Winter, snowy weather, frost are associated with New Year holidays, vacations and cause positive emotions. They are especially pleasant when it comes to a warm hearth and a cup of aromatic tea or coffee in hand. But staying at home without getting out all winter is simply impossible, and when you go outside, you often have to deal with changes in temperature, humidity, and frosty wind.
In severe frosts of minus ten and above, we escape from discomfort with warm scarves, mittens, outerwear, and shoes. But in some people, even a slight drop in temperature outside causes an acute allergic reaction of the body. How to deal with it, readers of estet-portal.com are advised by a dermatocosmetologist, a certified methodologist of the Dr.Kadir brand, an expert of the Laskos company Valentina Denisenko.
Causes of cold skin allergy
According to researchers, about 30% of people experience discomfort due to the adverse effects of low temperatures. Experts are sure: cold allergy — not an independent disease, but only a symptom that accompanies some kind of somatic disease. The body, weakened by a long and latent course of the disease, gives a sharp response to the cold, so the true causes of the non-standard reaction of the body to the cold have not yet been established.
There are suggestions that the development of an allergy to cold is associated with the production of special cryoglobulin proteins in the body, which, in fact, are the "culprits" activation of histamine, which causes the manifestation of allergic reactions. And the main trigger for this is the cold.
Various predisposing factors help this trigger to work: reduced immunity, infectious, colds and parasitic diseases. Chronic diseases of the throat, unhealed teeth, inflammatory processes in the gynecological area in women are capable of pushing an allergic reaction to cold.
A cold allergic skin reaction is usually caused by the following factors:
• interaction of the skin with cold objects, cold air, snow, moisture or cool water;
• frostbite of individual parts of the body or general frostbite of the body;
• Eating cold foods, such as ice cream or iced drinks.
Exposed areas of the face and hands are especially susceptible to the negative effects of cold, although an allergic reaction can also occur on the whole body.
The main manifestations of cold allergy on the skin
With cold allergy, the following clinical manifestations of this reaction on the skin are noted:
• hyperemia, i.e., redness of the skin;
• appearance of local swelling;
• skin itching (less often – pain);
• allergic rhinitis (nasal congestion);
• general malaise;
• headaches;
• shortness of breath.
Sometimes an allergic reaction to cold can be accompanied by a drop in blood pressure. It happens that some specific allergy symptoms become predominant, and then the reaction to the cold & nbsp; appears in the following forms:
• cold urticaria (rashes on the skin are similar to nettle burns, look like blisters and are accompanied by swelling);
• cold dermatitis (unlike cold urticaria, it manifests itself not only in the form of redness and blisters, but also noticeable peeling, itching, which leads to damage to the skin);
• cold conjunctivitis (accompanied by an increase in the amount of tear fluid released. It differs from the usual reaction to wind and frost by a long period of manifestation, swelling and pain in the eyes);
• cold rhinitis (symptoms are similar to ordinary rhinitis, but when a person gets into a warm room, they most often disappear);
• cold asthma (accompanied by swelling of the larynx, shortness of breath, can cause bronchospasm. Most often manifested in people prone to pneumonia and suffering from asthmatic diseases).
may cause bronchospasm. Most often manifested in people prone to pneumonia and suffering from asthmatic diseases).
Allergy symptoms may disappear quickly as exposure to cold wears off, but significant recurrent skin rashes have been diagnosed in isolated cases. Cases have been recorded when the rash is accompanied by peeling, i.e., symptoms occur, as with some dermatitis.
How to do a cold allergy test
To find out if a person is allergic to cold, you can do a provocative test. To do this, you need to wrap a piece of ice in a plastic bag (so as not to confuse a cold allergy with aquatic – that is, with an allergy to water) and put it on the back of your forearm for 15 minutes.
If a severe redness, swelling, rash or blisters appear on a cooled area of the body, and the skin itches and hurts – so the result is positive and the person is allergic to cold.
If there is a strong sensitivity to cold, symptoms may occur even after half a minute. It should be noted that with an atypical development of the disease or a delayed reaction, the result may be inaccurate. In this case, a laboratory blood test should be done. If agglutinins, cryoglobulins and cryofibrinogens are found in the serum – this indicates the presence of a negative reaction to the cold.
