Publications

Cold urticaria, or cold contact urticaria, is a subtype of physical urticaria (table 1) [1,2]. The physical urticarias are forms of inducible urticaria, in which there is a specific stimulus that triggers the development of symptoms. Cold urticaria is characterized by pruritic wheals (hives) and/or angioedema due to cutaneous mast cell activation and release of proinflammatory mediators after cold exposure. Triggers include skin contact with cold objects, cold liquids, and cold air. The underlying pathophysiology is largely unknown.Cold urticaria is reviewed here. Other urticaria disorders, including acute and chronic spontaneous urticaria and other forms of inducible urticarial including physical urticaria, are discussed separately. (See “Physical urticarias” and “New-onset urticaria” and “Chronic urticaria: Standard management and patient education” and “Chronic urticaria: Clinical manifestations, diagnosis, pathogenesis, and natural history”.)