Being Allergic to Cold Temperatures is a Real Thing, Study Finds

If winter leaves you itchy, swollen, wheezy, or just feeling off, it might be more than simply “not liking the cold.” For some people, cold temperatures genuinely trigger physical reactions, and yes, it is a real medical condition.

Known as cold urticaria, this condition causes the body to react abnormally to low temperatures. Instead of just feeling chilly, the immune system responds as if it is under attack. Cold air, cold water, icy winds, or even touching something cold can lead to redness, hives, swelling, itching, dizziness, or a general feeling of being unwell.

In more serious cases, sudden exposure to cold, such as swimming in cold water, can cause a rapid drop in blood pressure or difficulty breathing. This is why people with this condition are often advised to be extra cautious during winter months.

So if someone says they are “not built for winter,” they might not be exaggerating. Their body could quite literally be reacting to the cold.

Send this to that friend who swears winter is their enemy.

 

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