Frostbite??

[BeanCalledPickle]

We are on a short break to Berlin with DD 19 months old. Went out for an hour thinking that should be ok, even in minus five degrees. Dd well wrapped up. Within ten minutes she started to get white blister type patches on her face. By the time we got to an hour she had swollen hands, feet and face with white blisters on a bright red face. She was obviously in pain and / or numb and confused and scared, as were we. Is this normal so quickly or is she just very sensitive? We are home now and feel like we now can't go out again until we go home. She's still a bit red and swollen but is using her hands and is in good spirits.

[fatterface]

Sounds scary! Were her hands and feet well wrapped up?

[AnyFucker]

it sounds like an allergic reaction to the cold cold urticaria

I suffer from this and it is fucking miserable. Ideally she needs some antihistamines but rest assured as long all else is well it isn't as serious as frostbite.

Are the weals settling ? Don't warm her up too quickly or the skin will have an opposite reaction and flare up again.

[AnyFucker]

I am worse when the air is very, very dry and cold and also windy.

I can only walk further than a few yards in even mildly cold temps if I pop an antihistamine first. I cry with the pain of it, as it makes me nauseous and ill.

It settles though (until the next time)

As she grows up, don't ever drag her for "bracing walks" in the countryside bitter

[purplemurple1]

Does she normally go out in the cold much? How well wrapped up was she?

Ds 16 months was out in minus 20 today for 20 min and slept out for two hours in minus 17 yesterday his cheeks were red but his hands, feet, head were warm.

[Showy]

I get cold urticaria too. I went for a run on boxing day and it was that dry, windy cold and the pain is horrid. It's an itchy burn. Antihistamine helps.

I actually find that I get it worse if I'm wrapped up and go out in the cold. Fewer, looser layers and it doesn't seem so bad. Gawd only knows why though.

[CatsClaus]

i was out yesterday for a bracing walk and when I got back my legs were all weals and itching like crazy, it's not happened to me for ages, and I had jeans on

i was very brave and ignored it, and it passed quite quickly but this morning in the shower the heat gave me weals and my legs are really itching now and i have no AH's 8)

weirdly mine appears on covered areas, never on exposed areas....usually legs, torso, arms, and then once i start scratching it spreads even more.

[Pippidoeswhatshewants]

Sounds like cold urticaria. Go to the nearest pharmacy (Apotheke) and ask for Kälteschutzcreme. It is a barrier cream that you put in every inch of exposed skin, and should do the trick. You can get it in Drogeriemarkt (dm, Rossmann), too, but I would pop into the pharmacy.

Hope your dd feels better soon, Berlin can be very windy and bitterly cold!

[AnyFucker]

The worst weals I get are where tight(er) clothes chafe the skin. Waistbands, around tops of socks, fronts of thighs where trousers rub as you walk (and I am a skinny one). I think the external stimulation of the skin promotes further mast cell realise (which causes the tissue inflammation)

Showy, I simply cannot run in the cold any more.

[AnyFucker]

*release

[AnyFucker]

I am going out with friends tonight. There will be walking between pubs involved. I will have to take an antihistamine to manage it.

[Showy]

I get it under clothes too. Top of socks, thighs at the front (I am skinny too), top of my abdomen, sort of where my bra sits, backs of knees. I think sweat cooling on the skin exacerbates it too and the itching makes it spread.

It's the first time I've run in the cold in a long time. I work out at home these days doing plyometric training and weights. I only went for a run as we were away for a few days and I wanted some air/exercise. I'd been running about 5 minutes when I saw the error of my ways. I ploughed on for half an hour, stopping to scratch a couple of times and when I got home had to strip naked because I couldn't bear clothes touching me. I had a lukewarm shower and plastered on some cream. My skin was shades of bright white and angry red and so bloody itchy.

[AnyFucker]

ugggh, my sympathies

[BeanCalledPickle]

Wow thank you. I had no idea this was even a thing! She was well wrapped up and in several layers plus the foot fur on the pram. It was so quick, literally she pulled her gloves off on the way to lunch and I didn't bother putting them back on as we were two mins away. Then next thing her hands are big and swollen. And then her face.

I get occasional rash in the cold and never thought anything of it as it's not that cold in the uk ever really. DH and I actually met through a walking group and used to climb mountains pre DD. This sort of thing would be a nightmare!

[AnyFucker]

it's a "thing" alright

not exactly a disability, but it sure can limit your lifestyle

I believe some types are hereditary too as my DS has it as bad as I do and my DD also, but not as severely (although it seems to be worsening as she gets older)

[AnyFucker]

I would never consider a skiing holiday (pointless) and only holiday in warm countries. I went to Amsterdam for a big ticket birthday in the winter and it was fine though as long as I kept popping the pills

[Showy]

Interestingly, ds has it too. To my knowledge dd has no problems at all. How is she now Bean?

Have a fab night at the pub/s AF.

[BeanCalledPickle]

Piriton administered and in bed asleep. Bit blotchy on her face, legs and arms. But otherwise happy except when in her bath. Just not sure what to do next couple of days. It's not going to warm up. Don't really want to stay in for three days especially as meant to be a holiday! Was thinking might brave the corner shop and see if it repeats but am petrified of severe reactions now I've read up on this thing!

[AnyFucker]

What have you decided to do today ?

for the future, I would consult your go and check if she is allowed prophylactic anti histamines like I take to prevent the problem occurring in the first place

it's a simple remedy for me but not sure about a toddler

[AnyFucker]

*gp

[BeanCalledPickle]

DH is off sightseeing. DD is sleeping. Two foot of snow here. Lots of kids building snowmen. We went on the balcony for two mins and she got welts on her legs. She's had piriton now:-(

[AnyFucker]

Oh dear

next city break, go in the summer

[Showy]

Oh no.

It is possible that this is only a short term thing for you though. With very little children, they can grow out of it. Also, sometimes the reaction you're seeing is the result of a virus. It's still the temperature change causing the problem but it's temporary while the body's immune system is compromised. I definitely think a trip to the GP is in order to talk about how to manage it. What a shame it's started while you're on holiday.

[zipzap]

Make sure you take pictures of it at it's worst and then say 30 mins and 60 mins after taking piriton (or whatever makes sense to demo how effective it is) and any residual stuff she is left with. and document timings of how quickly it comes on too.

Will be much easier to describe it to the doctor with pictures - I've often found that if you're reporting something to them rather than going in when in pain, they can have tendency to minimise what you are telling them!

Hope you all manage to enjoy the rest of your holiday without any pain for your dd!

[wigglybeezer]

My Ds had this for a few years but happily for him he grew out of it.

[mausmaus]

yes, can be frostbite.
you can put on vaseline on the face and hands to protect the skin.
wrt wrapping up warm, add another layer.