East San Diego News

• More than 40 million Americans suffer from allergies. 
• Christmas decorations such as trees, wreaths, and ornaments can collect dust and mold. 
• Holiday decorations that are pine-scented can provoke allergy and asthma symptoms.

The holiday season can be an especially difficult time for allergy sufferers, as travel, stress, and even Christmas decorations can lead to worse allergic reactions. According to Dr. Paul Schalch Lepe of SoCal Breathe Free, allergens can be found in many places.  

“What allergy basically means is that your immune system is overreacting to environmental factors that most people otherwise just adapt to and don't have to overreact to,” Dr. Schalch Lepe told East San Diego News. “We know that allergies have to do with environmental factors such as pollen from trees, from grass, from other plants. And then you have the other issues that are related to non-environmental factors, but that are potentially at home.”

According to WebMD, experts recommend choosing an artificial tree for the holiday season rather than a live one, as live Christmas trees could have mold or chemicals on them. Additionally, washing ornaments before decorating is recommended, as is choosing non-fabric ornaments, and storing firewood outdoors until it's ready to be used.

The pine scent of organic Christmas trees and other decorations can also trigger allergy and asthma symptoms, according to Good RX. A chemical called terpene, which is in the sap of pine trees, can be irritating to the eyes, nose, and skin. Trees that are decorated with “flocking,” or fake snow, can also set off allergy and asthma symptoms because the flocking releases small particles into the air.

Another cause of allergy triggers during the holiday season is droppings from pests such as mice, cockroaches, and spiders, according to Good RX. Those pests like to nest in dark, damp locations such as basements and garages and often find decoration bins to be good hiding places because they aren't moved often. Droppings from those pests can set off allergy symptoms.

A lot of traveling, stress, and inconsistent usage of medications during the holiday season can also lead to worsened allergies, according to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. Stress in particular can lead to asthma attacks.

According to SoCal Breathe Free's website, Dr. Paul Schalch Lepe is an otolaryngologist and ENT doctor based in San Diego. His specialties include sinus, allergy, and sleep treatments. Dr. Schalch Lepe completed his residency in otolaryngology at UC Irvine Medical Center, affiliated with UC Irvine School of Medicine. He earned his medical degree from the School of Medicine at the Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico in Mexico City.