Everyday recommendations for allergies

Overview

Once the trigger of an allergy is known, avoiding that allergen (allergen avoidance) is the first step. An allergy is an excessive reaction of the immune system to a particular substance; the less often the body comes into contact with that substance, the less occasion there is for the reaction.

How often that contact occurs can be influenced at home, in the garden and when planning a holiday. We would like to give you some advice and recommendations on this.

On this page you will find the recommendations for three triggers: pollen, house dust mites and moulds. They apply once the allergy has been confirmed; how we establish the trigger is described on the allergy diagnostics page.

Areas of application

• Confirmed pollen allergy (hay fever)
• House dust mite allergy, for instance with year-round allergic rhinitis
• Mould allergy
• Alongside hyposensitisation or treatment with medicines
• After allergy diagnostics, as soon as the trigger has been established

Procedure

1. Establishing the trigger

   Every recommendation rests on allergy diagnostics: history-taking, skin tests and, where needed, a blood test show what your immune system reacts to.

2. Discussing the recommendations

   Following the discussion of the findings we go through with you which measures fit your trigger and your daily life: the bedroom and the home, the garden, your diet or the planning of a holiday.

3. Putting them into practice

   Much can be done straight away, such as airing the rooms in the evening or using mite-proof bedding covers. Other things, such as repairing damp walls or changing floor coverings, take time and planning.

4. Reviewing the course

   If avoiding the trigger is not enough to keep the symptoms under control, the further routes of allergy treatment are added: hyposensitisation as the causal therapy and medicines that relieve the symptoms.

Related pages

• Allergy treatment: avoidance, hyposensitisation, medicines →
• Allergy diagnostics: how we establish the trigger →
• Allergic diseases at a glance →

What to expect

• The recommendations presuppose a confirmed diagnosis; they do not replace an assessment.
• Some allergens cannot be avoided completely. Pollen and mould spores are present in the outdoor air; the measures reduce the contact but do not rule it out.
• With pollen and mould allergy, stays in the high mountains or in coastal and island regions can have a favourable effect (climate therapy).
• Some measures concern the home and need lead time, such as changing floor coverings or repairing damp masonry.
• If avoidance alone is not enough, hyposensitisation and treatment with medicines are available.

Risks & notes

• Symptoms can occur despite all measures.
• Do not cut out individual foods or whole food groups on suspicion. Cutting them out only makes sense once the allergy has been confirmed; have the suspicion assessed first.
• With sudden shortness of breath, circulatory problems, dizziness or rapidly increasing swelling, call the emergency number 112 immediately.
• Which measures make sense in your case is something we discuss with you in person.

Recommendations for pollen allergy

Pollen flies at different times of the year depending on the plant. During the season of your allergen:

• Keep the windows closed in the morning and air the rooms only in the evening.
• Avoid gardening.
• Avoid herbal teas and honey products; cross-reactions are possible here.
• Plan holidays carefully, by time of year and destination.

Recommendations for house dust mite allergy

For the home and the bedroom:

• Always make sure there is enough fresh air.
• Keep the humidity below 50%.
• Prefer floors that can be wiped clean.
• Use foam mattresses and mite-proof bedding covers (encasings).
• Avoid air conditioning.

Recommendations for mould allergy

Moulds grow wherever it is permanently damp. Therefore:

• Have damp walls and masonry repaired.
• Do not keep potted plants.
• Keep the humidity low.

If you suspect an allergy

As a general rule, every suspected allergy should be assessed by a doctor experienced in allergology. Only with a confirmed diagnosis can the recommendations be tailored sensibly to your situation.

Frequently asked questions

Why is avoiding the trigger so important?

Because an allergy is a reaction of the immune system to a particular substance. If that substance comes into contact with the body less often, there is less occasion for the reaction. Avoidance is therefore the fundamental measure, before or alongside any further treatment.

I do not know what I am allergic to. Do the recommendations still help?

Only to a limited extent. Without a confirmed trigger there is a risk of putting a lot of effort into the wrong direction or of giving something up unnecessarily. Have the suspicion assessed allergologically; after that the appropriate measures can be chosen.

Is avoiding the trigger enough on its own?

Not always. With pollen or mould spores, complete avoidance is hardly possible in everyday life. If symptoms persist, the further routes of allergy treatment are added: hyposensitisation and medicines to relieve the symptoms.

What are mite-proof bedding covers (encasings)?

Covers for the mattress, pillow and duvet made of a fabric so tightly woven that mites and their allergens cannot pass through. They are used underneath the normal bed linen.

Why no herbal teas and no honey with a pollen allergy?

Because with a pollen allergy, cross-reactions with foods are possible, among them certain herbal teas and honey. Whether and to what extent you need to avoid them in your case depends on the trigger and is clarified when we discuss the findings.