5 Reasons Why Allergies Soar During the Holiday Season

Filed in archive Allergy Basics on December 24, 2006

1. It's time to unearth those ornaments and decors from years past. Depending on how well they were stored, in most cases, they'll be covered with a thin layer of dust and mold spores. Just thinking about it already makes my nose twitch.

2. Christmas trees. A lot of people are allergic to the sap, or the pollen and mold spores that have settled on the leaves of pine trees. Try shaking and washing the tree before bringing it indoors. Or use artificial trees. Just make sure you store your tree and trimmings well, to protect them form dust. Other plants, such as poinsettias, may also trigger allergies.

3. Scents. It's the season for cozy candle lit evenings. However, if you have allergies to strong scents and perfumes, go easy on scented candles and essential oils for lamps.

4. Fireplace. Cozy and warm, yes. But make sure you're burning good quality wood, or skip it altogether, particularly is someone in the family suffers from allergic asthma. The smoke and soot can be very irritating and may lead to respiratory problems.

5. Food. This season is marked by parties, events and gatherings where dishes outside the usual daily fare are served. With many people milling about, and lots of unfamiliar food items, accidental exposure to food containing offending items are more likely than normal.

Here's hoping you can enjoy a allergy incident-free holiday season!