Best Way to Avoid Outdoor Allergies

Allergy sufferers may need to take a range of precautions once they move outside the home.

Bees and wasps

If you are sensitive to bee and wasp stings, take care when eating fruit or having a sweet drink outside. Don’t walk barefoot on grass where bees are feeding on small flowers, stay away from tree trunks or stumps that may house wasp nests, and check the car for bees or wasps before getting in. Finally, stay calm if there is a bee or wasp about – any agitated movement will make an attack more likely.

Mosquitoes and midges

An adverse reaction to mosquito or midge bites could include a slight abnormal swelling in the area of the bite, which may be quite marked in some people and lead to prolonged irritation. These symptoms are eased by antihistamine tablets and by applying an anti-irritant cream.

Avoid places where biting insects breed (commonly near ponds and streams) at times when they are active (often in the evening). If you are about at this time of day, wear a long-sleeved top and trousers (pants) and apply an insect-repellent to any exposed areas of skin, especially your ankles. Repellents often contain powerful chemicals you may want to avoid. If so, try rubbing on white vinegar

Car (automobile) travel

Modern cars (autos) have pollen filters in the ventilation system and many also have air conditioning, which both filters and cools the air. This may be of help for pollen sufferers, as they can keep the windows closed even during the hottest weather.

On the negative side, however the distinctive smell found in new vehicles is due to chemicals in the upholstery and other components out-gassing. To help speed up this process, let the car (auto) sit out in the hot sun with the windows down. Wiping down the inside thoroughly with a non-scented cleaner may help to remove some of the odour Avoid air fresheners if you find that fragrances can be an irritant.

To combat mite allergen, avoid soft-fabric seat covers and cushions (pillows), unless they are washable and can be easily dried, and use rubber (latex) floor mats you can take out and wash. These measures, plus regular vacuuming, should help to keep the dust-mite population in check.

Garages and sheds

Many homes with attached garages face the problem of pollutants, including exhaust emissions and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), passing from the garage into the home. Any connecting door will inevitably allow some polluted air into your home every time it is used.

Carefully draught-proof (weather strip) connecting doors to minimize fume leakage when they are closed, and also seal gaps in walls around pipework passing into your home from the garage. An extractor (exhaust) fan vented to the outside and set to operate for 15-20 minutes after your car has left or entered the garage will help to remove some of the exhaust gases, as will leaving the garage door open. Never run your car (auto) in the garage for longer than is strictly necessary – especially if there is a habitable room above it.

Garages and sheds often double up as workshops, and so may contain products with the potential to cause skin or respiratory irritation. Follow the manufacturers’ instructions for the storage and use of these products.

Visiting friends

The better you understand your allergy and its trigger factors, the better able you will be to cope with other environments. For example, children with mite allergies intending to sleep over at friends’ homes may need to take their own pillows and duvet with them to reduce their risk of worsening their symptoms.

Vacations

People with hay fever and mould allergies may have fewer symptoms during vacations on the coast, as sea breezes contain little pollen; while those sensitive to mites will benefit from a high-altitude vacation in the mountains, where the dust mite is not found.