A 16-year-old girl from North Wales, Amber Woodward, has been diagnosed with a rare condition that causes her to break out in hives and swelling whenever the temperature drops below 12°C (53°F). The condition, known as cold urticaria, has severely impacted Amber’s daily life, leaving her feeling self-conscious and forcing her to miss out on plans with friends.
Amber first experienced symptoms in 2022, with the hives and rashes appearing after even a light gust of cool wind. She has tried various medications, including antihistamine injections every four weeks, but so far, nothing has been able to alleviate her symptoms. Amber’s condition is so severe that she often arrives at work and school with redness and hives, and has had to turn down social invitations due to the fear of having a reaction.
“There is no cure and I’m always scared because there’s a lot of people [with the condition] who have said that they get anaphylactic shock,” Amber said. The condition can also be triggered by swimming, touching or eating cold foods and drinks, and even taking a shower.
Amber’s mother, Dawn, has become increasingly worried about her daughter’s wellbeing. “She always made me wear double layers and she was always scared of what could happen because obviously we didn’t know much about it,” Amber recalled.
Despite the challenges, Amber remains hopeful for the future. “I’m hoping there’s going to be a lot more research going into this and hopefully there’s more medication out there for me,” she said. “I just want to be able to go about my everyday things that other people can do.”
The rare nature of Amber’s condition has made it difficult to diagnose and manage, but her determination to live a normal life is inspiring. As Amber continues to navigate the challenges of her allergy, she hopes that increased awareness and research will lead to better treatment options and a better quality of life.