Has anyone ever had any experience with temperature induced hives? My ds, who is 8, will get hives when there's extreme change in temperature. I.e. in the heat of the summer or when it's really cold outside. He is generally ok during the spring and fall. As the weather has gotten really cold, he gets hives on exposed areas - face and neck. It's very itchy but he has no problem breathing. He can't stay outside very long as a result. Benadryl helps alot. We first noticed it in the summer because as soon as he hit the cold water in the pool he broke out everywhere. Eventually it subsides with Benadryl and he is not allergic to chlorine. His ped thinks it's a viral reaction triggered by skin temperature change and not specific allergies. I am going to take him to a specialist but wondered if anyone had any ideas what might be going on.

By Tklinreston on Thursday, December 6, 2007 - 03:12 pm:

I think my ds is allergic to the cold. It's known as "cold uticaria". I will be taking him to a specialist for testing. He had some outbreaks last summer in the pool but his drs were certain it was from a virus since it subsided and virtually stopped. He can drink cold drinks and be in air conditioning; however, the last couple of days he's broken out every time he goes out. Now that it's back, I'm pretty sure it's not a virus and from what I've learned so far, it sure sounds like he's allergic to the cold. I'll let you all know what they find out. My poor baby...

By Dawnk777 on Thursday, December 6, 2007 - 03:25 pm:

My only experience with hives, was when Emily broke out in them, after we washed our clothes in liquid Tide. We'd used the powder for years without a problem, but something in the liquid formula didn't agree with her. After we stopped using it, the hives got better and never came back. We can use Purex, ERA, and All, just not Liquid Tide. She was miserable for about a week, though.

I don't much about temperature-induced hives, though.

By Kate on Thursday, December 6, 2007 - 05:27 pm:

At four my DD would get them after every bath, heat induced in our case. She spent about six months taking Zyrtec every night, and eventually she stopped getting them and we quit the medicine. She's been fine ever since and she's now eleven.

By Trina~moderator on Friday, December 7, 2007 - 09:52 am:

YES! Both my kids develop hives when exposed to cold water or snow, etc.. In the summer when they go swimming they break out, but it doesn't bother them and it's short lived. When they play outside during winter months exposed areas of skin break out in hives. Our ped. and allergist are aware and said it's not unusual.

By Tklinreston on Friday, December 7, 2007 - 12:21 pm:

Trina, I am so glad to hear your kids are ok and the break outs are short lived. I've been doing nothing but researching the net on this condition since yesterday. Unfortunately for my ds his hives are really bothersome for him -- extremely itchy and hot. It now makes sense why he would break out in the summer when he sweats too - the cooling of the skin, drop in temperature. Do your kids continue to play outside in the cold despite the hives? Do they take antihistamines on a regular basis? For ds, the longer he's outside the worse his hives get but he is not on regular meds. I give him a dose of Benadryl before he goes out but he still gets them.

By Trina~moderator on Friday, December 7, 2007 - 12:50 pm:

Aha, you may be on to something. Both my kids take allergy meds (DS: Claritin, DD: Allegra) on a daily basis as part of asthma control. That could be why the hives aren't bothersome to them.

They don't like to go outside often during winter months, unless we have fresh snow. I usually get a call from one of their teachers this time of year because they come in from recess with hives on their cheeks. LOL! I explain it's normal for them and not to worry unless they show other symptoms.

By Mrsheidi on Friday, December 7, 2007 - 09:46 pm:

My son gets bad excema breakouts when it's too hot...I hope you can figure it out! My husband has the same problem!

By Tklinreston on Monday, December 10, 2007 - 01:18 pm:

Thanks Heidi. Both my ds have ezcema as well, especially in extreme temps. Little one scratches so much he's got scabs but the prescription cream and lots of Lubriderm and/or Cetaphil helps. We took ds to his ped on Saturday and he is pretty confident that he is allergic to the cold. We have an appt with a specialist on Jan 14th. In the meantime, he'll take a dose of Benadryl prior to going outside to play. My co-worker has a friend who has this condition and has had it since he was a little boy. He can't even drink cold drinks w/o breaking out.