‘The first time it happened I was walking back from my work and I had bumps and was red all over my face, ears, legs and arms’
12:04, 15 Jan 2026Updated 14:26, 15 Jan 2026
Amber gets a reaction when the temperature is below 12 degrees(Image: )
A 16-year-old girl who is allergic to the cold comes out in hives when the temperature drops below 12C. Amber Woodward, an A-level student who lives in Abergele, Conwy, began breaking out in red, itchy hives whenever she was exposed to the cold in 2022.
Her GP initially suggested her reaction could be caused by air pollution but Amber researched her symptoms herself and came across the allergy cold urticaria. The condition triggers hives and swelling after exposure to cold temperatures.
She returned to her GP a few weeks later and was referred to a dermatologist who confirmed she had cold urticaria in 2023. Despite being prescribed antihistamines her condition has not improved. Stay informed on the latest health news by signing up to our newsletter here
She has a reaction from coming out of water and even from gusts of wind in the summer, forcing her to often turn down plans with friends. Amber said she frequently feels self-conscious at work, where she is a part-time waitress, and school because her skin flares up after walking outside.
Amber Woodward began breaking out in red, itchy hives whenever she was exposed to the cold in 2022(Image: Collect/PA Real Life)
However, she hopes new treatment could finally let her live a “normal life”. Amber is due to start antihistamine injections every four weeks and hopes future research could finally give her the chance to do everything she wants to.
Amber said: “There is no cure for it and I’m always scared because there’s a lot of people who have said that they get anaphylactic shock randomly.
“I have to wear leggings under my clothes all the time really apart from the summer. I just want to be able to do normal things and have a normal life and not have to worry about it.”
Amber began experiencing adverse reactions to the cold in 2022, when her entire body would come out in a red rash and hives and become extremely itchy.
She explained: “The first time [it happened] I was walking back from my work and I had bumps and was red all over my face, ears, legs and arms and was itchy. I thought it might have been maybe the food I’d eaten, so I didn’t eat anything at home and I got another rash.”
After Amber went to the GP with her belief that she was suffering with cold urticaria, she continued getting a rash, almost daily, and her mother, Dawn, became “very worried”.
Amber said: “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’s reaction when she goes outside in cold temperatures(Image: )
Amber also found school difficult, as before she was diagnosed she had to follow school rules of not wearing a coat indoors and not wearing leggings. After seeing a dermatologist in 2023 Amber was diagnosed with cold urticaria.
“I was shocked because it’s a rare allergy, but I was kind of relieved that I had support and I got antihistamine medication for it as well,” Amber added. “So I was happy that someone actually believed me.”
Since being diagnosed and taking antihistamines her symptoms unfortunately have not improved, but Amber hopes the antihistamine injections she is going to start taking will relieve her symptoms.
She said: “When I told people about my condition there was some joking and people didn’t believe me, but when I showed them my medical record they believed me and they don’t have much to say about it. They just find it really weird.
“When I go out, I always have a reaction – I walk about 20 minutes to the bus stop and I get a reaction. My friends are always out and they’re always inviting me out and I can’t really go out because of it, so I feel left out.
“We have to plan around where we go. If it’s somewhere inside or at someone’s house that’s fine, but if it’s outside then I can’t do it. But my friends always try to warm me up a little bit or go and get hot chocolate.”
Looking ahead, she said: “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. I just want to be able to go about my everyday things that other people can do, such as going to the pool.”