Cold allergy: symptoms, causes, medications etc. • hello healthy

Definition

What is a cold allergy?

Cold allergy or what is also known as cold urticaria is an allergic skin reaction that appears within a few minutes after the skin is exposed to cold temperatures, either through water or air.

There are many factors that can trigger this, including being in an air-conditioned room, swimming, or taking a shower in the morning. Skin that is allergic to cold air will usually turn red and experience itching.

Even so, the symptoms of a cold allergy in each person may vary. Some people may develop symptoms that tend to be mild, while others experience more severe symptoms.

There are also allergy sufferers who experience anaphylactic shock. This is a severe allergic reaction characterized by a drastic drop in blood pressure, palpitations with a weak pulse, shortness of breath, and fainting.

Symptoms

What are the symptoms of a cold allergy?

Cold air allergies can take many forms. However, the most common cold allergy symptoms are as follows.

• Itching and a reddish rash on the skin.
• Red rashes appear on the skin (hives).
• Swelling of the hands touching cold objects.
• Swelling of the lips after consuming cold food or drinks.
• Warmth of the skin as symptoms worsen.

Allergy sufferers may also exhibit other symptoms, ranging from those that look like fever to those that don't look like an elevated white blood cell count. There are also less common symptoms such as joint pain or headaches.

In severe cases, a cold allergy can be stressful. This is because the symptoms of cold allergy are often confused with other diseases so that they are mistreated.

It is possible that there are other signs and symptoms that have not been mentioned above. If you have concerns about a particular symptom, consult an allergist.

When should I see a doctor?

You should contact your doctor if you experience any of the following allergy symptoms.

• Reactions to the skin after exposure to cold, even if it's mild.
• Sudden reactions after exposure to cold such as feeling dizzy, shortness of breath, or swelling of the tongue and throat.

Allergic reactions usually appear after the temperature drops drastically or the skin is exposed to something cold. They can last from a few minutes to two hours. Humid and windy weather can also make symptoms worse.

Go to the hospital immediately if symptoms last for hours or become very severe within minutes. This condition could indicate a severe allergic reaction that must be treated immediately.

Cause

What causes cold allergies?

The cause of cold allergies is not fully known. Researchers suspect that some people are more sensitive to cold because they have a virus or have a disease that causes their skin cells to become more sensitive.

Meanwhile, according to research from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease in 2012, cold allergies can be caused by heredity. Genetic conditions also determine how sensitive your skin is to cold temperatures.

However, in general, the cause of allergies comes from the immune system's reaction to cold temperatures. The immune system releases histamine and various other chemicals to fight cold temperatures that are seen as dangerous.

These chemicals are carried by the bloodstream, then cause allergy symptoms such as redness and itching of the skin. Sometimes, there are also certain reactions in other parts of the body.

Risk factors

Who is more at risk of developing a cold allergy?

Here are a number of factors that increase a person's risk of developing a cold allergy.

• Children and adolescents. In many cases, children and adolescents are more susceptible to cold allergies. However, this condition usually improves within a few years.
• Have certain medical conditions. People who have medical conditions such as hepatitis or cancer are at a higher risk of developing cold allergies.
• Heredity. You are more at risk of developing a cold allergy if your parents, siblings, grandparents, or grandparents have a similar history.

Medicine and medication

How is a cold allergy diagnosed?

A cold allergy can be diagnosed by applying ice to the skin for a few minutes. If you have a cold allergy, your skin will feel itchy after the ice cube is removed.

Many people experience allergies that occur without an obvious cause. However, in allergies caused by certain conditions, the doctor can order further allergy tests or blood tests to find out what substances caused the reaction.

After identifying the causes of allergies and triggers, doctors usually recommend treatment with allergy injections or drugs.

What are the available treatments?

Basically, there is no specific treatment for cold allergies. This common condition known as cold blood can even go away on its own after a few weeks or months even without treatment.

When consulting your doctor, you may be advised to avoid cold temperatures as much as possible. This includes avoiding cold showers in the morning, not using air conditioning, not eating cold foods, etc.

If this doesn't work, the doctor can prescribe a special cold allergy medication. It's worth noting that allergy medications can trigger allergic reactions in some people. So, you should consult your doctor before taking any medication.

