Thousands with a rare incurable allergy to cold temperatures could be victims of the energy crisis as bills are set to soar.
Around 30,000 people in the UK battle urticaria – a chronic skin condition that causes itchy rashes and painful welts when temperatures drop.
Now they face an energy price cap leap in April which will mean having to turn down the thermostat.
Sufferer Sam Newland, 50, keeps her house at a constant 30C to ward off flare-ups and needs to take anti-histamines.
She said: “If I have a flare up it’s so painful, so itchy.
“I’ve made myself bleed. I’m really worried about the huge rise in bills.”
From April 1 energy prices will rise by 54%, increasing energy bills by an average of £700 a year.
The Ukraine invasion has also catapulted prices – with households warned it could soon cost more than £3,000-a-year to heat their homes.
Sam and husband Andy, 60, of Stevenage, Herts, have already been forced to make cutbacks after their latest monthly heating bill doubled to £80.
That will soon leap to £160 a month. PA Sam, who has flare-ups every few days, said: “I’ve been told I should move abroad but I can’t afford to retire.”
In Europe, it is estimated about one in every 2,000 people has cold uticaria, according to the Global Allergy and Airways organisation.
Sam, diagnosed at 13, added: “I really want people to understand how debilitating and painful living with this is.”
British Skin Foundation’s Dr Adil Sheraz said women were “more likely to develop the condition” in their 20s to 40s.
