As the cold weather hits and winter sets in, many breathe a sigh of relief, believing that seasonal allergies only occur in the spring and fall. However, allergens come in many different forms, and some occur most often during the winter.
What Are Winter Allergies?
What makes winter allergies different than others is the allergen that causes them. During the colder months, we spend more time inside our home, workplace, and other locations where exposure to indoor allergens is more frequent.
The most common indoor allergens are:
Pet Dander: (skin flakes that carry proteins) Pets spending more time inside, especially in bedrooms or living rooms, add to the amount of dander that can spread and settle into beds, carpets, and upholstery.
Dust Mites: Dust mites live in warm, damp environments and can be found in bedding, furniture, and carpets.
Mold: Dark, moist areas like bathrooms, basements, and under sinks are a breeding ground for mold as damp winter weather promotes its growth.
Cockroach Droppings: Damp weather can drive roaches indoors, causing dark, moist areas, like kitchen cupboards, cabinets underneath sinks, and spaces behind appliances to become a home.
Feeling Your Best In the Winter
Although winter allergies can be as troublesome as allergies that occur in the spring and fall—with similar symptoms of runny/stuffy nose, itchy eyes, sneezing, or postnasal drip—you do not have to suffer. And when the avoidance of specific allergic triggers (like a beloved pet) is not possible, it is important to talk with your healthcare provider about a preventive treatment for severe or chronic allergic reactions.
Allergy Immunotherapy
Thankfully we have good news. Depending on the type of allergy you have, it is possible to train the body to become less allergic. Allergy immunotherapy is a preventive treatment for allergic reactions that involves administering gradually increasing doses of the substance, or allergen, to which you are allergic. 1
A typical course of allergy immunotherapy will take a few years to complete. Still, it is the only treatment that provides long-lasting relief, with the potential to become totally allergy-free!
If you are in search of a trustworthy physician to help determine if allergy immunotherapy is a suitable option for you, we'd like to help!
Our Doctor of Pharmacy team can connect you with a provider in your home state or work with your doctor to provide a therapy that is formulated just for you.
