Is Your Christmas Tree Stirring up Your Allergies?

Fall allergies have died down, and spring allergies have not yet hit. So why are you feeling miserable? Although winter is not typically as allergenic as other seasons, it does present a number of triggers, and some of those are brought on by holiday traditions. Did you know that your Christmas tree can cause allergies? Whether fake or real, Christmas trees can introduce allergens into your home environment that compromise your health.

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Here are some tips for minimizing allergies to both real and artificial Christmas trees:

Real Trees

Pollens from fir, spruce, and pine trees rarely cause allergies, but your Christmas tree may come to you coated with pollen from other trees that can stir up symptoms. Another problem with real trees is that they are often covered in microscopic mold spores from their growing environment. Mold can trigger a runny or stuffed up nose, itchy or watery eyes, and wheezing and coughing.

To minimize allergy triggers from your real Christmas tree, try giving your tree a good shake before bringing it into your home to eliminate as much debris as possible. Some Christmas tree lots even have mechanical shakers that can do the work for you. You can also try hosing down your tree and drying it with an air compressor.

Artificial Trees

After Christmas is over, people often cart their tree off to the attic or basement where it can accumulate mold and dust throughout the year. Rather than bringing it directly into the living room, take it outside and clean it with the methods we recommended above for real trees. After you have removed the debris and dried your tree thoroughly, you can set it up for the season.

After the holidays are over, make sure to store your artificial Christmas tree in an airtight container (such as a bin or large Christmas tree bag).

If you suffer from allergies for more than three months of the year, talk to your AllergyEasy sublingual immunotherapy physician. They can prescribe under-the-tongue drops for dust, mold, pollen, and food allergy treatment, depending on your individual needs. Sublingual immunotherapy is a safe, convenient alternative to allergy shots that can be taken in the comfort of home as oral allergy drops. The drops can help desensitize you to allergens in the environment so that you will stop overreacting to them with symptoms that make you feel miserable.