Spring and summer allergy season is drawing to a close, but that doesn’t mean that there will be no more allergies until next year. What should allergy sufferers who are just entering their prime sneezing season be doing to prepare?
This problem is especially annoying for kids heading back to school. They may have been able to stay at home and inside during the summer, but during the school year, they’ll get behind if they stay home with allergies. On the other hand, going to school with allergies is distracting for classmates and frustrating for the allergy-sufferer.
Some of the allergens that are around in spring and summer are still around in the fall. Ragweed is a big one, and it starts pollinating in August and goes into fall, and the pollen can travel hundreds of miles and trigger the allergies of people who live far away from it. However, leftover summer allergens aren’t the only things there for the fall allergy sufferer. Mold is often an issue for allergy sufferers, and the piles of damp leaves creating little pockets of it is the perfect way to drive a mold-allergy person crazy. Dust mites, which seem like they would leave after summer humidity, sometimes get into the air when you turn on the furnace forthe first time after the summer.
School kids get to cope with the mold of a school that’s been vacant all summer (and the accompanying dust mites of the same situation), chalk dust and school lunch, and you have a recipe for hacking and wheezing all the way through to December.
Coping with fall allergies is similar to coping in other seasons – antihistamines, decongestants and allergy shots are all good options. However, you can also try the following to minimize allergic attacks:
Peak time for pollen is between 10 am and 3 pm. Avoid being outside during those hours as much as possible. Clean your ducts (or have them cleaned) before you turn your heater on for the first time in the fall. This will help to prevent allergic attacks from colonies of dust mites down the ducts. If you need to rake leaves, wear a mask. Raking is a great way to kick up mold spores, which can trigger allergic attacks. Use a HEPA (high efficiency particulate air) filter to keep your air clean.
Look on the bright side. Winter gets rid of most pollen, and it will be just around the corner before you know it.
Archive
Posts Tagged ‘Ragweed’
Jan
25
Jun
10
Skin Allergies
Red, bumpy, scaly, itchy, swollen skin….any of these symptoms can signify an allergic skin condition.
These skin problems can be caused by a range of different things: animals, plants, medicines, foods, jewelery or even your clothes.
Generally these attacks that are brought on by the unfortunate intersection of allergies and skin rashes fall into one of two categories: dermal allergies and systemic allergies that present as skin rashes.
What are the most common allergens?
Pollen from trees, grass and weeds. Allergies that occur in the spring (late April and May) are often due to tree pollen.
Mold. Mold is common where water tends to collect, such as shower curtains, window moldings and damp basements.
Causes Skin Allergies
Dust mites, cockroaches, molds and animal dander, are examples of year-around allergens.
Tree, grass and ragweed pollens are primarily seasonal outdoor allergens. Seasonal pollens depend on wind for cross-pollination. Plants that depend on insect pollination, such as goldenrod and dandelions, do not usually cause allergic rhinitis.
Allergy is caused by an oversensitive immune system, which leads to a misdirected immune response. The immune system normally protects the body against harmful substances, such as bacteria and viruses. It reacts to substances (allergens) that are generally harmless and in most people do not cause a problem.
Grass and tree pollens
Dust mites (living in and feeding on house dust)
Food (cow’s milk, hen eggs, wheat, soya, seafood, fruit and nuts)
Fungal or mould spores (in the bathroom and other damp areas)
Poison ivy is the classic example of acute ACD in North America. ACD from poison ivy is characterized by linear streaks of acute dermatitis that develop where plant parts have been in direct contact with the skin.
Symptoms Skin Allergies
Pimples, blackheads, whiteheads, pustules, and some skin cysts are markers of acne. Get up to speed on acne symptoms
Allergic shiners – the dark circles children with allergies often get under their eyes
An allergic salute common in children – the upward tilt of the nose with a crease on top, caused by the child’s continual upward swiping at an itchy nose.
Another skin condition, urticaria (hives), is often considered a symptom of allergies, but not all urticaria is caused by an allergic response. Allergic urticaria is often related to drug, food, or latex allergies, but many times it is not known what triggers the urticaria.
wheezing, noisy breathing or shortness of breath
rash or redness of the skin
loss of consciousness
Treatment Skin Allergies
Antihistamines like diphenhydramine, chlortrimeton, or loratadine (Clari tin, Clari tin RediTabs, Al avert); and moisturizing lotions.
Keep windows and doors closed during heavy pollination seasons.
Use the air conditioner in the house and car.
Rid the home of indoor plants and other sources of mildew.
Gargle with warm salt water to help reduce swelling and relieve discomfort:
Gargle at least once each hour with 1 tsp (5 g) of salt dissolved in 8 fl oz of warm water.
Use acaricide (a chemical that kills house-dust mites) or a tannic acid solution (solution that neutralizes the allergen in mite droppings).