Allergy Avoidance

Allergy avoidance can be one of your first steps to reducing your symptoms from allergens like ragweed, pollen, mold, dust mites, and pet dander. These strategies can be performed at home, in the office, and throughout your daily routine. The goal here is to reduce your exposure to the allergens either through physical distance or lifestyle changes.

Frequently Asked Questions About Allergy Avoidance

1. What are avoidance measures for treating allergies?
2. How do I know what substances I need to avoid?
3. What avoidance measures should I take for each allergen?
4. Can special air filters on my HVAC duct return help with allergies?
5. Should I have my HVAC ventilation ducts cleaned?
6. Will these avoidance measures prevent me from experiencing any symptoms?
7. What should I do if allergy avoidance measures do not work?

What are avoidance measures for treating allergies?

Avoidance measures, also known as environmental control, decreases the amount of contact you have with those substances to which you are allergic (i.e., allergens). The goal is not to eliminate your exposure to all your allergens, but simply decrease your exposure to some of them.

How do I know what substances I need to avoid?

While our allergy testing can determine which allergens are triggering your symptoms, your personal recall of when you started exhibiting symptoms is also important. If your symptoms are consistently worse in a certain environment, there is probably an allergen present. 

You may experience common allergy symptoms with pollen, mold, dust mites, and pet dander. 

What avoidance measures should I take for each allergen?

Pollen allergies

The most realistic option is to keep your house and car windows shut at all times. Your air-conditioning systems will help filter out the pollens. Not going outside in the morning and on clear, windy days may help but is not realistic. 

Dust mite allergies

Dust mites are microscopic insects, not tabletop dust, and primarily live in fabric. As such, your efforts to control dust mites should be directed toward your bed and carpets. 

If you have dust mite allergies, the single most important avoidance measure is to enclose your mattress and pillow with mite-proof encasings. Numerous studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of these encasings at separating a person from the millions of dust mites living in mattresses and pillows. Fortunately, the material used in most of these encasings is non-plastic and breathable. In addition, these encasings are affordable and only need to be applied once. While you continue to change your sheets and pillowcases as usual, the mattresses and pillow encasings can simply be left in place. For all these reasons, we strongly recommend all patients with dust mites allergies encase their pillow and mattress immediately. 

For bedding, we recommend washing sheets and pillowcases every week or two. Use hot water, as 130 degree temperatures kill dust mites. Consider using mite-proof encasings for your blankets and comforters along with periodic washing or hot tumble drying. 

Dust mites in your carpet and rugs

Dust mites also live in fabric such as your carpet. Removing your carpet can be expensive and frequently unrealistic, while chemical treatments (ex. benzyl benzoate, tannic acid) only have limited short-term benefits.

The most practical measure is to do weekly vacuuming with a vacuum with a special cleaning bag to prevent microscopic particles like dust mites from passing back into the air. Another alternative is to use a vacuum cleaning with a HEPA filter. Ideally, the person with the dust mite allergy will not do the cleaning and will remain outside that room for 30 minutes afterwards. If that is not an option, the affected person should consider taking an antihistamine and/or using Nasalcrom nasal spray beforehand. 

To kill dust mites in loose rugs, place the rugs outdoors in the sunlight for three hours or in freezing temperatures overnight. When cleaning non-carpeted floors and dusting furniture, use a damp mop or cloth.

Mold allergies

One step is to use dilute Clorox or equivalent antifungal cleaner to remove any visible mold in the bathroom and other areas. In addition, eliminate standing water anywhere in the house or basement, as moisture promotes mold development.

Mold and dust mite exposure can be controlled by keeping the air humidity in your home less than 50%. A dehumidifier (especially one that drains outside or into the plumbing system) can help as can central air-conditioning and heating systems. If your furnace/AC unit is in the basement, make sure the unit is properly sealed to keep out the moldy basement air. 

Raking leaves, gardening, and cutting the grass provoke mold allergies more than pollen allergies. If you cannot avoid these activities, consider taking an antihistamine or using Nasalcrom nasal spray before working outside. 

Pet allergies

For dog or cat allergies, one solution is to keep the pet out of your bedroom at all times and use a free-standing HEPA air filtration device in the bedroom. We do not recommend giving your cat a bath as any benefits will be gone in a very short amount of time. 

Free standing HEPA air filtration units are most appropriate in bedrooms of pet owners. Animal dander tends to float in the air and will become trapped inside these filters. However, these filters are less beneficial for patients with dust mite allergies. 

Can special air filters on my HVAC duct return help with allergies?

Regular fiberglass air filters do not effectively trap microscopic particles. Contrary to their advertising, washable electrostatic allergy air filters are also not effective.

On the other hand, 3M Filtrete filters are permanently electrostatic and do trap microscopic particles. These filters are available in most hardware stores in a limited number of sizes or online for ordering. 3M Fltrete filters only need to be changed every two to three months. Despite being more expensive than regular filters and have not been studied in a clinical setting, they are a worthwhile consideration should your budget allow for them. 

Should I have my HVAC ventilation ducts cleaned?

While you might see a sizeable amount of dirt removed from your air conditioning ducts during cleaning, this activity does not reduce the amount of dust mites or other allergens in your house. 

Will these avoidance measures prevent me from experiencing any symptoms?

The more avoidance measures you do, the fewer symptoms you should experience. On the other hand, it is important to be realistic about what you are willing to invest in terms of time and money.

Summary of avoidance measures

In conclusion, our allergy avoidance recommendations include:

Pollen allergies:

• Keep your house and car windows shut
• Use your A/C to filter pollen

Dust mite allergies:

• Use pillow and mattress mite-proof encasings
• Wash your bedding weekly in hot water that is at least 130 degrees
• Vacuum regularly with the proper equipment
• Keep your bedroom humidity less than 50%

Mold allergies

• Use antifungal cleaners as necessary
• Keep your humidity less than 50%
• Consider using a dehumidifier, especially in your basement
• Ensure that any furnace/AC unit in the basement is properly sealed
• Avoid leaf raking, cutting grass, and gardening

Pet allergies

• Restrict pets from going into your bedroom
• Use free-standing HEPA air cleaning units

What should I do if allergy avoidance measures do not work?

Should these options and over-the-counter medication not be enough for your seasonal and year-round allergies, CEENTA offers immunotherapy for long-term, sustainable relief. Learn more about immunotherapy options at CEENTA and schedule your next appointment with a CEENTA allergy specialist today. 

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