Risk factors

You're more likely to have this condition if:

• You're a young adult. The most common type — primary acquired cold urticaria — occurs most frequently in young adults.
• You have an underlying health condition. A less common type — secondary acquired cold urticaria — can be caused by an underlying health problem, such as hepatitis or cancer.
• You have certain inherited traits. Rarely, cold urticaria is inherited. This familial type causes painful welts and flu-like symptoms after exposure to cold.