Outsmart YOUR ALLERGY

HOW TO STOP THE ITCH – FOR GOOD!

Spring time is peak allergy season, when you’ll find hay fever sufferers religiously checking pollen counts and stockpiling tissues.

‘Grasses, weeds, flowers and trees produce high amounts of pollen and the wind carries it around in high concentrations, which can cause itchy eyes, sneezing and a runny nose,’ explains family GP Dr Brad Mckay. But the itches aren’t just a problem for the presummer months – one in five people suffer from an allergy, which is when a person’s immune system reacts to substances in the environment, and it can happen at any time.

Common triggers include dust mites, pets, pollen, insects, moulds and foods.

Here’s how to protect yourself, all year round...

GET PROPERLY DIAGNOSED ‘It’s important to get your allergy assessed by your GP. You may think you’ve got symptoms of a dust mite allergy, for example, but we can do skin and blood tests to check. If it comes back inactive, we’ll look for other causes or allergies, which may require different treatment,’ says Associate Professor Richard Loh, a clinical immunology and allergy specialist. STAY INSIDE DURING PEAK POLLEN TIMES Depending on where you live in Australia, pollen season can last for up to six months of the year. ‘Check for pollen counts before going outside (try pollenforecast.com.au) and stay inside when you know it’s high,’ Richard says. To avoid aggravating your allergy symptoms, he recommends you: – Stay indoors when someone has just mowed the lawn, and during or immediately after a thunderstorm. – Wear large or wraparound sunglasses to avoid pollen getting into your eyes. – When you arrive home, have a shower and put your clothes in the wash. – Keep windows closed at home and in your car. – If you have long hair, a light film of hairspray stops pollen in your hair getting onto your clothes. CONSIDER YOUR CHOICE OF PET ‘If you’re allergic to animal dander, you’ll cope better with a short-haired dog or cat,’ says Brad. Poodle breeds are best for allergic dog lovers, followed by Kerry Blue terriers. ‘If you don’t have a pet, but your friends or family do and you’re allergic, taking an antihistamine before visiting can help,’ says Richard. Speak to your GP about options. PRACTISE LOWALLERGY GARDENING ‘Garden early in the morning, while dew is still on the grass, which means the grass will not yet have dried out and will still be on the plant. Drain any damp areas, which can allow allergenic moulds to grow, and don’t hang your washing outside, especially bedclothes, during high pollen season,’ says Mark Ragg, author of The Low Allergy Garden. GET A VACUUM WITH A HEPA FILTER A high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter can help if you’re allergic to dust mites and their poo. ‘Regularly vacuuming your home is one way of decreasing exposure to their allergyinducing faeces,’ says Brad. Older vacuum cleaners often suck up dust mites and shoot them out again – the HEPA filter stops this happening. SIP GREEN TEA Several studies, including one published in American Chemical Society, have found that compounds in green tea can fight allergic reactions. SKIN TEST NEW COSMETICS Contact dermatitis is a delayed allergy that can be caused by ingredients in skin care or make-up. ‘If you buy a new cosmetic, always test it on your forearms first and leave it on overnight. If your skin gets itchy, don’t use it. If you keep getting reactions from different brands, you can be referred to a dermatologist to work out which ingredient is causing a reaction,’ says Richard. NI