Do you know the Christmas tree allergy?

Do you know the Christmas tree allergy?

You experience hay fever-like symptoms in the middle of December. What if it was because of your Christmas tree? The molds found in the bark could indeed activate allergies in sensitive people.

Runny nose, irritated eyes, nasal congestion, cough, respiratory discomfort, eczema, redness… Since you installed your Christmas tree in your living room, you have developed certain classic symptoms of allergic rhinitis. Is it possible to be allergic to Christmas trees? For Dr Emmanuelle Rondeleux, allergist, pediatrician and homeopath, it is not an allergy to the tree itself, but rather to what it carries. " Pines do not cause allergy.

Their pollens are quite large and therefore less dangerous. However, studies have shown that molds on fir trees can cause these symptoms.", explains the doctor. Fir trees grow, in fact, in humid environments which favor the appearance of fungi. The Christmas trees are then stored in damp shelters, too, before arriving warm in your interior. Ideal conditions for these molds which then develop and proliferate at high speed thanks to their spores.

A study by Dr. Kurlandsky, published in 2011 in the American journal Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology , found the presence of 53 types of fungi on the 28 Christmas trees analyzed. However, according to another study mentioned by the researcher, the rate of molds would increase sharply, from 800 to 5,000 spores per cubic meter, in the space of 14 days at your home.

Allergens and prevention

Other factors can cause this allergy. " Studies have mentioned the presence of grass pollens which can be allergenic. There may also be a sensitivity to the resin of the trees. Finally, dust mites and dust from Christmas decorations can also cause reactions in children and adults with allergies. ", warns Dr. Rondeleux. This last point will also be valid with a synthetic s apin.

To enjoy the end of the year celebrations and a beautiful Christmas tree, it is better to adopt certain recommendations. So buy your natural tree shortly before the holidays.. 

Avoid keeping it for more than seven days as mold will increase over time. Wipe balls, garlands and other decorations well with a microfiber cloth to remove dust. " Air out the room where the tree is located daily. Wash your nose well with a nasal spray, this will remove the allergens. If that is not enough, take an antihistamine" , advises the allergist. Another solution: make an original and ecological tree with wooden planks, for example. You will find many sources of DIY inspiration on the Internet.

Christmas is also the joy of insects

Springtails, psocoptera, mites, moths, occasional spider ... Norwegian research carried out in 2012 on Christmas trees showed that up to 25,000 of these little animals found refuge there to spend the winter. As Bjarte Jordal, in charge of the study, explains: “ They hibernate. Usually they empty their bodies of their fluids and are completely inactive. But they wake up when the tree is warm in the living room. this warmth and light, they believe that spring is back and coming back to life ”.

 No particular fear, however: these creatures are for the most part invisible to the naked eye and remain quite wisely in the tree where they have taken up residence. "We must not lose sight of the fact that there are plenty of insects and small animals in the potted plants that we find in most homes ", insists the researcher." Christmas trees are no different. When you place a tree in your living room, it carries a part of nature with it ", concludes Bjarte Jordal.