By Nellie Day
Aside from a fever, which may produce the chills, there are numerous conditions for which an extreme sensitivity to touch and cold acts as a symptom or product of that condition. Some conditions, such as frostbite, can be prevented by keeping your temperature at a moderate level. Others, such as autism and Complex Regional Pain Syndrome, cannot be prevented. Their symptoms, however, can be alleviated by regulating your body temperature and refraining from touching anything that may produce a negative result.
Frostbite
Frostbite occurs when the limbs are subject to extremely cold conditions. The majority of a person's heat is stored within their core, meaning within the heart, lungs and general torso area. When temperatures drop significantly and limbs are inadequately protected from these incremental elements, they become colder and colder as whatever heat the body can muster up is drawn inward. Frostbite most often happens to fingers and toes because they are the extremities that are the farthest from the main heat source. If one experiences the first or second stages of frostbite, which are characterized by burning sensations, blisters and skin turning red or white, he is likely to have extreme sensitivity to touch or any change in temperature. As frostbite advances into stage three, the person's skin may become waxy in appearance and he may experience a dulling sensation. This is because the nerves in the fingers and toes have become damaged, possibly permanently, due to the long exposure. If frostbite is left untreated, the person will permanently lose feeling in the affected limbs and may even have to have them amputated if they develop gangrene.
Autism
People with autism, particularly those with Asperger's Syndrome, have a greater sensitivity to any stimuli experienced by the five senses-- namely light, sound, smell touch and taste--than others do. Oddly enough, autism sufferers seem to experience less pain or maintain a higher threshold of pain than the average person does. However, they are hypersensitive to touch. This may apply to any touch in general or only to a human touch or, in many cases, to a touch on a certain part of their bodies, such as their stomachs or ears. It may also vary based on what is touching the person. An individual may enjoy the feeling of petting a dog, but may find that touching snow is disturbing to him. According to ResearchAutism.net, this sensitivity to touch is referred to as Sensory Processing Disorder or Sensory Integration Dysfunction.
Complex Regional Pain Syndrome
Also referred to as Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy, Complex Regional Pain Syndrome, or CRPS, is a neurological syndrome that affects a person's skin and bones. In addition to symptoms such as sweating, swelling of the tissues, or changes in the appearance or degeneration of bone or skin, CRPS sufferers note that they experience an extreme sensitivity to touch, particularly to objects that are perceived to be cold. They also have a hypersensitivity to pain.
Causes of Skin Sensitive to the Touch & Cold by cosmetics-way.com