

For the greatest effectiveness, herbal medicine courses for allergic reactions are best carried out after cleansing the digestive tract with absorbent preparations.

Prevention

The immune system is a little-studied part of the body, so it is impossible to name one hundred percent effective methods in the fight against allergies. But it is still possible to minimize the risk of cold allergies.

First of all, you need to ensure that your immune system is able to function normally. To do this, you need to avoid stress, eat a properly balanced diet, and follow a sleep and rest schedule.

It is important to be examined to identify foci of chronic infection, which may be chronic tonsillitis, sinusitis, or even caries.

Eliminating sources of chronic infection reduces the burden on the immune system so it can resist triggers.

If during hardening procedures signs of cold allergies appear, the process must be stopped immediately and consult a doctor.

Source: https://on-doctor.com/zabolevaniya/kholodovaya-allergiya.html

Allergy to cold: how does it manifest itself and how to treat it? Interview with an allergist

Irina Repina 10740 1

Cold allergies are more common in women. The cause may be reduced immunity or constant stress. It is possible to treat the disease, but it is quite difficult. We talk about the symptoms of the disease and preventive measures with category 1 allergist-immunologist Tatyana Novikova.

Tatyana Novikova, head of the treatment and diagnostic department of the medical diagnostic laboratory SINLAB, allergist-immunologist of the 1st category, assistant of the department of propaedeutics of internal diseases of BSMU

Allergy to cold can occur when eating cold food

— Previously, cold allergies were not recognized, but science does not stand still. It has already been proven that allergic reactions in the body can be caused not only by chemical substances, but also by physical factors. Low temperature is just one of them.

The specialist explains that clinical symptoms appear, as a rule, due to low air temperatures and food intake, exposure to air, and swimming in cold water. The reasons depend on the individual characteristics of the body and manifest themselves differently in everyone.

The reaction to cold is not limited to winter

— A manifestation of a cold allergy can be urticaria - these are rashes on the skin in the form of small or large blisters that turn white when pressed. They can disappear on their own within 24 hours and then reappear in the cold.

More often they cover the skin on exposed areas of the body. Sometimes they appear under clothing (on the thighs, legs). This is the case if the body is not sufficiently covered with warm clothing. In addition, edema, cold rhinitis, and conjunctivitis may occur.

The latter are characterized by copious mucous discharge from the nose, itching of the eyelids and lacrimation. 

Another sign of an allergy, according to the doctor, is cold dermatitis. The skin turns red and becomes dry. It peels and cracks. The extreme manifestation is cold asthma and even anaphylactic shock.  

The doctor notes that cold allergies are not only characteristic of winter. The reaction may occur suddenly upon contact with cold water (below 26 degrees Celsius). For example, after swimming, showering in the pool, washing with the hot water turned off.

An allergic reaction can occur when eating cold foods, especially chilled drinks and ice cream. This threatens minimal swelling of the oral mucosa. Therefore, you need to be careful when eating.

— If a person moves to a country with a warm climate, allergies to cold may disappear. However, this is possible when we talk about it as an independent disease. There is a phenomenon of immunological memory. If the cold temperature takes effect again, symptoms may return. No one can cancel the shower and swimming pool.

The cause may be a lot of stress

According to the doctor, it is important to separate the concept of cold allergy as an independent disease and as a manifestation or symptom of another, more serious illness. Rarely, but there is also an allergy to cold, which is mediated at the genetic level.  

— This disease mainly affects adults, mainly women (70%). Age - from 25 to 40 years. The cause of the disease in men is more often working outdoors in the cold season or using cold water. While women get sick more often due to poor diet, smoking and unseasonal clothing.   

The doctor points out that if an allergy to cold appears after 40, it may be a symptom of another disease. That is why middle-aged people are recommended to have a complete diagnosis of the body for the entire cancer complex.  

— Girls often wear thin tights and dresses with exposed forearms in winter. In combination with a weakened immune system and individual characteristics, this can provoke cold allergies. It is better not to abuse short jackets and T-shirts, low-waisted trousers in winter.  

Another reason for weakened immunity and, as a result, the development of allergies to cold is that most people spend too much time at the computer. Walking in the fresh air, on the contrary, is rare. The immune system is weakened.  

The cause of the development of the disease, according to the doctor, may be a large amount of stress.

— Decreased immunity and, as a result, the appearance of cold allergies can also occur for other reasons. For example, due to long-term use of antibiotics, the presence of chronic diseases (tonsillitis, sinusitis, sinusitis, caries, infections), parasitic infections, gastrointestinal problems, endocrine diseases and oncological problems.

Diagnostics provides a complete picture of the disease

It is not difficult to identify allergies, according to the doctor. There is a so-called Duncan test, or cold exposure test. It consists of applying a piece of ice to the forearm through a napkin for 3-5 minutes.

After this, the hand must be kept open for 10-15 minutes. If after 15 minutes there are no marks on the skin where the ice touched, everything is fine.

If the test is positive, a blistering rash and swelling of the skin appear at the site of contact with ice or around the forearm. 

