My wife has had skin prick allergy tests growing up. She is asthmatic and was allergic to all kinds when younger, pollen, dust, and animals. So, I would say the first step to treating allergic reactions is identifying what you are allergic too. Then hopefully you can choose to avoid it going forward. I have also included five suggestions of how you can avoid allergic reactions.
Identifying Allergens
You can try skin prick allergy testing or order a allergy blood test to do this. Blood tests are the preferred option if you are taking medication which can impact the results of the skin prick allergy testing or if you have a skin condition that makes skin prick testing uncomfortable.
Once you have had your GP look at the results of your home allergy tests you can move forward with treating your allergies. My wife used to take antihistamines to manage her allergies, until they seemed easier to control as she got older. But allergies can happen at any stage of your life, so don’t think because you didn’t have allergies as a child you might not get them now. They can strike at any time.
There are so many different things you can be allergic too and it’s not always practical to avoid them. Especially in the case of a much loved pet.
In that case I have included below some of the most common methods for treating allergic reactions without just relying on medication. Hopefully, you will find it a useful read especially as allergies are on the rise in the UK.
Home Remedies
There are lots of natural home remedies you can consider for avoiding allergic reactions.
Saline Rinse
Many people have found a saline rinse to be very effective as it can wash away allergens. Helping to get rid of pollen and dust. You can make your own using salt and baking soda in lukewarm boiled water then use a bulb syringe to apply. If your nostrils sting use less salt.
Avoid Carpets
Laminate flooring might be cold underfoot in winter but it’s much easier to keep clean than carpet. Regularly vacuum to keep on top of allergens. You can buy vacuums that have better filters to help catch smaller allergens causing you bother. But for anything microscopic you need to move on to investing in an air purifier.
Invest in Air Purifiers
My wife said her parents bought one of these when she was a child to help with her asthma and allergies. I think they were willing to try anything, as there was a time her allergies and asthma would make her very unwell indeed. An air purifier filters the air so its cleaner without you have to breathe in mold spores, pet dander, pollen, and bacteria.
Locally Produced Honey
Apparently, eating more locally produced honey can help you build up tolerance to the pollen in the area you live. The reason is because the bees collected that pollen to make the honey.
What Else You Eat
You can manage histamine levels by watching what you eat. Vitamin C can help reduce histamine levels which is often associated with common allergic responses. Try not to drink too much alcohol or eat a lot of dried fruits which increase histamine levels.
Hopefully these suggestions will have showed you how to avoid allergic reactions.