Some cold allergy medications that are often prescribed by doctors are as follows.

1. Antihistamines

Antihistamines are one of the first drugs given to treat allergies. This drug works by stopping the production of histamine in the body so that allergy symptoms, especially itching, will gradually disappear.

Antihistamines to treat cold allergies are available as tablets, creams, and injections for severe allergic reactions. Some of the many antihistamine drugs on the market include fexofenadine, loratadine, diphenhydramine, and cetirizine.

2. Leukotriene antagonist

Leukotriene antagonist drugs are also called antileukotrienes. This drug blocks the function of leukotrienes, which are chemicals released by white blood cells in the lungs that cause inflammation and shortness of breath.

Basically, antileukotriene is often used to treat asthma. However, this drug also has other benefits such as:

• Prevent and treat asthma in children and adults.
• Treating allergies triggered by indoor allergens such as dust mites, mold spores, or animal dander.
• Treating seasonal allergies (hay fever) which are triggered by outdoor allergens such as pollen from trees, grass, or weeds.
• Treat various types of cases of hives, including those due to cold allergies.

3. Systemic corticosteroid drugs

Systemic corticosteroids are allergy medications that are given by mouth or injection. This medication has a profound anti-inflammatory effect that can help relieve the symptoms of inflammation when an allergy is recurring.

There are many types of systemic corticosteroid drugs, some examples of which are prednisone and prednisolone. Both are drugs most often given to people who have inflammation of the skin.

The use of corticosteroid drugs must be supervised by a doctor. The reason is, there are side effects that can occur while you are taking this drug, especially if you drink it in high doses (more than 20 mg per day).

Side effects that can result from using prednisone drugs include:

• sleep disorders,
• increased appetite,
• weight gain,
• an increase in blood sugar 2 hours after eating, and
• certain psychological effects.

4. Omalizumab

Omalizumab or is a second-line allergy drug therapy when antihistamines and similar drugs do not work to treat allergy symptoms. This allergy drug is also commonly used to treat moderate to severe asthma attacks.

Omalizumab works by inhibiting the immune system's reaction to allergens. In the case of cold air allergies, omalizumab helps reduce itching and prevents it from appearing on your skin.

This drug is given by injection into the surface of the skin every 4 weeks. The dosage will depend on your medical condition and your body's response to treatment. Therefore, its use should not be arbitrary.

Home remedies

What are some home remedies that can be used to treat cold allergies?

Some of the lifestyle (home remedies) and ways to prevent allergies that can help you are as follows.

1. Take medication regularly

Medicines are not only useful for reducing allergic reactions and inflammation in your body, but also for preventing their recurrence. Therefore, take these drugs as directed before you are exposed to cold air.

Always use allergy medication according to the instructions for use listed on the drug packaging or doctor's instructions. If necessary, make a special schedule containing when to take the drug and how many doses.

2. Protect the skin from sudden changes in temperature

If you want to travel to cold climates, make sure you bring a jacket, trousers and long sleeves, head covering, and gloves. When you're about to swim, dip your hands in the water first and see if there is a reaction.

3. Pay attention to food intake

For the time being, avoid consuming foods and drinks that are too cold. This is important to prevent the symptoms of a cold allergy from getting worse, including swelling of the throat which may be fatal.

3. Do not stop treatment without doctor's approval

Stopping medication carelessly can worsen your allergy symptoms. If the medicines that you are currently taking regularly do not make a difference, discuss it with your doctor before changing to another.

4. Bring an injection of epinephrine or adrenaline

Epinephrine and adrenaline injections are first aid for severe allergies. Your doctor will likely prescribe it if you are at risk for anaphylaxis. Take this injection with you wherever you go for a serious allergic reaction.

5. Notify the surgeon about any allergies that are present before the operation

If you are going to have surgery, it is important to tell the surgical team that you have allergies. The surgical team can consider the best steps to prevent an allergy attack while you are in the operating room.

A cold allergy is a response of the immune system that mistakes cold temperatures as a danger. This response causes a variety of allergic skin symptoms such as itching, a red rash, and the appearance of bumps.

You can prevent and treat cold allergies by avoiding cold temperatures that are the triggers. Medicines can help relieve symptoms, but make sure you consult your doctor before using any type of allergy medication.