What does your child’s skin inflammation mean?

10th May 2023

What does your child’s skin inflammation mean?

Kids are constantly coming home with bumps and scrapes. How? We aren’t sure. But when you’re of a certain age, it’s hard not to be envious of how good they are at brushing them off. And, as a parent, we’re sure you can’t help but worry too much about these. Where have you been? I told you to stop climbing trees!

That’s the job of a parent, after all. When those skin blemishes don’t have an obvious explanation, it can make you worry even more. A rash or patch of red skin is cause for concern. More often than not, it’s related to an allergy. But where exactly do they come from? And what do they mean? That we can help with. Let’s take a look at different skin reactions in children.

Atopic vs contact dermatitis

First, it’s important to differentiate between atopic dermatitis and contact dermatitis. Because only one is an allergic reaction, and it’s going to help put you on the right path.

Atopic dermatitis is a chronic skin condition that results in repeated inflammation of the skin. It’s believed to be genetic, or possibly combined with environmental factors. It tends to occur in specific places, mainly areas that are easier to scratch or irritate. Think in the folds of your skin or somewhere like your inner elbow where the two sides rub against each other.

But if it’s an allergic reaction, then it’s contact dermatitis. As the name suggests, it’s inflammation from where the skin comes into contact with an allergen. The symptoms will be similar to atopic (more on that below) but will occur where the two meet. So, in theory, it could happen anywhere on the body.

If you notice skin inflammation regularly around the same places on your child’s body, that might point towards atopic dermatitis. But if it’s rarer and happens in various spots, then it could be contact dermatitis.

Symptoms

There will be some crossover in the symptoms, as they are both skin reactions. But there are some subtle differences. First, we’ll look at where they’re similar. Symptoms of dermatitis can include:

• Rashes
• Itchy skin
• Flaky skin
• Bumps and blisters
• Swelling
• Burning
• Leathery patches of skin

In both cases, it’s your body’s way of dealing with whatever the aggravation is. As for differences, you’ll have to pay attention. With atopic dermatitis, you might notice broad, raised areas of skin that weep clear fluid. But with contact dermatitis, it’s more like small, specific fluid-filled blisters. Contact dermatitis is often more likely to burn or cause pain.

Either way, the only accurate diagnosis is to talk to a doctor. If you notice multiple instances of unexplained skin irritations, that’s your cue to visit your child’s GP.

Causes of contact dermatitis

We’ve established that atopic dermatitis is down to (at least partially) genetics. But if it’s contact dermatitis, how do you know what exactly causes it? Is it one or multiple things? We can’t say. Again, your doctor will be much better equipped to answer that. In the interest of preparing you, here are some of the more common causes.

Food – It’s no news that food allergies can be common in children. Some estimate that as many as 1 in 12 children could be diagnosed with a food allergy at some point. They don’t have to eat it to feel the symptoms. Touching it can cause contact dermatitis – or even coming into contact with airborne particles of the food.

Pollen – A symptom of hay fever could be skin inflammation, in which case it would be because of the pollen. This can also apply to similar particle-based allergies, such as with dust mites or pet dander.

Chemicals – When we say chemicals, this means anything that can have chemicals in them. Examples being detergent, soap, or perfume. This can also occur after touching someone who has used said product.

The sooner you catch something like this, the quicker you can find a solution. It’s not often that such an allergy can be dangerous to a child’s life, but we still recommend talking to your child’s GP about any unexplained skin conditions and finding out your best next steps.

If you ever have concerns about you or your child’s potential atopic or contact dermatitis, get in touch. We have a team of allergy specialists who can guide you through the diagnosis and treatment journey. To find out more, call us on 02031 433 449.

Everything you need to know about your dust mite allergy

26th April 2023

Everything you need to know about your dust mite allergy

Our homes are our place of comfort. They’re the one spot that our entire lives revolve around. So it feels like a sort of betrayal when it affects you for the worse. Take dust mites, as an example. There you are trying to sleep peacefully, but their mere presence sets your allergies off in fits of sneezing or coughing.

Yes, it isn’t the dust itself doing that, but the mites that live in your home undiscovered. And, unlike seasonal allergies, these can be a year-round problem. But let’s step back a bit. What even are dust mites? And why are they causing an allergic reaction? Let’s take a look.

What are dust mites?

