(HealthScoutNews)-- If you are an allergy sufferer, you may be breathing a huge sigh of relief that winter weather has set in for a while. But winter doesn't necessarily offer a reprieve for some allergy sufferers. Chilly temperatures can also trigger a condition that often goes undiagnosed: cold-induced urticaria.

Urticaria is characterized by an outbreak of hives. It will affect about one in four Americans at least once in their lifetime, according to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (AAAAI).

Hives -- pale, red and itchy swellings on the skin -- are often brought on by a rapid change in temperature. They are a result of histamine -- a chemical found in the top layers of the skin -- which is also to blame for many allergic reaction symptoms.

If you have urticaria, the AAAAI recommends you see an allergist, who may prescribe antihistamines.