Ask Well
I
always get sneezy and congested around the holidays. Is my Christmas tree to
blame?
?
The
holiday season can be a time filled with joy, mirth and - sometimes - itchy
eyes, irritated skin, congestion and wheezing. This cluster of symptoms,
sometimes referred to as "Christmas tree syndrome," typically doesn't
stem from an allergy to the Christmas tree itself.
?
But
sometimes certain hitchhikers on the tree, like mold or dust, can cause a
reaction, experts say. And if you're sensitive to the tree's fragrance or sap,
that can also irritate your skin or airways.
?
Thankfully,
there are ways to minimize the risk that your Christmas tree will turn you into
a sneezing, sniffling Scrooge.
?
Typically,
when people are allergic to trees, they are allergic to their pollen.
?
But
evergreen pollens are less likely to induce an allergic reaction than other
tree pollens, and trees don't usually produce pollen around this time of year,
so it's unlikely that a person would be truly allergic to a Christmas tree,
said Dr. Joshua Davidson, an allergist and immunologist in Redondo Beach,
Calif.
?
That
said, you could still experience allergic or allergy-like reactions when
spending time with your favorite pines, spruces and firs. Here are some
potential causes.
?
MOLD
Certain
types of mold can grow on a Christmas tree. And if you're allergic to that
mold, bringing a tree into your home can cause allergy symptoms, Dr. Davidson
said. In one 2023 study, researchers analyzed the results of allergy tests
administered to more than 1.6 million people in the United States between 2014
and 2019. They found that nearly 17 percent of them showed an allergy to
Alternaria alternata, a common type of mold that can grow on Christmas trees.
?
The
mold is so small that you can't see it with the naked eye, said Dr. Sanjiv Sur,
an allergist and immunologist at the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. But
if your tree was growing in rainy or humid conditions, he said, mold is more
likely to be present. Mold may also grow more easily if the tree is stored or
transported in an unventilated, damp space, Dr. Sur said.
FRAGRANCE
Although
many people love how Christmas trees smell, their scent - which comes from
chemicals called terpenes - can also cause problems. "It's not really an
allergy, but it's just irritating to the airway," Dr. Davidson said, and
it can cause sneezing, congestion, itchy eyes and sometimes wheezing and chest
tightness.
?
SAP
Touching
your Christmas tree - and especially its sap or resin, a thick substance that
trees release after injury - could irritate your skin, too, Dr. Sur said.
?
DUST
AND OTHER DEBRIS
If
your tree is grown in a dusty area, or transported through one (like a dirt
road or construction site), it may bring dust into your house, Dr. Sur said. If
you have an artificial Christmas tree, you may not be in the clear, either.
People usually aren't allergic to fake Christmas trees, but because the trees
are often stored for much of the year in dirty lofts or storage spaces, they
can easily accumulate dust mites and mold, said Dr. Linda Cox, an allergist in
Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
?
"This
has happened to many of my patients," she said. After coming in with bad
asthma attacks, they'll often say that they were triggered after being in their
attics.
?
If
you're experiencing respiratory symptoms around your tree, air purifiers
containing HEPA filters can help by removing mold and other irritants from the
air, Dr. Cox said.
?
You
can also try to kill any mold that might be lurking on your tree, Dr. Sur said.
Mold needs humid conditions - at least 55 percent relative humidity - to grow.
If you're having symptoms and your air feels muggy, try running a dehumidifier.
You can also purchase a hygrometer, which measures relative humidity, for less
than $15, he said. Dr. Davidson said you could also take decongestants to
alleviate your symptoms.
?
If
you develop skin irritation after touching your tree, try creating "a
barrier" between your skin and the tree by wearing long sleeves and gloves
the next time you need to touch it, Dr. Sur said.
?
When
putting up a potentially dusty or moldy artificial tree, consider wearing a
mask, like an N95, Dr. Cox suggested.
?
And
if nothing else, remember that any suffering you experience will be short-lived
- much like the holiday season. "It's just a few weeks," Dr. Sur
said. "In January, it should all disappear."
?
Melinda
Wenner Moyer
?
?