Dust mites are almost imperceptible insect-like creatures that live in our homes – whether we want them to or not. They love warm, humid environments, which is why they’re drawn to our furniture, especially our beds. Even better for them, they feed on dead human skin cells, so our beds are practically a buffet for them.

Despite being like insects, an allergy to them isn’t the same as an allergy to, say, wasps. They don’t bite, sting, or burrow into our skin. Instead, they defecate, urinate, and die just like any other species. And it’s these droppings and decaying bodies that trigger our allergies. It’s a bit grim and disgusting, we know, but it’s simply a part of life.

These aspects that trigger our allergies are what we come to know as a dust mite allergy, or even simply just a ‘dust’ allergy.

Common symptoms

Anyone who has ever had hay fever will recognise the symptoms. Dust mite allergies tend to affect our respiratory symptoms in much the same way. When you come into contact with dust mites, here’s what you might experience:

• Sneezing
• Runny or stuffy nose
• Itchy, red, or watery eyes
• Scratchy throat
• Itchy skin
• Coughing

This is at the milder end of the reaction spectrum, but there can be more concerning symptoms, such as:

• Difficulty breathing
• Tightness around the chest
• Shortness of breath
• Coughing and wheezing

How to prevent them

If any of this sounds familiar, or if you know for certain you have a dust mite allergy, you might be wondering what you can do about it. There are some simple changes you can make that should help with your symptoms. Obviously, the ultimate tip is to talk to your doctor before making any drastic changes. But in the meantime, try these…

Up your cleaning schedule – If you let dust mite skin and droppings accumulate, it’s going to make your symptoms worse. By cleaning your bedding at high temperatures more frequently (we recommend weekly), you can get rid of any droppings and kill any lingering dust mites.

Reduce the humidity – As we said earlier, dust mites love warm, humid environments. So if you feel like your symptoms are too frequent, maybe you need to reduce the humidity. You can do this by opening your windows more often or investing in a dehumidifier.

Replace any fabrics you can – Dust mites live in fabric they can really embed in. Think of all the creases in your sofa and curtains. Or the strands of carpet they can hide in. If it’s in your budget, it may be worth replacing these with smoother materials. Think leather sofas and hardwood floors.

But, like we said, talk to your doctor about any allergy concerns. They can find a solution – or even an allergy specialist – who can help you make meaningful changes. Now you know more about dust mites, you should feel more empowered to tackle your allergy once and for all.

If you ever have any questions about your allergies, get in touch. Our team of allergists are always happy to help. Call us on 02031 433 449 or register as a new patient today.

Why you shouldn’t ignore your seasonal allergies

19th April 2023

Why you shouldn’t ignore your seasonal allergies

We’ve spent a lot of time talking about seasonal allergies – or, as they’re also known, hay fever or allergic rhinitis. There are plenty of blogs on this very site talking about dos and don’ts, what you can do to make them better, and even how climate change can make them worse.

But still, it’s only hay fever, right? What’s the worst that can happen from a sniffly nose or itchy eyes? It’s not as if it’s life or death. Having such a blasé approach to your allergies can do more harm than good – even for a mild seasonal allergy. Let’s look at how you could be making your life more difficult by ignoring yours.

It’s not going to get better

While the symptoms might be annoying at the start, some people think they can just get used to them. They’ll go away on their own eventually, so why bother worrying about it now? Except our body isn’t going to magically heal or grow tolerant of the pollen. That’s the reason it’s reacting in the first place.

Even if you wait, you might be waiting for a long time. Due to climate change, pollen seasons seem to be starting earlier and lasting longer. In one study, they increased by 20 days between 1990 and 2018. And pollen concentrations have gone up 21% over that same time period.

It’s not something to ignore because it’s going to be constantly reminding you it’s there. Ask yourself, do you really want to be dealing with this for months and months?

In fact, it might get worse

As we said, allergies don’t just disappear. You might notice your seasonal allergies affect you less depending on where you are in the world, but your body’s intolerance to them won’t go away. They might do the complete opposite.

People can develop allergies at any age, and it stands to reason that they can get increasingly worse over time, too. Why this happens is hard to pin down, though some speculate repeated exposure to an allergen has its negative effects over the years. So while you try to ignore your allergies, they won’t be going anywhere. And the more you avoid taking the steps to address them, the more chance you give them to develop.

It’s not going to be nice

There can be a tendency with seasonal allergies to “wait out the storm”, as it were. After all, pollen season only lasts so long. Give it enough time and the symptoms will subside. But, as we said, this could be months and months of suffering. Do you want to wake up every morning with a blocked nose? A constant sore throat? Eyes watering at the most inopportune moments?

Even if you decide you can deal with them, why would you want to? As much as you may want to avoid the doctor’s clinic or remember to take an antihistamine every day, the alternative is infinitely more trying.

While seasonal allergies can be annoying, ignoring them will never be the solution. You save yourself a lot of the hassle by being proactive and taking care of any symptoms before they even appear. It’s also not something you have to deal with alone. Talk to a professional today to take some of the burden off your shoulders and enjoy your springtime.

If you ever need advice about your seasonal allergies, get in touch with our team of allergists today. Simply call us on 02031 433 449 or register as a new patient here.

Adult-onset allergies: what are they and where do they come from?

12th April 2023

Adult-onset allergies: what are they and where do they come from?

We’re sure many of you know what it’s like to get older. The years go by and your knees get a bit creakier, your back starts to hurt that little bit more, and you frequently forget where you put your keys. It’s part and parcel of ageing up. But amongst the health quirks that can pop up, one stands out as particularly strange.

Yes, you can develop allergies after years of never having a problem. Seemingly out of nowhere, you might suddenly become sensitive to shellfish or nuts. The same goes for intolerances, with some people developing lactose or gluten intolerances over time. But what do adult-onset allergies entail and where do they even come from?

What we mean by “adult-onset allergies”

Let’s start by defining what they actually are. Because there can be a couple of ways in which they present themselves. As we mentioned, they are allergies you develop later in life – by which we mean as an adult. So anything you get in your 20s and beyond. It’s not something that only happens over a certain age; we’re just referring to conditions not present when you were a child.

The most peculiar aspect of them is they can develop out of nowhere. While some might occur because it’s literally your first time coming into contact with the allergen in question, others can happen seemingly overnight. You might have interacted with it every day of your life and suddenly it causes a reaction in your one day.

But why does this happen?

Where adult-onset allergies come from

Sorry to disappoint, but there’s no one answer to that question. Much like allergies at large, we don’t fully have a grasp on why they appear in some people and not in others, and adult-onset ones are no different. Though there are some interesting theories.

One is what is called the “atopic march”. This describes an adult-onset allergy as something that develops over the course of someone’s life. It may start as a barely noticeable condition before evolving into a full-blown allergy. In this theory, it was a sensitivity you always had, but never bothered you before growing into a much bigger problem.

Then there’s the effects of the changing environment. Climate change has led to a shift in plant pollen, with it occurring earlier in the year and lasting longer. This increase in exposure could play its role, as could aspects such as air pollution. You also have changes in your lifestyle, such as moving to a new place or a greater amount of stress, which could contribute.

But, as noted, there is no one answer and, in the grand scheme of things, where it came from doesn’t really matter. What does is how you handle your adult-onset allergy.

Can you stop adult-onset allergies?

We don’t currently know how to prevent or cure allergies. Though we do have a better grasp on how to treat them. So if you find yourself reacting badly to something that you never noticed before, the first thing you should do is seek medical advice.

Book an appointment with your doctor – or, if you want to be more targeted, an allergy specialist – to talk through your reactions. This can put you on the path to a proper diagnosis, which will allow you to manage your new condition. You shouldn’t ignore it – this can go badly. There’s no knowing how severe your allergy could be, and a mild reaction today could be a fatal reaction tomorrow.

Arming yourself with more knowledge about your condition is the best way to fight it. There’s no reason your adult-onset allergy should reduce your quality of life. It just means being a bit more on the ball about it. So get yourself an appointment, schedule yourself for an allergy test, and start living your new, healthier life.

If you ever have an undiagnosed condition that you want to get to the bottom of, our team of allergists can help. We can test for a number of allergens and help you understand what you’re up against. Register as a new patient or simply give us a call on 02031 433 449 to find out more.

Allergic to exercise: your guide to exercise-induced urticaria

5th April 2023

Allergic to exercise: your guide to exercise-induced urticaria

Exercise is great, if a bit of a mixed bag. You can end up feeling fantastic about yourself as you’re awash with endorphins and the feel-good vibes that you’re working towards a health goal. It just so happens you also become incredibly sweaty and feel somewhat gross. And if you’re a jogger, well, we hope you enjoy your 6am runs in the rain.

As if that wasn’t enough, some people have a rare condition that makes working out that much more difficult. It’s called ‘exercise-induced urticaria’, and as the name suggests it’s a bad reaction to exercise. While it is very uncommon, it can still be serious and worth knowing about. So let’s look at what it is and how you can avoid it.

What is exercise-induced urticaria?

First, let’s look at what urticaria is on its own. It’s something we talk about every year as there is a day dedicated to it. It is a skin condition more commonly known as hives, weals, or welts. The trademark red marks and rashes can be on a specific part of the body or spread across larger areas.

The exercise-induced version will occur during or after working out. Since it’s a relatively new condition – in that we’ve only just begun to define it over the last few decades – it’s not really known where it comes from. It’s also likely your body’s reaction to the heat generated during exercise.

While not the same, there is also exercise induced anaphylaxis and the further linked food-dependent exercise-induced anaphylaxis (FDEIA). This is when you exercise after eating a particular food, causing a negative reaction. What makes it different from a normal food allergy? Well, many people with FDEIA do not react to the food in normal circumstances. It’s only when they exercise that it causes the reaction.

What are the symptoms of exercise-induced urticaria?

It shares many symptoms with regular urticaria, as we mentioned above. These include:

• Hives
• Skin flushing
• Skin swelling
• Abdominal pain

These are considered more ‘mild’ symptoms, in that they shouldn’t lead to a potentially fatal reaction. But there can be more serious symptoms, such as:

• Swollen tongue
• Difficulty swallowing
• Difficulty breathing
• Feeling faint

Many of these are symptoms of an anaphylactic shock which can happen. This could lead to a loss of consciousness, a drop in blood pressure, and needs urgent medical attention.

What can you do about it?

The first obvious step if you have this condition (or suspect you do) is to avoid exercise. Given the potential dangers of it, it’s not something you can ignore. You have to talk to your doctor about it first. Once you have a diagnosis, then exercise may still be possible. You just might have to choose something less heat-intensive, such as swimming.

In the case of FDEIA, the recommendation is to stay away from exercise after eating the triggering food. So if shellfish causes FDEIA, don’t work out for 24 hours after eating it.

Whichever you have, our baseline advice is the same: talk to an expert. This isn’t something you can diagnose at home. Especially since the condition is so rare in the first place. They can work towards diagnosing you and adjusting your lifestyle post-diagnosis. Their advice will allow you to live a free and healthy life. It just might mean less jogging in the rain.

If you ever have any allergy concerns – including skin conditions and breakouts such as this or other forms of urticaria – get in touch. Our team of allergy specialists can help put your mind at ease. To find out more, simply call us on 02031 433 449 or register as a new patient here.

5 seasonal allergy dos and don’ts for this summer

27th March 2023

5 seasonal allergy dos and don’ts for this summer

It’s that time of year for around a quarter of people in the UK. Yes, it’s time for seasonal allergies. Call it hay fever or allergic rhinitis, it’s all the same: runny noses, scratchy throats, and itchy eyes. It makes the spring and summer months almost unbearable for some, depending on the severity of their symptoms.

And every year you might end up asking yourself the same questions. What’s the pollen count? Is it worth going outside? Should I take an antihistamine now or later? Oh the joys. So to stop your fretting, we’ve put together some essential seasonal allergy dos and don’ts. Let’s look at how you can make your summer that little bit easier.

Don’t: Leave the windows open

We’ll start with a basic tip. As you’ll likely already know, it’s the pollen in the air that aggravates our hay fever and sets us off. So if you leave your window open, you’re practically inviting it into your home.

This goes double at nighttime. If you leave the windows open in your bedroom while you sleep, not only do you let the pollen inside, you let it affect you while you don’t even notice. Next thing you know, you’ll wake up with a stuffy nose and dry throat, getting your day off to the worst possible start!

Do: Take more frequent showers

It’s inevitable that, at some point, you’re going to have to leave your home and go outside. And when you do, you’re walking amongst the pollen in the air. It will stick to your clothes, in your hair, and on your pets (if you have any).

So when you get home, make it a habit of first changing clothes (to avoid spreading the pollen on your furniture) and preferably have a shower too. This way, you wash any pollen off your skin and out of your hair. Pets can’t escape this either. Give them more frequent baths to get rid of any pollen clinging to them.

Don’t: Dry your clothes outside

Sometimes, there’s nothing better than putting on fresh, air-dried clothes. Other times, there’s nothing worse. The pollen that sticks to you when you go for a walk is just as likely to stick to any clothes you hang up outside.

If you don’t have a tumble dryer, you’re better off doing them inside in a cool room. You may want to invest in a dehumidifier to draw out some of that excess moisture and prevent it from affecting your room.

Do: Keep up your exercise routine

From our tips so far, you might think you’re better off just avoiding going outside altogether. But that’s excessive – you can still enjoy the outdoors, just with a little extra caution. And this still applies if you like to go for a jog.

If your idea of exercise involves heading outdoors, you can still do that as long as you change when you go out. Pollen levels are, typically, higher in the morning and evening. So instead of that 6am stroll, maybe move it to your lunch break.

Don’t: Overmedicate

Antihistamines are an over-the-counter medication you can buy at any good supermarket or chemist. And they’re almost essential for people with hay fever as it greatly reduces the severity of symptoms. So, to some people, it may make sense to have one or two more than the recommended dose.

You should never do this. Always follow the advice on the box and talk to your doctor before you take any extra self-medication steps. Those guidelines are there for a reason, and overmedication can do more harm than good. Talk to your GP or an allergy specialist if you find antihistamines aren’t doing enough for you. They may be able to prescribe a stronger alternative.

And those are our seasonal allergy dos and don’ts! Some of them are common sense but just might not occur to you in your day-to-day life. But now that you know them, you can spend more of your summer enjoying the weather than blowing your nose.

If your seasonal allergies are interfering with your life, then get in touch. Our allergists can help you with your hay fever and ensure you don’t have to suffer more than necessary. Reach out on 02031 433 449 or register as a new patient today.

Do you know the difference between allergies and intolerances?

15th March 2023

Do you know the difference between allergies and intolerances?

Peanut allergies. Lactose intolerances. Sometimes food really doesn’t agree with us, does it? And it makes life that much more annoying. Both of these examples will stop you eating something you might genuinely enjoy, and you have to tiptoe around them, trying to avoid ever coming into contact with them.

So it stands to reason that they’re practically the same condition, just to different foods. But allergies and intolerances aren’t the same. There are crucial differences that separate the two, and it can be a case of life and death. Let’s take a look at where allergies and intolerances differ.

Defining them

First, we’ll start by defining what each of them are. An allergy is a response from your immune system. That’s your body saying it doesn’t like a trigger as soon as it comes into contact with you. In more extreme cases, even a food touching someone can cause a reaction. Your immune system will respond to it just like it would a common cold – trying to flush it out in any way necessary or otherwise stopping it from getting further into your body.

An intolerance is a digestive response. It’s why you might not feel the effects until a few hours later. Your digestive system – as opposed to your immune system – is irritated by something you’ve eaten. In some cases, you might be able to stop this from happening. Lactase pills can prevent the bad effects of drinking milk, but there really isn’t a simple way to stop an allergy like that.

Symptoms

While allergies and intolerances will share symptoms, there are some that are more likely to happen with one over the other. With allergies there can be a range of symptoms depending on what it is you’re reacting to. Here are some common examples:

• Sneezing and/or runny nose
• Itchy, red rashes
• Swollen lips, tongue, or face
• Wheezing/shortness of breath
• Anaphylaxis

That last one is an important one. With intolerances, they are very rarely fatal. But anaphylaxis – where a person can have trouble breathing and lose consciousness – is dangerous.

Intolerance symptoms will be more centred on the digestive system:

• Bloating
• Passing excess gas
• Diarrhoea
• Stomach pain

Though intolerances can also lead to headaches, exhaustion, or joint pain in some circumstances.

Diagnosing

There are a handful of ways to diagnose both an allergy and an intolerance. With allergies, this could be a skin prick test, where a small amount of the allergen is pierced into the skin to monitor your reaction. A patch test is similar, though these are just left on the surface of your skin. Then there are potential blood tests, though they can return false positives.

With intolerances, as this is dietary, you can expect to look more closely at your diet. This may involve cutting out certain foods to see how your body responds. Blood tests are less common, though not impossible depending on the condition. For example, coeliac disease can be tested with a blood test.

