These days, when the cold wind blows a lot, there are diseases that are getting worse.



This is 'cold hives', and let's find out the cause and prevention.



[Lee Hyun-ok/Citizen who suffered from cold hives: I went out to go out for a while, and from then on, my wrist started to itch. Things like hives are starting to come out. I came back home, and from then on, hives started to spread all over my body, and it got bigger and bigger.]



Cold hives is a disease that causes hives on the skin when the skin is exposed to hot temperatures again after being exposed to cold air, cold water, or ice. However, the cold wind causes an excessive immune response, causing hives and itching in the exposed areas.



The exact cause is unknown.



[Lee Soo-hwa/Professor, Department of Family Medicine, Catholic University of Korea Daejeon St. Mary's Hospital: Most of them occur for no particular reason, but some people experience these symptoms after a severe infection such as chickenpox occurs, and when there is a hormonal or autonomic nervous system abnormality, drug hypersensitivity reaction It may occur as a sequelae later.]



Cold hives, which are unfamiliar to the name, are one of 'physical hives' in which the skin swells due to physical stimulation.



However, it is different from dermatomycosis, which is a typical physical urticaria.



In dermatosis, if hives appear as marks on the skin, cold hives have a round or irregular shape.



Cold hives usually go away after a few hours, but breathing difficulties and shock may occur if the whole body is suddenly immersed in cold water.



There is an easy way to determine if the itchiness you are feeling is a symptom of cold hives, and that is the ice cube test.



If you place a piece of ice on the inside of your arm for 3 to 5 minutes and then develop hives on the area where the ice was placed, you may suspect cold hives.



Cold hives can occur at any age.



Unfortunately, there is still no cure for a fundamental cure, so it is important to avoid exposure to cold as much as possible.



[Lee Soo-Hwa/Professor of Family Medicine, Catholic University of Korea Daejeon St. Mary's Hospital: It is said that the best environment is to keep the indoor temperature between 18°C ​​and 20°C and the humidity at least 40%. It is best to minimize the exposed area and reduce the temperature difference.]



If the symptoms persist, taking an antihistamine to reduce allergy may be helpful.



▶ The simplest way to tell if you have cold hives