— Another option is a provocative test. The provocation lies in the fact that no precautions are taken to detect urticaria. For this purpose, performing physical exercises in the cold, staying in a cold room, lowering your forearm into cold water are suitable.

Tatyana Novikova notes that laboratory diagnostics are important to identify cold urticaria and prescribe appropriate treatment.

— Using special tests, the levels of total immunoglobulin E, cryoglobulins and cryofibrinogens are determined.

If the level is high, we are talking about a more severe reaction, therefore, the treatment will be longer and more intense. In addition, it would not hurt to take general and biochemical blood tests and perform an immunogram.

These tests, the doctor says, allow the doctor to make a diagnosis and determine whether a person has problems with food or exposure to cold temperatures. 

Preventive measures

An allergist-immunologist notes that you need to dress according to the season. Don't forget gloves, scarf and hat. Those with the problem are advised to limit foods that increase histamine levels in the blood. These include: coffee, chocolate, citrus fruits, dyes, preservatives, flavors and spices.  

“In addition, when the diagnosis is confirmed, I recommend dosed hardening. It is better to douse the feet, legs, hands, and forearms gradually, reaching the entire body.

In this case, the water temperature should gradually decrease from 36 degrees (by 1-2 degrees every 3-5 days) to 10 degrees, followed by mandatory rubbing of the skin.

If at some stage cold urticaria appears, the water temperature should be increased by 5 degrees and, after the symptoms have subsided, continue training, lowering the temperature of the water for dousing even more slowly (by 1 degree every 5-7 days).

The doctor explains that it is quite difficult to completely recover from the disease.

This is more often possible for those who are struggling with the underlying disease, where cold allergies are secondary and only a symptom of the underlying illness. Cured the disease - and the signs of cold allergies also no longer appear.  

— In severe cases, we most often talk about taking second-generation antihistamines for 3 to 5 months during the cold season. If questions arise, it is better not to delay, but to go to an allergist or therapist.  

Source: https://mag.103.by/zdorovje/37783-allergija-na-kholod-kak-projavlyajetsya-i-chem-lechity-intervyju-s-allergologom/

Symptoms and treatment of cold allergies in Moscow | Dobromed

Posted at 02:50h in Disease diagnosis by dobro

An acute reaction to low temperatures is an atypical disease in allergology.

Unlike other diseases in this group, symptoms appear without the participation of antigens (irritants), this can complicate the practice of diagnosing cold allergies .

The causative agent is the patient’s own protein in the blood – the immune system attacks it when it changes structure under the influence of temperature.

One of the typical signs of pathology, which often interferes with the diagnosis of cold allergy, is the uncontrolled frequency of symptoms.

The disease can appear annually or once every 2-5 years, disappear for 7-8 years and return. The reasons for this “behavior” have not yet been found.

Despite the characteristic name, treatment for allergies in the cold is just as important as in any other weather. The most common cases of diseases are accompanied by:  

• allergic reactions when consuming cold foods;
• exacerbations while swimming in summer (river, pond, pool);
• serious disorders when exposed to rain (wind and rain increase the likelihood of allergy symptoms in the cold) at any time.  

In sub-zero weather (as a rule, cold allergy symptoms manifest themselves at temperatures above four degrees below zero) occur in 20% of patients. In this case, the situation is also aggravated by wind and high humidity.  

Methods for diagnosing reactions to the cold factor

Diagnosis of an allergy to cold begins with the collection of a detailed information base, examinations, and examination. In the first stages, it is necessary to take blood (check for leukocytes and immunoglobulin E levels), undergo an ultrasound of the abdomen, and test for a reaction.

The disease manifests itself clearly, therefore, in the case of hypersensitivity to cold, the diagnosis of allergies usually does not include special examinations. It is important for a specialist:  

• reactions to other allergens (in rare cases, the disease manifests itself on its own, which helps in diagnosing allergies to cold - the latter is almost always aggravated by reactions to food, medications, dust);
• time, periods of appearance of symptoms of allergies to cold (in winter, during temperature changes, chronically);
• circumstances that caused the symptoms of cold allergy to appear (sip of water from the refrigerator, unheated lunch, swimming).  

To monitor the patient’s condition and risk-free relief of the cold factor in the treatment of allergies, tests are carried out (for food allergens, pharmaceuticals + skin reaction to a piece of ice). Less commonly, spirometry, rhinomanometry, and rhinoscopy may be required to determine the degree of damage to the mucous membranes during an exacerbation.  

Methods for treating cold allergic reactions

As such, there is no universal fail-safe method for treating cold allergies . If the disease is provoked by other diseases, you need to start with them (eliminate the factor that causes the defense system to malfunction).

Provided that the therapy does not interfere with the cold allergy treatment program (and vice versa, antihistamine therapy will not interfere with the schedule of procedures for treating the underlying ailment), therapeutic programs can be combined.

According to the data obtained when diagnosing an allergy to cold and depending on the person’s health, four therapeutic approaches can be used (together or separately).  

