Anyone else have Cold Urticaria?
968608
I have cold urticaria. Ive had it since i was about 7 or 8 and i am now 21. basically all i do is when i feel my hives breaking out or my skin behind my ears getting itchy i go into a warm place or put on warmer clothing. if you cant do that make sure you keep moving to try to keep your body warm, if you feel it coming on rub the area and try to warm up. i havent found any medication that i can take that helps. i hope this helps you.
267428
hello!  i have had the same reaction.  please take some benadryl.  it is an anti-histamine and will help you out tremendously!!!  it makes you sleepy so don't take it if you will be driving anywhere.  i always keep it around when i have to take antibiotics just in case of allergic reaction.  Hope this helps, and feel better soon!!!  (:
43723
Cold weather causes extreme dry skin, but a bee stinger left in the skin could cuse undue amounts of itching also.
1023068
It might be a mild allergy to the sun or just an anxiety reaction.  Whenever I feel my temper flare or feel anxiety or stress come on really quickly I get itchy...but no rash.
802476
Ok, did this start rather suddenly, does it itch?  Have you had contact with something new?...soap, lotion, etc.  sounds like an allergic reaction.  If your mouth or throat tingle or throat feels tight...GO TO THE ER.  If this is mild and does not progress tonite, you could try taking a Benadryl 25mg. tablet...can buy over the counter at Walmart or pharmacy.  Is there a walk in clinic in your town?  If not, call your doc ( there will be someonr taking call for the holiday) and see if he/she wants you to go to the ER or if there is an office or clinic you can go to.   Some hospitals have an Urgent Care Center in connection with the ER.  This would be an appropriate place to go.  You must have had skin contact with something you are allergic to.  Hope you do well.
639871
Hello fellow sufferer. I've got a lifetime of experience with hives, as well as several years of helping others with chronic urticaria and related conditions. You're far from alone in this, there are thousands of us worldwide.\n\nUnfortunately, there is no cure for chronic hives, but there's plenty of things you can try to help relieve the misery:\n- Aveeno lotions and bath\n- Sarna Lotion\n- any lotion containing menthol\n- Benadryl cream\n- staying cool - very important, since heat is a known mast cell degranulator (when mast cells degranulate, they release histamine, which causes the hives and itching)\n- My favorite is a lotion made from cromolyn - recipe can be found at www.chronichives.com; also check out the support group for chronic hivers through that website, it's the largest one on the web (it's also the largest CU Yahoo group). There are more suggestions for coping at the website, and the group can give you many more ideas, too. \n\nOne thing which does help some people is a low-histamine diet, which is printed at the website. While allergies are very seldom the culprit behind CU, foods loaded in histamine don't help us much, so limiting them in your diet may help. There have been a few published studies about histamine in the diet and its effect on CU; typically some of the studies show it does help, and others say it doesn't. Everyone is different, but it can't hurt to try.\n\nApprox. 25% of CUers are or will become sensitive to salicylates (the active ingredient in aspirin), so for some of those people, a diet low in salicylates can help. Again, the chronichives.com website has that information.\n\nHave you ever been tested to find out if your hives are autoimmune? The test, called an autologous serum skin test, uses a sample of your own blood, which is then spun down in a centrifuge to separate the serum, and then the serum is injected back into you, along with 2 controls (saline and histamine). If you react to your own serum, the test is considered positive. Researchers are finding more and more chronic hivers are autoimmune, and it has also been found that remission can be induced for many hivers with the use of Cyclosporine. I was put on it for an unrelated condition, and it put both that condition and my hives into remission. Side effects were minimal, arms got a little hairy, but nothing too extreme... The usual treatment protocol with Cyclosporine for CU is relatively short and at lower doses than used to treat most other diseases, such as kidney disease or to prevent transplant rejection.\n\nAnd if you must scratch, don't use your nails! You'll only tear up your skin and make the itch even worse. Some folks find using the edge of a credit card works well, doesn't tear the skin, and provides a little temporary relief. But if you can avoid scratching altogether, that's the best thing.....
