10 Tips to Avoid Allergy Symptoms

sneezing is a symptom of allergy

Nobody wants to suffer from allergies. Allergic reactions can be extremely unpleasant, preventing you from participating in daily activities in the process. They occur when your body overreacts to a normally harmless substance, such as pollen or dust. Symptoms can range from mild (sneezing, watery eyes) to severe (trouble breathing and swelling of the throat). In some cases, an allergic reaction can even be life-threatening.

If you have allergies, it’s important to take steps to avoid triggering a reaction. This includes knowing what you’re allergic to and carrying emergency medication with you in case of a severe reaction.

Below are 10 tips to avoid allergy symptoms.

  1. If you are allergic to pollen, grass, or something else that’s similar, wear a dust mask with a pollen filter when outside on days when there is a high pollen count. Avoid grassy areas and flowerbeds, where pollen can accumulate.
  2. Keep windows and doors shut at home and in the car. This will reduce your exposure to allergens, reducing symptoms. Use an air purifier inside your home to keep symptom-free.
  3. Change out of your clothes and wash your hair before going to bed to remove pollen, dust, or other allergens that may have accumulated during the day.
  4. If you have eczema, avoid these triggers – extreme temperatures, certain fabrics, fragrances, and dust mites that can trigger eczema or hives.
  5. Use bath products and lotions that are formulated for the eczema-prone, and apply moisturizing lotion on the skin while it’s still damp.
  6. If you have eczema, avoid hot showers or baths, which can strip the natural oils from your skin, and limit your time in the bath or shower. Afterward, use a humidifier to keep moisturized in the air and prevent your skin from drying out.
  7. Wear light-colored long sleeves and pants when outdoors or in high-risk areas such as places with flowering plants.
  8. If you have a food allergy, read food labels carefully and avoid foods that contain what you are allergic to. Only buy food from trusted sources that are known to be free of your allergens.
  9. For food allergies, avoid going to places where you could be exposed to food allergens, since cross-contamination can happen.
  10. Regardless of what you are allergic to, carry prescribed medication (or epinephrine) with you in case of accidental exposure.

Any allergy doctor will tell you that avoidance strategies combined with a solid allergy emergency care plan can help prevent allergy symptoms. If you haven’t got your allergy symptoms under control, make an appointment with a board-certified allergist who can review your current treatment plan and let you know what other options are available to you.

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For expert allergy treatment from board-certified allergists, choose Oak Brook Allergists. We treat patients of all ages in our four locations in northeastern Illinois. Our allergy doctors also offer immunotherapy to the right candidates, which helps gradually lessen some allergy symptoms. If you are interested in this revolutionary treatment, schedule a consultation with one of our physicians. Call our main office today at (630) 574-0460 or use our convenient online request form