Brief Answer:
Preventive measures to be taken.

Detailed Answer:
Brief Answer:
Allergy is never curable. Only preventive.

Detailed Answer:
Treatment of cold urticaria involves avoiding the cold, when possible, and taking antihistamines. The antihistamines are best taken before exposure to cold temperatures to block some of the histamine release. Many of the over-the-counter antihistamines interfere with learning. I recommend a nonsedating drug, such as loratadine (Claritin) or cetirizine (Zyrtec)

The most important step in treating allergies is to identify what triggers them. You are on your way, Pam, with the observation that cold causes your symptoms. Now that you know this, you can work with you doctor to find the best combination of treatments to keep your allergic response in check and allow your immune system to get on with more important business.

But you can prevent, control and even reverse dermatitis by keeping your skin moist. Here’s what to do…

Soak for 20 minutes. Taking a 20-minute bath once a day helps moisturize skin, even on the face—the air above the water has high humidity. Get out of the tub when your fingertips start to prune, a sign that your skin has absorbed the maximum amount of moisture. A warm bath also reduces stress, a factor in just about every health problem, including skin problems.

Also helpful: Add a skin-soothing colloidal oatmeal product to your bathwater—such as Aveeno ­Eczema Therapy Bath Treatment with Colloidal Oatmeal. This can reduce the inflammation and strengthen your skin.

Limit the use of soap. Soap is very drying (and it is not necessary for effective cleaning). I recommend using a nonsoap cleanser, such as Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser or Eucerin Skin Calming Dry Skin Body Wash.

Apply a moisturizer immediately after bathing. The moisturizer creates an evaporation barrier, helping to keep the water you absorbed in your skin.
Use a moisturizer that contains ceramides. The body manufactures a type of fat called ceramides that improves the “barrier function” of the skin—keeping moisture in and irritating factors out. Ceramides now are an ingredient in some moistur­izers—and these products are among the most effective for preventing and reversing dermatitis. Good products include Aveeno ­Eczema Therapy…Cetaphil Restoraderm…and CeraVe Moisturizing Lotion.

If necessary, use an over-the-counter 1% hydrocortisone cream. Consider this option if your dermatitis is out of control and you are scratching like crazy, which further damages the skin, worsening the condition—leading to more itching, more scratching and more dermatitis. Dot the cream on the most irritated spots.

Red flag: Never use hydrocortisone cream on the same spot for more than one to two weeks. Extended use can thin and weaken skin.
Humidify your bedroom. You spend one-third of your time there, so keeping it moist can help you tolerate dryness during the rest of the day. An ideal level of humidity is 40%. You can monitor it with a hygromet. I favor a steam vaporizer for humidifying—it is sterile, easy to clean and inexpensive.

Take vitamin D. Among its many benefits, vitamin D helps skin cells stay healthy and reduces inflammation. Recent research: A review study ­published in Pediatric Dermatology concluded that for people who are deficient in vitamin D, boosting the nutrient can reduce the severity of dermatitis.

Suggested dosage: 1,000 international units (IU) to 2,000 IU daily, particularly during the winter months when vitamin D–producing sun exposure may be limited.

Take care.

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