SE LA Times

• More than 40 million Americans suffer from allergies. 
• Christmas decorations such as trees, wreaths, and ornaments can collect dust and mold. 
• Holiday decorations that are pine-scented can provoke allergy and asthma symptoms.

The holiday season can be an especially difficult time for allergy sufferers, as travel, stress, and even Christmas decorations can lead to worse allergic reactions. According to Dr. Matt Hershcovitch of SoCal Breathe Free, many things can trigger allergy issues.  

“Allergies are your body sensitivity to something,” Dr. Hershcovitch told the SE LA Times. “Often it could be pollen, it could be dust mites, it could be some sort of pet dander. When you breathe in the irritant or the allergen it causes a reaction in your nose and it causes all these we call them inflammatory mediators and white blood cells to attack the allergen which causes a lot of inflammation. This is what triggers the sinus problems.”

According to WebMD, experts recommend choosing an artificial tree for the holiday season rather than a live one, as live Christmas trees could have mold or chemicals on them. Additionally, washing ornaments before decorating is recommended, as is choosing non-fabric ornaments, and storing firewood outdoors until it's ready to be used.

The pine scent of organic Christmas trees and other decorations can also trigger allergy and asthma symptoms, according to Good RX. A chemical called terpene, which is in the sap of pine trees, can be irritating to the eyes, nose, and skin. Trees that are decorated with “flocking,” or fake snow, can also set off allergy and asthma symptoms because the flocking releases small particles into the air.

Another cause of allergy triggers during the holiday season is droppings from pests such as mice, cockroaches, and spiders, according to Good RX. Those pests like to nest in dark, damp locations such as basements and garages and often find decoration bins to be good hiding places because they aren't moved often. Droppings from those pests can set off allergy symptoms.

A lot of traveling, stress, and inconsistent usage of medications during the holiday season can also lead to worsened allergies, according to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. Stress in particular can lead to asthma attacks.

According to SoCal Breathe Free's website, Dr. Matt Hershcovitch earned his undergraduate degree in nuclear engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). He attended medical school at the State University of New York. Hershcovitch completed his residency in head and neck surgery at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center and further specialized with a fellowship in facial plastic and reconstructive surgery at Stanford University.