Cold and skin damage What we need to know

20.12.2024

The skin is the largest organ, which is a physical barrier to environmental factors. When the skin is healthy, it plays a protective role against exposure to allergens and infectious agents.

Table of Contents

During the cold season, when the ambient temperature drops significantly, the skin's sensitivity to environmental factors increases and it is easily damaged or aggravated by such pathologies as eczema, Raynaud's phenomenon, cold urticaria and others.

Cold season eczema

There are several common forms of eczema, the most common of which is atopic dermatitis.

Atopic dermatitis is characterized by the development of patches on dry, scaly, reddened skin, often accompanied by severe itching, cracking and crusting.
Steatotic (dry) eczema is more common in the elderly. In the cold, the skin becomes more dry, peeling, inflammation and cracks develop. In severe itching, the skin is easily damaged and becomes more permeable to allergens and infectious agents. Dry eczema is common on the skin of the shins, although it can develop in any part of the body (torso, arms).

In order for the cold season to be more bearable for the skin, it is important to follow some recommendations:

Maintaining the same temperature in all parts of the house
To protect the skin from drying out, it is necessary to regularly humidify the rooms
It is necessary to regularly air the rooms - to prevent the reproduction of dust mites, which are one of the important triggers of eczema.
Regular moisturizing of the skin through ointments
Use of clothing made of natural material to prevent allergic processes
Avoiding infections, viruses and colds – as any of these processes can make eczema worse.

Perniosis

Perniosis is a condition that manifests as reddish-purple nodules and plaques on the skin surface of the extremities, accompanied by severe itching, pain, burning, or discomfort. The condition is provoked by contact with damp cold air. Symptoms develop within a few hours. The condition can be prevented by limiting exposure to cold environments and adequately covering skin surfaces.

Symptoms of perniosis:

Small, brown nodules (papules) on the skin of the upper and lower extremities
Development of painful sores, plaques in the areas of wounds
Change in skin color in affected areas

Diagnosis of perniosis is based on anamnestic and objective examination data. To exclude other diseases (rheumatoid arthritis, skin infections, etc.), laboratory diagnostics are required.

Raynaud's syndrome

Raynaud's syndrome is a vascular disease that affects small-caliber blood vessels in the affected parts of the body, such as: nose, fingers, lips, ear canals. The disease is characterized by blood vessel spasms on the background of low temperature or, rarely, stress.

In an acute episode of the disease, a strong spasm of arterioles and capillaries of the fingers is manifested, followed by pallor of the skin of the affected area and then cyanosis, due to a sharp decrease in oxygen supply to the tissues. Numbness, numbness, or pain in the affected area are also common. As the blood supply is restored, the color and sensitivity of the skin improves. The duration of the episodes usually does not exceed 15-20 minutes.

There are two main types of Raynaud's syndrome:

Primary Raynaud's syndrome, or Raynaud's disease
Secondary Raynaud's syndrome or Raynaud's phenomenon

Primary Raynaud's syndrome is a benign condition without structural vascular damage. Secondary Raynaud's syndrome may have serious complications in the form of tissue necrosis and ulceration. Secondary Raynaud's syndrome may be caused by other diseases, medical treatment, etc.

Diagnosis of the disease is based on clinical signs, however, instrumental and laboratory diagnostics are often necessary to differentiate primary and secondary Raynaud's syndrome:

Nail capillaroscopy
Dopplerography of limb arteries
Antinuclear Antibodies (ANA)
General blood test
Erythrocyte sedimentation rate
General analysis of urine
Rheumatoid factor

Acrocyanosis

Acrocyanosis is a functional condition of peripheral blood vessels, characterized by a cyanotic coloration of the skin of the extremities and sometimes the face, which is the result of spasm of small-caliber blood vessels in the skin of these areas. The condition is provoked by the low temperature of the environment.

Primary acrocyanosis is common in adolescents, as well as in young people aged 20-30 years, more often in women.
Secondary acrocyanosis develops at any age, usually against the background of another disease.

Primary acrocyanosis is manifested by bilateral, symmetrical bluish discoloration of the skin of the hands and toes (and sometimes the face), without pain. Pulsation of the nearby artery is normal. It is not accompanied by pallor, ulceration or necrosis (gangrene) of the proximal part of the skin.

Clinical manifestations of acrocyanosis also include:

Hyperhidrosis of the extremities (excessive sweating)
Cold clusters and feet
Swelling of fingers

The clinical manifestation of secondary acrocyanosis depends on the characteristics of the underlying disease. Secondary acrocyanosis is often asymmetric, accompanied by pain, tissue damage.

Important for diagnostics:

Pulse oximetry
General analysis of urine
General blood and EDS
Liver and kidney function tests
Antistreptolysin O determination (ASLO)
Serum protein electrophoresis
Determination of complement components
Chest X-ray
Determination of blood gases and electrolytes
Skin biopsy
Nail capillaroscopy

Cold urticaria

Cold urticaria is an allergic skin reaction to low ambient temperature. In response to the cold, swollen papules (nodules), blisters, accompanied by severe itching, develop on the skin within a few minutes.

The intensity of symptoms varies from person to person. In severe cases, skin contact with cold water may result in an extreme drop in blood pressure, loss of consciousness, and even the development of shock.

Cold urticaria is more common in young adults. The duration of the episode usually does not exceed 2 hours. Treatment is preventive in the form of taking antihistamines and limiting contact with cold water and air.

Laboratory "Synevo" We offer a wide range of diagnostic studies: