Some people spend the fall eagerly awaiting the piney smell and warm glow of a live Christmas tree. But for others, the Christmas spirit is dampened by allergies to the tree and holiday trimmings. For the millions of Americans living with allergies and/or asthma, the holiday season can be a challenge to get through. But allergists say you don't have to wait until January to find relief.
When it comes to the tree, there are a few ways to minimize the misery. While you may assume that pollen is the source of your symptoms, mold is the true allergy trigger in a cut tree, according to Dr. Pamela Georgeson, an allergist with the Kenwood Allergy and Asthma Center in Chesterfield Township, Michigan, and a spokesperson for the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (AAAAI).
"Most trees are cut in October and stored, so they have a lot of mold from being out in the rain and slush, and mold can be a trigger for allergies and asthma," Georgeson explains. "The best suggestion is to use an artificial tree, but if you do get a live tree, try to shake it out and then dry it out for a week or so before you bring it indoors."
According to AAAAI, some tree retailers have shaking machines that can help rid your tree of mold. You'll also want to shake and dry out live wreaths and other greenery you might use for decorating.
Mold and dust can also accumulate on artificial trees, wreaths and greenery when they are stored, so make sure you clean these items thoroughly after you unpack them. Wash fabric decorations in hot water and soap, and wipe down plastic, tin, glass or ceramic ornaments and decorations to eliminate dust.
Other potential holiday culprits include strong scents from potpourri and candles. Asthma can also be triggered by smoke from a fireplace in a poorly ventilated room—and, of course, holiday stress.
If you're traveling to a home with decorations, or pets, that might trigger a reaction, take your medicine with you. Holiday parties and an abundance of homemade foods can also pose extra problems for people with food allergies. It's especially important for them to bring along epinephrine to control potentially life-threatening reactions.
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"Education and avoidance are the only ways to cope with food allergy," Georgeson says. "So let your hosts know if you have a food allergy and bring your Epi-pen"—a device that injects epinephrine—"in case of accidental exposure."
Georgeson notes that accidental cross-contamination can be an issue with home-baked goods. For example, someone might bake cookies on a baking sheet contaminated with a food allergen, or pack nut-free cookies in a tin that once contained brownies with nuts and wasn't washed out afterward.
But you don't have to skip the holiday season just because you have allergies and/or asthma.
"The biggest piece of advice is to make sure you have your medicines with you wherever you are," says Georgeson. "And if you have an allergy, alert the person who you're visiting, so you can enjoy a safe holiday."
