A dermatologist talked about the peculiarities of cold allergies and gave some tips

Cold allergy can be hereditary, but it can also occur in people without a family history, dermatovenerologist and dermatologist at the European Medical Center (EMC) Daria Smirnova told Izvestia on January 11.

"Allergies can be caused by a huge variety of factors, one of which is low temperatures. Cold urticaria is a rash that can form on the surface of the skin due to exposure to cold," the doctor explained.

According to her, the most common symptoms of cold urticaria are red, itchy, protruding rashes that form in response to exposure to cold temperatures. Swelling appears on the area of skin that has been exposed to the cold, and a burning sensation occurs on the affected skin when you try to warm it up. She also listed fever, headache, as well as joint pain and general fatigue among other symptoms.

"That said, immediate medical attention may be required if the following symptoms occur: breathing problems (such as wheezing), swelling of the tongue and throat, rapid heartbeat, drop in blood pressure, fainting, or a state of shock. There are also risks of anaphylaxis - a severe acute allergic reaction that can lead to anaphylactic shock," Smirnova added.

Dermatologist specified that the symptoms may appear immediately after exposure to low temperatures - from two to five minutes - and disappear on their own within one to two hours. Or appear delayed, within a few hours or a couple of days, and regression of symptoms in such a case can take several days.

"Cold allergies can be hereditary, but can also occur in people with no family history. Cold urticaria can be triggered by going outside in cold weather or entering a room with cool temperatures (for example, due to the operation of an air conditioner), swimming or bathing in cold water, contact with cold objects or eating cold or frozen food," Smirnova explained.

She emphasized that it is important to see a dermatologist or allergist in time to prescribe medication to alleviate symptoms and prevent their reappearance.

Earlier, on January 8, endocrinologist Ekaterina Kazachkova told Izvestia that in the cold season the body needs special care, and an important role is played by nutrition, which directly affects the hormonal background. Thus, fatty fish is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which help regulate the production of hormones, reduce inflammation in the body and support the health of the thyroid gland. At the same time, avocados contain healthy fats that are essential for hormone synthesis.