1. Self-therapy (in terms of life organization) is mandatory. To effectively treat allergies to cold, you need to give up synthetic clothing and insulate your wardrobe as much as possible (obvious accessories are a hat, gloves, a scarf, which should cover your lips and nose when outdoors). A safe diet is desirable (no chocolate, strawberries, citrus fruits, eggs). Even in hot weather, you should avoid cold foods and drinks.
2. Autohemotherapy is a technique that requires extreme caution. The essence of this method of treating cold allergies is to perform regular blood transfusions to the patient. This practice is permissible only in the absence of serious diseases.
3. One of the methods for treating and preventing cold allergies uses hardening technology. The same principle applies here as with injections of antigens for hay fever - “wedge by wedge”. As part of hardening, a set of measures can be performed - dousing with water with a gradual decrease in its temperature, contrast showers, rinsing the feet and hands.
4. Medicinal methods are based on relief of manifestations. These are hormonal drugs for risky reactions and antiallergic injections/tablets/drops to relieve cold allergy symptoms.

The method of treating cold allergies through transfusions and hardening can only be used under the supervision of an allergist. The action program is determined individually after a full examination.

Symptoms and risk area

In the case of cold, allergy symptoms include three forms of manifestations: mild, conditionally moderate, severe/acute.  

1. Symptoms of a cold allergy classified as high-risk: swelling of the hands, the entire lower leg, difficulty breathing.
2. Less common is urticaria, which is accompanied by dangerous symptoms of cold allergy. May be accompanied by chills, fever, itching. It appears either in areas of contact with cold objects (exposed parts of the body in winter), or throughout the body. It looks like a rash that resembles a nettle burn: blisters or white kernels surrounded by red, swollen areas of skin.
3. Typical symptoms of an allergy to cold include nasal discharge (rhinitis/rhinorrhea), sore throat, itching in the ears, nose, red spots on the skin, conjunctival redness, swelling of the limbs and parts of the face.

A nuance that must be read when developing recommendations for the treatment of cold allergies is that it can be provoked by one’s own immune defense and a number of concomitant diseases. Allergists (they specialize in diagnosing allergies to cold) consider patients at risk who:  

• suffered a serious illness in childhood (up to three years): measles, rubella, mononucleosis, pneumonia, mumps;
• suffer from other types of allergies, metabolic failures, dysbacteriosis;
• symptoms of allergy to cold occur against the background of blood oncology, thyroid pathology, lupus.

Treatment of cold allergies (with the exception of preventive programs) is rarely prescribed for children under 14 years of age. Medical practice records more than 80% of cases when a child “outgrows” the disease.

Diagnosis of cold allergies must be timely and therapy regular, since exacerbation can be caused by any environmental factor (rain, wind, a sip of cold water).

Possible consequences of delayed diagnosis of cold allergy:

• fainting (when swimming in cold water there is a risk of drowning);
• swelling of the mucous membranes, difficulty breathing, panic attacks;
• hyperemia of the limbs, lips, sinuses, tongue;
• anaphylactic shock;
• a sharp decrease in blood pressure (can lead to loss of consciousness, oxygen starvation of the brain);
• increased heart rate, tachycardia.  

In approximately 13% of cases, the allergic reaction is transmitted through genes. Experts recommend diagnosing cold allergies for people with hypersensitive white, delicate skin. Those at risk are mainly women (7 out of 10 patients). The disease manifests itself at any age, most often starting from the age of twenty.

Source: https://DobroMed.ru/methods/lechenie-allergii-na-holod.html

What is cold allergy? Symptoms, treatment of allergies to cold

Update: September 2019

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:

• 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
• In contact with cold water - in everyday life when washing dishes, cleaning, swimming in open water
• 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

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

• Sometimes in small children of preschool age, cold allergies on the face are similar to atopic dermatitis, neurodermatitis.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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:

• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• During the cold season, you can use antihistamines (A complete list of all allergy pills is in our article.)

A drug	Price, rub.)
Antihistamines in tablets	Tavegil	170-250
Zyrtec	250-300
Zodak	130-200
Tsetrin	160-240
Claritin	180-240
Suprastin	120-140
Levocetrizine	170-300
Cetirizine	90-100
Fexofast	160-200
Parlazin	130-140
Antihistamines creams, ointments (ointments for dermatitis)	Skin cap, Gistan N contains a hormonal substance (list of all hormonal creams and ointments)	150-160
Gistan, La-kri - contain extracts of medicinal herbs, use it if you are not allergic to them	170-190
Auxiliary products for skin irritation	Panthenol spray and cream foam	200-300
Dexpanthenol cream	140
Bepanten	470
Antihistamine drops in the nose (For rhinitis from the cold, 20 minutes before going out into the cold)	Allergodil	280-300
Fenistil	280-300
Parlazin	280-300

Melnikova Svetlana Georgievna, dermatologist

Source: http://zdravotvet.ru/xolodovaya-allergiya-simptomy-i-lechenie/