1058630
You don't indicate how long you've been getting hives, so there are several possibilities here. First, hives lasting less than 6 weeks are considered acute, and are usually due to allergies. If you have been having hive outbreaks for more than 6 weeks, then it is considered chronic, and there are several possible reasons; allergy is rarely the cause of chronic hives, though.  I really need more information to pinpoint what is going on, but I'll give it my best shot with the limited information I have.... Sorry, but this is going to be long....\n\nSome eliminations: The baby powder is probably the least likely suspect of all.  Allergies to pollens/trees/grasses usually present as hay fever, not hives.\n\nNow some possibilities based on what you've mentioned:\n\n1) Either solar urticaria or cholinergic urticaria. True solar urticaria is very rare, so not as likely as cholinergic, which is hives induced by heat. Since you are using baby powder to help with chafing, that tells me heat may be a problem where you are. If you are a young male (approx. age 15-29), that would also fit, since cholinergic urticaria most often strikes that age group, and is more common in males. If the hives go away soon after coming in out of the heat, that is also an indication. If you also experience itching and/or hiving during a hot shower, when you are embarrassed or angry, or during any other form of passive warming (eg getting into a hot car), those are all sure signs of cholinergic urticaria. Cholinergic usually presents as small wheals (hives) with intense itching. A third possibility along these lines is polymorphic light eruption, which is an itchy, bumpy rash caused by exposure to sun.  The rash usually persists for several days following sun exposure.\n\n2) Alcohol, especially wine and beer, contains chemicals (histidine) which the body converts into histamine, which causes hives. Alcohol also causes mast cell degranulation - mast cells are a special type of immune system cell which produce several chemicals. When they degranulate, they release those chemicals into your body; one of those chemicals is histamine. \n\n3) Seafood, especially shellfish, naturally contains histamine. Have you ever heard of scombroid poisoning? It's the common name for seafood poisoning, and another name for it is histamine poisoning. So if you are eating a lot of seafood, this could easily be the culprit. Also, the less fresh the seafood, the higher the histamine content will be.\n\n4) Allergies can occur at any time, and most people who first experience an allergy to something are often surprised, since it is to something they have 'always' used/consumed, and they 'never had problems with it before.' Well guess what, you have to have previous exposure to something to become allergic to it. So it only makes sense that if an allergy develops, it will be to something you already use. Since the pattern has been to begin hiving during times when you are drinking, my best guess is alcohol is the problem here. You are either having an outright allergic reaction to whatever you are drinking, or as mentioned above the levels of histamine in what you are drinking is getting to you. There is research to suggest that some people have too-low levels of something called diamine oxidase, which is produced by your body to help rid itself of histamine. Without sufficient diamine oxidase, you may experience effects from histamine (hives, possibly other symptoms as well). \n\nI suggest you try not drinking alcohol for a while, to see if your hives clear up. Or you can try changing what you are drinking, if you insist  on continuing to drink - instead of beer, try a vodka, or instead of wine try a liqueur. It also woudn't hurt to cut the seafood at the same time, you may be overwhelming your system with high levels of histamine from what you are consuming. If the problem continues, try a total elimination diet, or consult with an allergist fo
996639
The first step in controlling hives is to identify the cause, if possible. Once you have identified the source of the problem, try to avoid exposure to it in the future. To relieve itching, apply calamine lotion or a cold compress to the area. \n\nA mild case of hives often disappears on its own after a few hours. A longer-lasting case should respond to the manufacturer's recommended dosage of an over-the-counter oral antihistamine. If your hives don't disappear in a few days, see a doctor. If you develop symptoms of angioedema or anaphylaxis, get medical help immediately. \n\nFor chronic or especially troublesome outbreaks of hives, your doctor will probably order a course of prescription antihistamines. Treatment with oral corticosteroids will sometimes reduce swelling when antihistamines don't work, but they are usually reserved for more severe cases. Ultraviolet light treatments are effective for hives caused by exposure to cold. If you have the subsurface welts of angioedema, you may require hospitalization. \n\nAt-Home Remedies \n\nOne of the best remedies for hives is a soothing bath. Add five or six tablespoons of oatmeal and three tablespoons of cornstarch or sodium bicarbonate to your bathwater. If you are allergic to specific things, such as bee stings or other insect bites, certain foods or medications, ask your doctor about prescribing an emergency kit containing epinephrine (also called adrenaline), which is used to treat the severe or acute hives of anaphylaxis. \n\nCall Your Doctor If: \n\nBurning or itchy welts begin to develop in your throat. You may be at risk of suffocation. \nYou develop hives accompanied by dry throat, cough, cold sweats, nausea, dizziness, difficult breathing, or a sharp drop in blood pressure after an exposure to such things as a bee sting or insect bite or a new medication. This may be a severe allergic reaction known as anaphylaxis. \nYou have recurring bouts of hives lasting a month or more. You may have a chronic condition that needs professional treatment. \nYou develop symptoms of angioedema, particularly in the head and neck. This requires medical attention before the condition spreads to the throat or tongue and blocks the air passage to the lungs. \nYou develop hives after a blood transfusion. You may be having an allergic reaction to donor blood.
