He's allergic to cold

I've heard it is extremely rare for a person to be allergic to the sun. I've never heard of a person being allergic to the cold which is equally as rare. When I said never, I meant until today- when my husband got diagnosed (by an allergy specialist) with Cold  Induced Urticaria - which more or less means allergic to the cold.

The last several weeks we have noticed that every time Jared held something cold, his skin would get extremely red and itchy, and then would swell up and get hot. For example, if he holds a cold soda, his hand gets red and extremely itchy, and then it swells up and is hot to the touch. If he steps barefoot onto the cold bathroom tile in the mornings, the bottom of his feet get the same reaction. Exposure to cold air?? Again, same reaction. The doctor told Jared not to jump into a ice cold pool, because if he did....he would die- dramatic, I know- but real.

As part of the diagnosis, the doctor held an ice-cube on Jared's arm for 5 minutes. When Jared developed hives the size of an egg the doctor got really excited and said "That's Cold Induced Urticaria right there!" and then he ran and got all of the other doctors and nurses in the building to come in and take a look at Jared's arm, because this was probably the only time they will ever see this reaction.

It's difficult to tell in the picture how puffy it is, but it's pretty big, for a little ice cube to do. This is 5 minutes later:

It's so crazy that this allergic reaction just all of the sudden developed. Jared has lived in Utah, Michigan and Idaho (all very cold places in the winter time) and has never had this allergic reaction until now. He was prescribed some allergy medication to help lesson the allergic reaction for now. Sometimes Cold Urticaria goes away on its' own...other times it sticks around for life.

Now you know someone who is allergic to cold....! Crazy.