How to deal with an allergic reaction to cold
Before treating a cold allergy on the face, care must be taken to eliminate the irritant. First aid in case of illness may be returning to a warm room, reducing the time spent in the cold, wearing a scarf and a warm hat.
To avoid cold urticaria, you can use the following methods:Do not eat allergenic foods
such as citrus fruits or chocolate. Recommended products containing vitamin F, omega-3 fatty acids. Eat more nuts, fatty fish, olive oil.
Dress warmly. In frosty weather, wear warm clothes that can protect well from the cold, and a hat. You can wrap your face up to your nose with a warm scarf.
Strengthen immunity.Avoid or minimize the negative impact of stressful situations. Gradually temper the body and strengthen the immune system with rubdowns, air baths and a contrast shower. You need to start hardening carefully and monitor the body's reaction to cool temperatures. It is completely contraindicated to harden babies under 3 years old, incorrect actions can lead to anaphylactic shock or Quincke's edema.
Take proper care of your skin. It is not recommended to wash your face before going for a walk in winter, as soap dries the skin and removes the protective film from the face. It is better to apply a special cream against wind and cold to open areas of the body, and lubricate the lips with lipstick containing lanolin.
Follow the simple rules of walking in the cold:
• wear organic cotton. Synthetics and wool can only increase the symptoms of the disease;
• try not to take deep breaths in the cold, so as not to damage the mucous membranes.
Starting in late autumn, it is useful to drink antihistamines so that during the cold season the allergy proceeds as easily as possible.
Skin care for cold allergy symptoms
Particular attention in winter should be paid to face and hand care to prevent cold allergy manifestations on the skin and correct them. Be sure to apply a nourishing protective cream with a dense texture 30-40 minutes before going outside.
Dr. Kadir ltd. Several special products have been developed depending on the type of skin and the needs of the body, which help to prevent and eliminate the manifestations of cold allergy symptoms on the skin of the face, neck, décolleté and hands. Any care begins with cleansing. Gentle cleansing foam with vitamins E + C, line Light E + C, Dr. Kadir by
Laskos is intended for daily facial cleansing, suitable for sensitive skin, does not contain lauryl sulfate, can also be used for make-up removal. Thanks to panthenol, it soothes cold-irritated skin. Suitable for all skin types, including oily and dry.
In daily care, we prescribe Nourishing cream with wheat germ and avocado oil, Dr. Kadir. The cream gives an instant feeling of nourishment and security, removing and preventing the appearance of inflammation and flaking. Suitable for dry, sensitive, normal, combination skin.
For oily, combination young skin, Panthenol cream for problem skin, Dr. Kadir, line B3 – problem skin treatment. The product has a light texture, relieves irritation, protects the skin from the negative effects of low temperatures, wind, sudden changes in air humidity.
Also, in professional care, if you have symptoms of irritation in the winter, we recommend using a mask for dry skin with Wheat Oil and Rosehip Oil,
Dr. Kadir. The mask quickly removes the manifestations of an allergic reaction to cold, eliminates dryness and flaking, gives the skin the necessary nutrients and trace elements, vitamins C and E. And, most importantly, restores the skin's protective barrier.
Wheat germ and calendula massage oil, Dr. Kadir, specially designed for sensitive and damaged skin. It has antiseptic, anti-inflammatory action. Saturates the skin with nutrients and antioxidants. Provides perfect gliding and elimination of inflammatory symptoms.
Main – it must be remembered and taken into account that only daily and timely application of funds will reduce the risk of a cold allergic reaction or even prevent it.
However, all of the above – and cosmetic care, and hardening, and nutrition, are aimed, rather, not at treatment, but at relieving cold allergy symptoms or preventing their occurrence. And to approach the problem more fundamentally, one cannot do without consulting a doctor. And not only a therapist, but also an allergist, and, possibly, an immunologist. They will help to identify the cause of the disease, that is, the problem that led to a weakened immune system. They will also prescribe an adequate and safe regimen for taking antihistamines.
The article was prepared on the basis of materials provided by Laskos.Share:
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