Ways to Avoid Summer Allergy Irritants

Nothing can put a damper on summer fun quite like allergies — as soon as symptoms hit, you’re at a standstill until you get them under control. Summer comes with more than the typical seasonal sniffles because other irritants — like insect bites, chlorine, sunscreen, and smoke from campfires and grills — are everywhere.

In this blog, you’ll find a few ways to cope with these irritants to help you get back to picnics, boating, swimming, and whatever else your summer holds.

Insect Bites and Stings

Mosquitos and fire ants cause irritation to most everyone, but some people are allergic and experience serious reactions when bitten or stung. This might include swelling, intense itching, or bruising. This blog talks about these reactions and ways to avoid them, like wearing protective clothing and using repellent.

Bee stings can cause a whole new level of misery, as they can cause severe reactions including anaphylaxis. If you’ve been prescribed epinephrine for an allergy to bees, be sure to always carry it with you in case of a sting.

Chlorine

Swimming in pools and dipping in hot tubs is one of the best parts of summer, especially for kids. Chlorine can cause your skin to dry out and sometimes causes rashes, and for those with eczema who experience this regularly, it can be even more damaging.

Moisturize immediately after swimming with an unscented, skin safe moisturizer. For harsher reactions, a topical cream or visit to your provider may be necessary.

Sunscreen

Keeping your skin safe from harmful UV rays is very important in the summer, but sunscreen is another item that can make you itchy and irritated. Choosing a mineral sunscreen (instead of a chemical sunscreen) may help minimize reactions. This blog gives a lot of information about the different types of sunscreens, and ingredients to watch out for when choosing sun protection.

Campfire and Grill Smoke

Inhaling smoke from a campfire or grill can be bothersome a few different ways. It can cause respiratory issues like coughing and a tight chest for those with asthma and may cause headaches for others. Unfortunately, there’s not much you can do to prevent these reactions other than to avoid being near the smoke.

Trees and grass

Trees and grass are the most common summer environmental allergens. If you’re allergic, when you inhale their pollen, your body reacts with inflammation to try to fight off this “harmful” substance, and that causes symptoms like stuffy nose, itchy eyes, cough, sneezing, and more.

Taking antihistamines consistently, and ideally, two weeks before your symptoms even start, is a good way to reduce symptoms. But this only masks the symptoms of the underlying allergic issue. Some people opt to treat the cause with allergy drop immunotherapy. Allergy drops gradually help your body build tolerance to the substances causing your allergies.

Treating the cause of your underlying allergies can help lower your Total Allergic Load and reduce reactions to other summer irritants, too. Find a provider near you offering allergy drop immunotherapy following the La Crosse Method™ Protocol to discover if personalized treatment might be right for you.