30 things your allergy specialist wishes you knew

Pillowcase and mattress encasings can help dust mite allergies, because they prevent mites from migrating in and out. “But make sure the packaging says how many microns the fabric is – the smaller the number, the tighter the weave and the more mites it will block,” says Dr Sublett. He says it should be at most 4 to 5 microns and ideally 2 or below. “If the product doesn’t tell you a number, I’d consider that a red flag,” he says.

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A neti pot is a device you use to flush and moisten your nasal passages with a saltwater solution. Dr Smith said he used a neti pot out of curiosity so he would know whether to recommend it to his patients. “It was a little scary at first, but now it works like a charm,” he says. “Many allergists like to use nasal irrigation themselves as a natural remedy.”

If you had recurrent chronic bronchitis as a child, it likely could have been asthma. “Adult-onset symptoms of allergies and asthma are more common today, but in some cases, you just didn’t recognise symptoms you had during childhood,” says Dr Blaiss.

They might shed less or not at all, but there’s really no such thing as a hypoallergenic dog, says Dr. Smith. “Just because an animal doesn’t shed doesn’t mean it won’t cause allergies,” he says. “What you’re allergic to is the animal’s saliva or dander, not their fur.”

Bad allergies can make you feel pretty miserable. “Leaving symptoms untreated can lead to sinus infections or ear infections,” says Dr Blaiss. “I have patients who literally can’t fall asleep because their allergies are so bad. Don’t sit around waiting for symptoms to pass, because there are lots of treatment options out there.”

Allergies can happen to anyone at any time, at any age, and in any place. “If you’re allergic to one kind of pollen, you’re more likely to be allergic to other kinds” says Dr Smith.

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You spend six to eight hours a day lying in a serious allergen hazard. “The longer you have a pillow, the more likely it will have a lot of dust mites inhabiting it, especially if you’re not doing anything to reduce the dust mite concentration,” says allergist-immunologist, Dr Joseph Dizon. “Wash your sheets and pillowcases weekly in hot water, and dry them in the dryer. Many people aren’t aware it is important to wash your pillows on a regular basis. Doing this will not only reduce allergens, but it will also extend the life of your pillow.”

For decades, allergy shots were one of the few ways to treat chronic allergies. Today, however, another option is available – and possibly easier to use. “Many patients think that allergy drops do not work as well as allergy shots,” says ear, nose and throat specialist, Dr Daniel P. Slaughter. “Actually, studies have shown that allergy drops are as effective as allergy shots. They are also much easier for the patient to be compliant as they are done at home rather than a trip to the doctor. Allergy drops are also safer than shots as there is almost no risk of a severe allergic reaction to drop therapy.”

A rigorous allergy test can spot many possible allergy issues, but they’re not always the end-all and be-all of your allergy diagnosis. “Patients may have been told they ‘don’t have allergies’ because their skin or blood testing was negative. Actually, they may have local allergic rhinitis,” says Dr Slaughter. “This is where they have true severe allergy reactivity isolated to their nose. It will not show up on testing but can still be treated with allergy drop therapy. In these cases, doctors can formulate the drops based on the patient’s history of allergy symptoms.”

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Allergy sufferers flock to synthetic fibres, but that may be a big mistake. “The type of pillow you use may play a role in causing allergies,” Dr Dizon says. “Some studies have shown that synthetic pillows are more likely to cause issues with asthma than feather pillows. This is likely because the casings of feather pillows are more tightly woven to prevent feathers from coming out while synthetic pillow casings are more loosely woven and have more openings to allow for the migration of dust mites.”