Five Allergy Myths

There’s nothing quite as beautiful as a gorgeous spring day when March flowers are in bloom–unless you have allergies. For many people, over-the-counter or prescription allergy medication alleviates their symptoms, and they’re able to enjoy the beautiful Carolina outdoors. For others, there’s little relief, and they have to turn to immunotherapy or “allergy shots” for relief.

With millions of Americans suffering through allergy season every year, it’s no surprise that many allergy myths have blossomed (if you’ll pardon the pun). Following are a few misconceptions you can’t afford to believe.

MYTH #1: MY CHILD IS ALLERGIC TO DOGS, SO WE’LL JUST GET HIM A HYPOALLERGENIC BREED.

A dog who doesn’t shed and doesn’t agitate your allergies—sounds almost too good to be true, right? Well, sadly, there is no such thing as a completely 100 percent hypoallergenic pet. Some breeds may not agitate allergy sufferers as much as others, but this isn’t due to the fur. According to the American College of Asthma, Allergy and Immunology, pets transfer allergens through saliva and other glands— not through fur.

MYTH #2: MOVING TO ANOTHER PART OF THE COUNTRY WILL IMPROVE MY ALLERGY SYMPTOMS.

Don’t bet on it.

Sure, the desert Southwest may not have the problematic pollen from the North Carolina longleaf pine, but other areas have other types of pollen and airborne allergies that may prove to be just as problematic. A better strategy is to determine what you’re allergic to and how you can take measures to reduce your exposure to these allergens.

MYTH #3: ALLERGIES CAUSE ECZEMA.

Eczema, an itchy skin irritation, may have several different causes, none of which may be related to allergies. However, if you are allergic to certain detergents or perfumes, this reaction can affect your eczema—but not cause it.

MYTH #4: THE MOLD IN THIS BUILDING IS MAKING MY ALLERGIES WORSE.

Mold is one of the “usual suspects” when it comes to allergies, but it’s not always the offender. The truth is much more difficult to pin down. While mold may be present at your office or in your basement, it’s difficult to link it to the cause of your allergy symptoms.

MYTH #5: CUTTING DOWN THE TREES IN MY YARD WILL HELP BECAUSE I’M ALLERGIC TO TREE POLLEN.

Don’t bring out the chainsaw just yet. While it’s true that tree pollen is a common allergy, tree pollen is also very lightweight—meaning it’s easily airborne. Cutting down your trees won’t solve the problem because the wind could carry tree pollen to your doorstep from miles away. A better use of your time and money would be to invest in immunotherapy, or allergy shots.

More than 50 million Americans are plagued by seasonal or year round allergies, making it the 6th leading cause of chronic illness in the U.S. For more information on allergies, you can visit the website for the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology.

For a quick glance at our five allergy myths, see our slideshare below. Share with your friends!