Pensacola Times

• The holiday season can be a triggering time for allergy sufferers.
• Holiday decorations that are pine-scented, such as trees or wreaths, can provoke allergy and asthma symptoms.
• Artificial decorations can collect dust and mold.

During the holiday season, many people might find themselves struggling with allergies that cling to decorations, such as dust or mold. Dr. Matthew Blair of Gulf Coast Breathe Free said his clinic aims to treat conditions like this and give patient's a better quality of life.

"Allergies are a condition where your body reacts to an allergen in the environment, especially in your nose," Dr. Blair told Pensacola Times. "Your nose is covered with a mucous membrane similar to your mouth, and there are cells within your nose called mast cells, and they release something called histamine. Histamine is what gives you this overall reaction of itchy eyes, itchy nose, sneezing, clear watery mucus and stuffiness—just that general uncomfortable feeling that you may get. If you have any experience with any kind of sinonasal condition, whether it's allergies, chronic sinusitis, or any nasal symptom, they'll all be very different. Our practice philosophy is to listen to the patient and see what we can do to help them have a better quality of life."

Although over 40 million Americans experience allergies throughout the year, the holiday season can be particularly challenging for allergy sufferers, as reported by WebMD. Decorations like evergreen trees and wreaths can be prone to mold, a prevalent allergy trigger. While opting for artificial decorations might offer a solution, it's crucial to store them in dry containers to avoid the development of mold in damp environments. Additionally, these decorations have the potential to accumulate dust, potentially triggering allergy and asthma symptoms.

Good RX notes that the aromatic pine scent that comes from Christmas trees and other decorations has the potential to induce allergy and asthma symptoms. This is attributed to a chemical known as terpene, found in the sap of pine trees, which can be irritating to the eyes, nose, and skin. Additionally, trees decorated with "flocking," or artificial snow, can trigger allergy and asthma symptoms as they release tiny particles into the air.

Another source of allergy triggers during the holiday season is the droppings of pests like mice, cockroaches, and spiders, per Good RX. These pests tend to prefer nesting in dark and damp areas such as basements and garages, and they often find storage bins for decorations to be convenient hiding spots due to infrequent movement. The droppings from these pests can potentially initiate allergy symptoms.