Are You Allergic to Cold Weather? The Answer May Surprise You

Those of us in California who don’t have to deal with sub-zero temperatures very often may joke about being allergic to the cold – but is it ever more than a joke? The truth is that while it’s rare, it is entirely possible to be allergic to the cold. Read on to learn more about it. If you need treatment of or diagnosis for an allergy, reach out to Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology Medical Group at 805-658-9500 for an appointment.

The rarity of being allergic to cold weather

It’s common for people to become sick during cold months. In fact, when a person has allergy symptoms during a burst of cold weather, they’re likely to blame it on having a cold. In reality, it could be that they’re actually allergic to the cold. This is known as cold urticaria and it is very rare. How rare? Consider that about 10% of people are allergic to pets while only about 1 in 100,000 are allergic to cold weather.

This allergy generally has an adolescent onset

Though it’s been reported in kids as young as five years old, the average onset for this type of allergy is in the adolescent years. In some cases, this allergy comes out of nowhere and in others it’s the result of an infection or an illness. This allergy, as is true of many, can be inherited but that’s even more unlikely – only about one in every one million cases of cold allergy are inherited. The potential good news for those suffering this condition is that it’s common for the allergy to stick around for about five years and to then disappear.

This allergy can be diagnosed via skin test

The best way to test this and many other types of allergies is through a skin allergy test. In this case, the patient has an ice cube put on their arm to see if the change in temperature results in an allergic reaction. The response to this allergy is similar to other allergies and can include hives, swelling, and itchy skin. The treatment is similar as well – avoidance, antihistamines, and, in serious cases, EpiPen.

This is not usually a serious allergy

In most cases, a cold allergy is relatively minor. However, in some cold can induce anaphylactic shock. The good news is that in order for this to happen, the sufferer must be exposed to a rapid drop in temperature and this is generally fairly easy to avoid.

However, the average sufferer needs to be more weary of going outside in cold weather, swimming in water that’s colder than the outside air, or eating cold food. Note that have an allergic reaction while swimming is one of the most dangerous things that could happen because it leaves the allergic person more likely to drown. Likewise, eating cold or frozen foods can increase their chances of choking.

If you believe you have this or another type of allergy please feel free to contact Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology Medical Group at 805-658-9500 to set up an appointment or to get answers to all of your questions. We are here to diagnose and treat your allergies.