The only person you can trust to deliver your diagnosis in either scenario is a doctor. Either your GP or an allergy specialist. They can help you discover what it is that’s been bothering you and whether it is an allergy or an intolerance. Remember, this isn’t something you can do on your own at home. Don’t leave it to chance.

If you want to reveal what’s been affecting you, then get in touch. Our team of allergists are ready to guide you through the process and help you live a happier and healthier life. Register as a new patient or call us on 02031 433 449.

How boiled peanuts could be the answer to peanut allergies according to this study

8th March 2023

How boiled peanuts could be the answer to peanut allergies according to this study

Amongst all the food allergies that exist, the peanut allergy might be the one that comes to mind first. It’s become practically synonymous with child allergies, and not without reason. They affect around 2% of children in the UK, with it seemingly increasing over the past few decades.

So it’s no surprise when new research into the topic comes out. We’ve even covered it ourselves in the past. But there’s a new study that’s taking its own approach – with interesting results. Let’s look at what they did and what they discovered in the process.

The study

Researchers at Flinders University in Adelaide, Australia looked into the effectiveness of boiling peanuts as a way of treating a peanut allergy. They conducted what is called ‘oral immunotherapy’ – treating something through ingesting via the mouth. After eliminating any potential participants who had a history of severe reactions, they had 70 children aged 6-18 years old who underwent an almost year-long study.

It was carried out in phases, with the first involving feeding the children peanuts that had been boiled for 12 hours and crushed into a powder. This is part of the oral immunotherapy method – you start with small amounts and increase over time as tolerance builds up. And it was no different in this study.

As they moved through the phases, they went from 12-hour boiled peanuts to 2-hour boiled peanuts to roasted peanuts, all over the course of around 50 weeks. It ended with an oral food challenge, which involved eating 12 roasted peanuts under strict monitoring to see if there was any reaction.

What did they find?

Of the 70 children taking part, 56 (80%) were successfully desensitised to the 12 peanuts. Does that mean they were cured? No – they still had their peanut allergy. But how much they reacted was significantly lower. This could have interesting implications for how we treat peanut allergies and how we keep children safe.

It could be a way to eventually remove the risk of even the most severe reactions. Though note we said eventually. This is the start of something promising but it needs further research. And oral immunotherapy doesn’t work for everyone. These are things to consider before getting too excited.

Also note that this is something you should NOT try on your own. Remember that this study was carried out under strict scientific supervision with an allergy professional in the room should the worst happen. But stay optimistic! This is a good reason to celebrate and we can’t wait to see where the research goes next.

While there is no cure for peanut allergies, there is plenty of support. If you or your child needs advice on how to cope with your allergic conditions, get in touch with our friendly and professional team today. You can call us on 02031 433 449 or register as a new patient with us.

It’s almost tree pollen season – here’s what you can do to help your allergies

22nd February 2023

It’s almost tree pollen season – here’s what you can do to help your allergies

While hay fever is seen as a ‘summer’ allergy, it can actually start much earlier than that for some people. While we may typically think of hay fever (otherwise known as allergic rhinitis) as an allergy to flower pollen, it usually isn’t. For some, it means an allergy to grass. Or weeds. Or trees, which are due to start causing symptoms any day now.

If you have the condition, you’ll know the familiar feelings of a stuffy nose, itchy eyes, a scratchy throat, or whatever your personal pains are. And starting from around March – or potentially even earlier – tree pollen could cause an allergic reaction. What can you do about it? Let’s take a look at some simple advice.

Look at pollen counts

It helps to know what you’re up against. Even if it seems early, make a habit of checking the pollen count every day. This will give you a rough idea of how you can react, and also help you monitor when you react.

You might find that low-pollen days don’t really affect you, so you don’t have to worry too much. Or you might discover the opposite – that it doesn’t take much to set you off. Getting into this rhythm will help with the next point…

Change it up

Knowing the pollen count means you can react to it. As we mentioned earlier, it has a way of affecting your eyes, nose, and throat. So you could use this knowledge to change how you dress. Maybe wear a mask to prevent you from inhaling pollen. Or wear sunglasses to keep it out of your eyes.

You might also find it helpful to change what you do when you get home. As you go about your day, you’ll pick up pollen. This will stick in your hair and on your clothes. If you don’t already, make a routine of changing when you immediately get back. Slip on some comfier clothes and put what you’ve been wearing in the wash basket.