947743
Uticaria from temp extremes (hot or cold) is not rare as far as I know.  There are hereditary forms, which are considered rare, and common forms, depending on if the hives form immediately or in a delayed response to the cold.
147005
Urticaria is a fairly generic term that basically means you get hives. Frustratingly, most general practitioners seem to feel satisfied at that point and do not pursue the cause of the hives. To get to the root cause you will either need to do to a dosctor specializing in allergies or do some investigating on your own.\n\nTo investigate to see if it is a food triggering your hives you will need to go on an elimination diet. To do these you need to set aside time in which you will fast for 2 days drinking only water. Then gradually introduce one ingredient foods, one per day, until a reaction occurs. When a reaction occurs you need to treat that food as suspect and later challenge yourself with the food again to see if the source is confirmed a second time. We used this method to discover that my husband reacted to wheat which later led us to a correct diagnosis of celiac. He didn't have hives. His reaction was digestive and rash related.\n\nContact reactions are a bit tougher to identify. I would try the food based method first and if that doesn't locate the source, go to have the allergy skin test with an allergist.\n\nADDED INFORMATION - Since you are so reactive to touch, your allergen is extremely likely to be a food or medication. I was exactly the same way. My skin would constantly trigger into hives at just handling anything - wood, plastic, metal. It didn't matter. All that was needed was a touch or a scratch. Many allergens are ushered by the body to be stored just under the skin. Many conditions, even in animals, are from this (hives which can be from any allergen source, Dermatisis Herpetiformis which is when the allergen is gluten/gliadin, etc.) Do try the allergy elimination diet and don't forget to include medications if can safely do so. No doctor is trying, so it is up to you. I used the allergy elimination diet and successfully discovered what my hives were being caused from. I also used it many years later and discovered that my husband and daughter were celiac (reacts to gluten/gliadin). If I had left it all up to the doctors all three of us would still be suffering.
1046712
It sounds like hives, an allergic reaction to something, also known as contact dermatitis.  These hives can last up to 6 weeks!  I know I got them on my legs from god knows what.  If they get worse or if they are just bugging you you should see a doc and they can give you oral and/or topical medication to clear it up.
676036
Certain meds will do that to ya. I take Nasonex (for nasal allergies) and if I go out in the sun, i'm itchy as hell for hours. It sucks. I feel your pain. lol
602115
I have had chronic urticaria for as long as I can remember, and it has gotten worse as I have gotten older (I am 20) I finally went to the doctor, thinking maybe I could get allergy shots and fix my itchiness. This is when the doctor (who is an allergist/immunologist) told me I have urticaria.  I take Singulair (often prescribed for allergies) in the morning, and Ranitidine (often used for heartburn, but it works for both conditions because it is a histamine blocker) This does not completly stop all my breakouts, but it seems to help quite a bit.  There are many different causes, and it may be impossible to find out what is causing yours (go to a doctor and see if they can help figure out the cause) Unfortunatly there is no "cure" only medicine to control it.  Besides my preventative meds, I use benedryl or hydrocortisone creams if I have an especially itchy spot.  I don't know what causes it (the doc said that a traditional allergy test won't work for me, my skin will react to the needles themselves, not necessarily the allergens), but I have figured out that stress tends to make things worse (actually having a problem with that right now, it's finals week at college, and I'm a little stressed, and rather itchy). Some people try elimination diets to see if food is a cause, but I'm not quite that desperate (yet).  Sometimes heat or cold can cause it. Cold doesn't do it to me, but heat sometimes seems to make things worse, its hard to tell, as I have a rash almost everyday somewhere on my body.  Sometimes pressure can be a cause (my underwires bras cause mine sometimes if I wear them too long, but I know thats not the main cause, because I get them a lot on my arms, and other places that don't have something pressing on them.  I have never gotten hives on the bottom of my feet, but every other part of my body is fair game. It doesn't occur much on my face (thank goodness!) but it does happen every once in a while. (Actually happened today during my Organic Chemistry II final.)  Only once have I had hives so bad that I had to go to the hospital, and that was before I was on meds.  I was in middle school, and my parents had to take me to the ER in the middle of the night because almost my entire body was covered with whelps.  They gave me something IV, but I don't know what it was. Don't remember much about that night.  \nWell, I don't know how much that helps you, but if you want to talk more, just e-mail me amy_edrington@yahoo.com (be sure to put urticaria in the subject so I don't throw it out as junk mail or spam.)\nHope my ramblings were at least a little helpful.  :)
