Allergies-How To Deal With Summertime Triggers

Most of us anticipate the advent of summer. For a good number of people, summertime is synonymous to fun, fun, fun! It is that time of the year when we can do the things we enjoy most. Summer encourages us to have fun outdoors. Picnics, barbeques and various outdoor sports abound during this spectacular time of the year.

But summertime also brings along with it a number of factors which makes life barely tolerable for those suffering from several sensitivities. People who are allergic to insect bites, molds, pollens and chlorine may need to take extra precautions just to get fun out of the sun. Those with certain sensitivities to certain skin products may also want to take a closer look at the product labels to make sure that there will be no problems with their exposure to the sun.

Here are some sensible bits of advice to avoid contracting allergies during the summer.

Insects. If you have experienced an allergic reaction to an insect bite or sting sometime in the past, you really need to take extra precaution. It was observed that there is about 60% chance of experiencing the same reaction (or sometimes even worse) if ever you are stung or bitten again. Be wary of insects such as bees, wasps, hornets, yellow jackets, ants and spiders since their bites or stings are known to trigger an allergic reaction. Other precautionary measures include the following:

. When spending time outdoors, avoid wearing flowery prints and dark colored clothing since these attract the busy bees' attention. Wear light colored clothing instead. . Avoid wearing sweet smelling colognes, perfumes, hair sprays and deodorants for the same reason. . Avoid going barefoot. If possible, tuck your pants into your socks when you are in areas where spiders abound. . Consider applying an insect repellent containing DEET when spending time in an insect-infected area. Reapply every few hours for maximum benefit. However, be sure to wash it off as soon as you come home.

Swimming. What would be more enjoyable than cooling off the summer heat by taking a dip at the pool? But if you are allergic to chlorine, you may need to take a little bit of extra care.

. Use nose plugs to avoid getting sinus infections while swimming in a chlorine-treated pool. . Take a refreshing shower immediately after swimming. This will help wash the chlorine off your skin and prevent skin irritations.

Pollens. Pollens can make life miserable for those with inhalant allergies. People sensitive to pollens should schedule their outdoor activities later in the afternoon since the level of pollens in the air will then be considerably lower.

Also, people suffering from pollen allergies may need to take extra precaution in choosing the foods they eat. For example, those allergic to ragweed pollen may need to avoid eating apples, bananas, cantaloupes, honeydews, nuts, sunflower seeds and watermelons since these are cross reactive to ragweed pollen. Likewise, those allergic to grass pollen and mugwort pollen need to avoid certain foods as well.

Molds. Molds thrive during the summer and are known to trigger a host of airborne allergies. It is best to avoid wooded areas, cut grass, fallen leaves, compost piles and other moist surfaces, which are known breeding grounds of molds.

Article Source: http://www.content.onlypunjab.com

Michael Russell Your Independent guide to Allergies

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