And if you’re a ‘morning shower’ person, you could switch to showers in the evening. This will let you wash any pollen off your hair and skin, preventing you from taking it to bed with you, further aggravating your symptoms.

Know your medication

If you’ve had hay fever symptoms for a while, you’ll likely already know what your options are. But if you don’t, you might consider looking at what over-the-counter medicines can do for you.

The more popular ones are antihistamines, as these should work towards preventing your body from responding as badly to the pollen. Then you also have nasal sprays to deal with any annoying blockages and eye drops to stop the itching. Of course, this is a very general overview and we always recommend that you talk to your GP or an allergy specialist about your options.

So if you’ve ever suffered from springtime allergies, it might be the trees that are to blame. But with a bit of proactive work, you can calm the symptoms before they even begin. And if you’re still not sure about what to do, talk to a medical professional whenever you can.

If you ever have any questions about your allergies, we have a team of experienced specialists ready to help you out. You can register as a new patient any time by clicking here, or pick up the phone and call us on 02031 433 449 if you’d rather.

3 allergy pet peeves – and what you can do about them

15th February 2023

3 allergy pet peeves – and what you can do about them

Allergies are already annoying enough, right? At their worst, they’re life-threatening. And even at their best, they can ruin your day, leaving you with constantly itchy eyes, a runny nose, or a scratchy throat. Your whole life has to adapt around them. To make matters worse, we all have those allergy pet peeves that make them that much harder.

It’s usually people around us who do them too. People not taking your condition seriously. People acting dumb when you tell them for the hundredth time that no, you can’t have gluten. They can really grind your gears. But we can’t help what other people do. We can only change what we do.

So here are three allergy pet peeve examples – and what you can do about them.

Hidden allergens in food and drink

Does this sound familiar: you go to a lovely restaurant and peruse the menu. Each dish has its ingredients listed underneath and they all sound amazing. You choose one that, based on what it says, you know you can eat. Then it arrives and – surprise – it actually has dairy in it. Or nuts. Or gluten. Despite not mentioning that.

With new legislation coming in all the time, this should become a thing of the past. But it doesn’t stop every instance of it happening. Then there are also those cases where it does list the ingredients, but not what those ingredients are actually made from. Like pesto, which is made with pine nuts. If you didn’t know, what could you do?

Our best advice is to get good at asking questions. You can learn a lot about how seriously a restaurant takes allergies by seeing how they respond. If your server is unsure – and definitely if the manager is unsure – then you know that they might not be the most trustworthy. Do this ahead of time to save yourself the effort and pick somewhere better.

People don’t take you seriously

What’s potentially worse than that situation? When your own family does it for you. It can be more dangerous, too. Your aunt isn’t going to have a menu with ingredients on it. And no matter how many times you tell her you can’t eat something with egg in it, she uses it anyway. After all, what’s the worst that can happen?

Or so she says. Yes, having people not take you seriously can have devastating consequences. Though, thankfully, public discourse on allergies is changing slowly.

What can you do in the meantime? All you can do is educate others and make sure you’re prepared. If you’re going to someone else’s for food, bring your own dish. And if the host feels insulted, calmly explain that this is for your own safety and not a reflection of their efforts. If they don’t accept that, it’s on them. What’s important is that you look out for your own health.

Constant symptoms

This one isn’t related to other people. It’s about your own body. Anyone with hay fever will know the feeling. You can’t enjoy a nice summer’s day because your eyes are constantly itching and your nose is bunged up, with no sign of relief. This can happen to anyone with environmental allergies, be it a reaction to dust, dander, or pollen.

Your best bet is to be proactive. Do what you can to prevent symptoms in the first place. In summer, get into a routine of taking antihistamines. Make sure you clean your house thoroughly and often. You’ll probably find yourself cleaning more than your friends and family, but that’s good if it stops you from suffering all day, every day.

Should we have to deal with these allergy pet peeves? No, but this is our lot in life, unfortunately. All we can do is react, be proactive, and stand up for ourselves. Whatever we can to ensure we’re safe, happy, and healthy. And if everyone else has a problem with that, well, that can be their pet peeve too.

Don’t let allergies bring you down. Ensure you have all the know-how you need to fight back and show them they don’t own you. To talk to one of our allergy specialists and receive helpful advice for your condition, register as a new patient or call us on 02031 433 449.