1103082
You have hives.\n\nFirst, since you have been suffering with urticaria (hives) for over 6 weeks, they are now considered chronic.. One reason the hives are occurring at night is because that is when our cortisol levels are at their lowest, and most chronic hivers find they are worst at night, and some even hive only at night. \n\nAnother problem which causes hiving to worsen at night is that people often have their bodies too warm, and heat is a known mast cell degranulator - mast cells are a special type of immune system cell which contain a bunch of different chemicals, including histamine, which is what causes hives and itching. When mast cells degranulate, they release those chemicals, and being too hot will cause that to happen. Try to sleep in a cool room with minimal covers, that may help.\n\nThird, since you are getting the hives mainly on your chest and back, it is possible the hives are pressure-related. Just the act of lying in bed all night can bring on pressure hives. \n\nHave you tried taking an antihistamine?  For people with chronic urticaria, some antihistamines, such as Ketotifen or Zyrtec, seem to work better than others. And many of us are prescribed off-label dosing, higher than what is used for simple allergies. Plus adding an H2 antihistamine such as Zantac, Tagamet or Pepcid may give you better control of the hives. Some hivers also need a leukotriene blocker (Singulair, Accolate, Zyflo). Others find that adding a mast cell stabilizer (cromolyn, or Ketotifen, which is also an antihistamine) is very helpful. Approx. half of all chronic urticaria sufferers are autoimmune, and for them a course of Cyclosporine can force a remission.\n\nThere is a recipe at the www.chronichives.com website for a lotion you can make using cromolyn which soothes the itchies and calms the rash. And for even more suggestions and information about chronic hives, check out the urticaria support group at yahoo groups - http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/urt...\n\nYour best bet is to see an allergist/immunologist; they have the most experience in dealing with chronic urticaria. They (usually) know what tests to run, what to rule out, and which meds to use based on what type of chronic urticaria you have.
1071537
I know where you're coming from. My urticaria tends to get worse at night sometimes too. It tends to happen when I get hot.  Or if the sheets feel dirty. \nI have had chronic urticaria as long as I can remember (I'm 20) My allergist couldn't even do an allergy test on me because just being poked, even without an allergen on the needle, caused me to break out.  I have been taking ranitidine and singulair for the past year, and it has been helping, although it has not cured it.  Try taking benedryl before you go to bed. It is a anti-histamine, which will help the hives, and it will make you sleepy also. I wouldn't recommend doing that long-term though. I only do it when I am absolutely desperate for sleep.  If you are allergic to any foods, it could just take a while for your system to react to it, so watch what you eat for dinner, or go on a elimination diet if you strongly think that food is the cause. I was told that a chemical in tomatos can make allergic reactions worse, so while they may not cause a reaction, if you have a reaction while that is in your system it could make it worse. If you have anymore questions or would just like to talk to someone with the same problem, then you can e-mail me or message me at amy_edrington@yahoo.com  Best of luck
456577
Sometimes I get the same feeling.I don't think you are allergic to anything.Have you eaten something today you don't usually eat?If you have I would try not eating it any more but if you haven't then try drinking lots of water.I think I know what you have.I think it may be dehydration.Ive had it really bad before and almost died but it doesn't sound like yours is that bad.So just drink plenty of water okay?Take care of yourself!!!
897083
Yeah, I think that once your immune system has one thing to deal with, sometimes it can't deal as well with other things that are happening.  That is probably the reason for the cold sore, the zits, and the eczema.  I hope you feel better soon.