cold urticaria

a type of physical urticaria precipitated by cold air, water, or objects, with wheals appearing on cold-exposed areas when they have been rewarmed; lesions are erythematous, burning papules and macules. There are two types: The more common acquired form is usually self-limited, occurs most often in young adults, and has an unknown etiology. The familial form is much rarer and better known as familial cold autoinflammatory syndrome (see under syndrome).