The phone calls have already started. Because we sell a very trusted line of Bed Bug mattress covers, we hear about it when people get bed bugs.  People are coming back from what are sometimes just brief getaways with much, much more than just memories and a few days rest.

Yes, summer travel means opportunities to rest, re-charge your internal battery, and bring home bed bugs that can make life after vacation a living hell.

So while we have shared the following information many times before, it bears repeating. Travel smart and bring home memories and not bed bugs.

Cheryl
The Allergy Store

The calendar doesn’t say “summer” yet, but it is hard to tell that to the grass that is growing like crazy.  If you suffer from summer time seasonal allergies, grass pollen is the major culprit.

The seasonal allergy cycle starts in the Spring with trees and in the Summer transitions to grasses. Come Fall season, it will be the ragweeds responsible for the pollen in the air.

You can do your part to reduce air-borne pollen in your neighborhood by keeping the grass cut short.  You have to balance on that thin line between grass that is not too short so you can conserve water use and grass that is ot too long so that it begins to produce pollen.

However, you can only control the grass in your yard. If you live near fields or undeveloped lots (or homes in foreclosure and the bank isn’t mowing) there can still be lots of pollen in the air.

Over the last couple of years, we have found that our U2 Sports Mask is becoming as popular with lawn care professionals as it is with ATV and motocross riders when it comes to a mask to block pollen.  It started with the tree trimming company in Hawaii.  Their workers were adversely affected by pollen and the masks they had tried that blocked the pollen also restricted air flow.  You don’t want to be short of breath when you are trimming trees.  Then, there was the church that owned a large retreat property that had to be mowed and once again, the employees needed a mask that would stop the grass pollen and still be cool and comfortable.

My favorite is the man that had no problems with pollens but instead his riding mower kicked up dust and loads of small annoying black gnats.  He was just tired of gnats in his nose and mouth and found the U2 Sports Mask did the trick.  Now that was no surprise to me.  During the summer I love to ride my bike on the trails around the lake by my house.  There is just one spot that I always pedaled double speed, because it was always full of this little black flies.  When we first carried the U2 Sports Mask, I discovered that I could wear the mask, breathe easily no matter how hard I was riding, and it kept all the black flies out of my mouth.

So, if you have a riding mower or just a walk behind like mine, if you want protection from air-borne pollen, molds, dust, dirt and bugs then the U2 Sports Mask is the perfect mask for you.  If you have a picture of you wearing your mask, email it to cheryl@allergystore.com.  We would love to see it.

Til Next Time!

Cheryl
The Allergy Store

Allergists and immunologists for years have noted the association of skin conditions such as atopic dermatitis and eczema and food allergies, especially allergies to peanuts.  Heredity has also been a suspect in both conditions.  But now there is more than anecdotal evidence. 

A large group of researchers working in the United Kingdom, Canada, the Netherlands, and Ireland published their findings last year in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.  They were attempting to identify if the genetic coding for filaggrin is a candidate gene in the etiology of peanut allergy.  Filaggrin is a protein in epithelial cells. You can read the entire article here.  The researchers concluded that FLG null mutations represent a highly significant genetic risk factor for atopic dermatitis and also are the single most significant genetic risk for peanut allergy that has been identified to date. 

The reason I am writing about this today is because I just read a post two days ago by a respected allergist that indicated that some food allergies may disappear as a child matures.  He specifically mentioned that this did not apply to peanut allergy. Could it be that the epithelial cells that line the digestive tract are the real culprit?

I’m not a doctor and I don’t have the answers. I do know that if you have peanut allergy or atopic dermatitis researchers are hard at work decoding the causes to find the cure. 

Just something to think about….until next time!

Cheryl
The Allergy Store

The Allergy Store is a force of nature!

 

The Allergy Store is joining thousands around the country who are pledging to be a “Force of Nature” and taking action to prepare for the potential negative impacts of hurricanes and tropical storms. Hurricane season begins June 1 and extends through November 30, and as we saw last year with Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee, severe tropical weather can impact coastal and inland areas alike. People that live in the plains and midwestern states have severe thunderstorms and tornadoes and should also pledge to be a Force of Nature!

Severe weather can often disrupt life through evacuations, prolonged power outages,and flooding.

With these risks in mind, we ask that you join us in pledging to be prepared for storm season by:

1. Knowing your risk: The first step to Being a Force of Nature is to understand how severe weather can affect where you live and work, and how the weather could impact you and your family. Check the weather forecast regularly and sign up for local alerts from emergency management officials and obtain a NOAA Weather Radio.

2. Taking action: Actions can be small, simple, and quick. Pledge to develop an emergency plan based on your local weather hazards, and practice how and where you will evacuate if instructed by your emergency management officials. Post your plan in your home where everyone can see it as a reminder. Learn how to strengthen your home and business against storms.

3. Being an example: Once you have taken action and pledged (or if you already have), share your story with your family and friends.

Join us today and pledge to prepare for all severe weather during National Hurricane Preparedness Week.

Cheryl
The Allergy Store

It is not an uncommon question.  Usually people ask this in the Spring but we also hear it into the beginning of Summer.

A few hours after exposure to the sun, the skin can start to itch.  Red raised dots will appear.  Hard flat bumps can also appear.  This is known as polymorphic light eruption (PMLE).  If you have ever heard older people refer to “sun poisoning” this is the medical term.  It is not known why this happens.  One theory is that when the skin is first exposed to light each season, the small changes in the skin cause it to be recognized by the immune system as something foreign. It is a case of someone being allergic to themselves! It usually goes away on its own a few days after the skin is no longer exposed to light. In temperate climates, it can begin in the Spring when people first start going outside more.  By the end of Summer, exposure to the sun no longer causes a reaction.  However, the entire cycle may or may not begin again the next Spring.  It happens to people of all skin colors and races.  When it happens, it can be very annoying.  It has happened to me a few times in my life and I find that an oatmeal bath and some lotion helps it go away quickly.  Fortunately, it didn’t happen to me this year.  I wanted to find out if Alkaline’s new Moisturizing Oatmeal Skin Creme worked as well as an oatmeal bath.  It is a great light lotion and has healing oatmeal in it.  If you have an episode of PMLE this season and try it out, I’d love to hear about your results.

The other common form of skin allergy is solar urticaria.  This usually happens within minutes of exposure to the sunlight.  Painful bumps and blisters form.  Even skin that is covered by clothing can be effected.  But, as soon as you come inside or get out of the skin, the symptoms quickly disappear.  In anywhere from a few minutes to 2 hours the hives will be completely gone.  However, they will reappear immediately upon exposure to the sun again.

And then there is Tommy that sneezes every time he walks outside into our bright South Florida sun.  He shared this information when I mentioned that I was writing about sun, sunscreens, and allergies. We thought he was kidding us.  But is is true, he has photic sneeze reflex.  I joked with him about it being hereditary, and sure enough he said  “Oh, sure it happens to my Mom also”.  There hasn’t been much research on this even though it happens to about 18% of the population.

So the answer is “Yes, you can be allergic to the sun”.

Til Next Time

Cheryl
The Allergy Store