How to treat cold erythema multiforme?

Erythema multiforme cold is a skin disease that can occur at any age. There are two types: familial and acquired. The former is dominantly inherited, while the latter is more common in young women. Nowadays, everyone has air conditioning at home, and the temperature difference between indoors and outdoors is very large, so the regulation ability of the blood vessel endings in the hands, feet and cheeks is relatively poor, which leads to such allergic reactions. It is a common disease in winter. So, how to treat cold erythema multiforme?

Cold urticaria is characterized by itchy edema and wheals in the affected area after contact with cold water or other cold substances, which disappear in about half an hour to an hour. Atarax (hydroxyzine) can be used for its good sedative and antihistamine effects. Calcium supplements can be used for acute urticaria, and reserpine, anloxin and other drugs can be used to treat chronic urticaria. Steroid hormones are used for severe acute urticaria and serum urticaria. For patients with prolonged course of the disease, they are treated with methods of promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis, strengthening the spleen and removing dampness, warming the middle and tonifying the kidney, and differentiation of syndromes.

When the body is under certain conditions, a reactive inflammation occurs in response to a variety of reasons. Cold is the main cause; infection, drugs, and food can also trigger or aggravate symptoms. This disease belongs to the category of blood stasis in traditional Chinese medicine. It is mostly caused by insufficient Wei Yang, loose pores, invasion of cold and dampness into the skin surface, resulting in disharmony between Ying and Wei, poor blood circulation and stasis. The cause is cold and the root is blood stasis. The treatment should focus on warming Wei Yang, removing cold and dampness, and resolving blood stasis.

There are slightly more female patients than male patients with this disease, with a male-to-female ratio of approximately 1:1.5. The youngest is 2 years old and the oldest is 64 years old, and the majority are between 11 and 35 years old. The shortest course of the disease is 2 days and the longest is 20 years. Approximately 41% to 54% of patients have recurrent attacks for more than 2 years. In addition to the face, ears, and exposed distal parts of the limbs including the flexor side of the fingers and toes and the palms and soles, the disease also occurs on the ankles, knees, buttocks, and waist. The lesions are edematous papules and edematous purpuric macules with blisters in the center, or may be mild hemorrhagic erythema; iris-like erythema with blisters in the center and erosion may also be seen. It is often accompanied by itching, but may not be itchy.

Treatment options include: ① Oral vitamin E (600 mg per day) or topical vitamin E ointment (each gram of ointment contains 20 mg of vitamin E). ② Oral cinnarizine, 50 mg each time, 3 times a day for adults, and a reduced dose for children, for 2 to 4 weeks. ③ Cyproheptadine (4 mg every night) and reserpine (0.125 mg each time, twice a day). ④ Tripterygium wilfordii preparations. ⑤Treatment with spectrum therapy device. ⑥ Chinese medicine Ergan Decoction for external treatment, i.e. 9g each of Gansui and Gancao, add 1500-2000mL of water, boil for 10 minutes, first fumigate and then wash the affected area, each for 10-15 minutes, once a day, and it will be effective in 4-10 days.

Because this disease is mainly caused by cold, you should be careful not to wear too few clothes in winter, especially for female friends who love beauty. Don’t wear too thin clothes just for the sake of beauty. Infections and medications can also make the condition worse. Eat a light diet, avoid greasy and fried foods, and avoid eating seafood, mutton and other irritating foods.