Symptom: Dry, itchy skin. Photo by Fuse/Getty Images. What it might mean: It's probably winter itch, skin dryness that's a result of cold, dry air. Using a humidifier, avoiding super hot showers, and routinely slathering on a thick moisturizer will help keep skin supple.
But Death Valley is affected by several of the main causes of heat waves - the frequent presence of a high pressure system (helped by its below sea level elevation), downslope air movement from surrounding mountains, and radiation of heat from the surrounding cliffs.
What Causes Heat Hives? If you have heat hives, you may get a hives rash as a reaction to any type of action that makes your body temperature rise, including sun bathing (also see sun hives), exercising, stress, taking a shower or bath with hot water or going from a cool area to a warm area of air or water.