A blog to help make life more comfortable for allergy suffers

Helping Kids with Allergies
Here are 6 things you can do to make your child more comfortable during allergy season.

Holiday Party Time, What's an Allergy Sufferer to do? 11/24/12
This is a difficult time of year for allergy sufferers of all kinds. If you are allergic to foods like eggs, dairy, wheat, soy, fructose, corn, wine, beer and of course peanuts and tree nuts, it is a real dilemma. If you are allergic to perfume, textile dyes, formaldehyde textile coatings and synthetic materials you may find it hard to dress festively and be around people who do. Read about how to handle Holiday parties

Does Grandma know best? 11/12/12
I often write about eczema, contact dermatitis and other skin rashes, this advice from grandmothers may help some people. I find "Old Wives Tales", "Grandma's Wit" and "Grandma's Remedies" to be very helpful. Read more about grandma's remedies...

Are You on the Dry Skin Roller Coaster? 11/12/12
As your skin gets dryer, it gets more sensitive because it has less moisture. Less moisture makes the surface of your skin more porous. When you skin is more porous, it lets in more irritants and pollutants which makes your skin drier and more sensitive. Read how to stop this cycle

It's Summer, What Am I Allergic to Now? 6/19/12
Trees are generally finished pollinating by late Spring, leaving grasses and weeds as the biggest contributors to summer allergies. My nose is running and my eyes are watering. I'm miserable, so I must have added another allergy. Why does pollen bother us?

Do you have trouble sleeping at night? 6/12/12
Everyone has an occasional sleepless night, but people who have consistent sleeplessness called insomnia might want to check out their bedrooms for pollutants and toxins that cause irritation, allergy flare-ups, watery eyes, swelling of the throat, respiratory problems, irritation, nervousness, insomnia and more. Formaldehyde is usually the culprit. Read more about sleeplessness...

Why are more and more clothes irritating our skin? 6/5/12
It's very hard to figure out what will irritate your skin when buying clothes. Price really is no indicator of safety. I have found expensive clothes that make me break out from irritation to the dyes and finishes just as I have problems with less expensive clothes. Read about irritating clothes...

Confidence in Textiles 5/12/12
One of the readers of this blog made a comment mentioning a website Called Oeko-Tex. Here is a link to this website Oeko-Tex®, Confidence in Textiles. I visited the site and found it to be a very good idea to label items of clothing that interact with our skin as to their safety. Read more about textile....

New Puppy Complicates Spring Allergy Season 4/22/12
I have a new challenge this Spring allergy season; a new puppy who needs to be taken outside every few hours. I find it hard to avoid the worst times of day for pollen and we both tend to bring more pollen into the house with each trip. More about allergies...

Spring 2012: Pollen count is dangerously high, what you can do? 3/30/12
The air quality alert is at dangerous levels for allergy sufferers. 1500 is the high limit, the other day we were at 1600. What is going on, I have never seen Spring come so early. Where I live we had 4 inches of snow last year at this time. This year we are having highs in the 80's. You can reduce or even eliminate allergy symptoms gently and naturally by reducing contact with the allergens and building up your immune systems. What you can do to reduce your exposure...

Allergic Reaction to Tattoo Ink 3/12/12
Allergic Reaction to Tattoo InkThere is such a variety of ink used in the tattoo business that it is hard to pin point what may or may not cause irritation. Some tattoo ink contains azo dyes which are not toxic in themselves, but breakdown into element s that can be carcinogenic and allergic. Read more about...

Winter Dry Skin Getting Me Down. 2/27/12
Even though this has been a relatively mild Winter, it has still dried out my skin terribly. When I remove my clothes the insides are covered with dry skin flakes. My hands and other exposed skin is rough and dry. I use several products on my skin to help with the dryness. The newest product I am testing on my skin is Neosporin's Eczema Essentials Moisturizing Skin Cream.

Why are my clothes giving me a rash?1/27/12
Most reaction to clothes can be traced back to chemical additives. It's mind boggling how many irritating chemicals are used in processing textiles. rubber materials, formaldehyde resins, quarternium-15, dyes, glues, elastic, tanning agents used to process fabrics & leather and metallic fasteners. The usual areas of concern for irritation from textiles are areas of the body subjected to friction and perspiration...read more.

Yes, you can reduce allergens in your home 1/2/12
Reducing allergens in your home is a year around job, but especially necessary when we are all sealed up inside our home or apartments for the winter months. Read more about allergens...

Caution! Correct Use of Neti Pot! 12/16/11
Louisiana health regulators warned residents Tuesday about the dangers of using neti pots improperly.
There have been two deaths linked to neti Pot use in Louisanna. Neti pot use...

Book Review: "Toxic Free"12/3/11
Are you suffering from unexplained headaches, fatigue, skin rashes or depression? Are you worried about the link between chemicals in the home and the rising rate of cancer and allergies? Or are you just looking to save money (and the planet in the process)? Book review...

'Tis the season for indoor allergies 11/21/11
Now that Winter is near we are spending more time indoors. The allergens that are trapped inside the house with you are making you miserable. 10% of the population is allergic to one or more of these irritants: Dust mites, pet dander, mold, perfumes, smoke from fireplaces and even Christmas Trees.In the Winter many people think they have colds, when they actually have allergies. If cold-like symptoms last longer than a week or if your symptoms include itchy eyes, it is most likely is an allergy and not a cold. A few things to try...

Information on skin allergies, itching, dermatitis and eczema 10/27/11
For almost two years, I have written many blogs on skin allergies, dermatitis and eczema. They are my popular posts by far. In this blog post I would like to summarize some of my most popular blogs to give you easy access links to many of my most popular blogs for skin allergies.

Causes of eczema and dermatitis and how to eliminate them 10/1/11
Eczema is used as a general term for many types of skin inflammation and itching skin (also called dermatitis) and allergic-type skin rashes. There are many things that can irritate your skin. Read about to elimination these causes

Beautiful Fall Brings Not So Lovely Allergies 9/21/11
If you have a runny nose and sneezing with watery or burning eyes, you have an allergy. Welcome to the club. It's not a very exclusive club because over 50 million Americans have allergies or develop them sometime in their life. Besides the usually symptoms of runny nose, sneezing and watery eyes, many people develop seasonal dermatitis. Contact dermatitis is simply your body's reaction to something touching your skin. Read more about seasonal dermatitis allergies>

Itchy new clothes cause rashes 9/4/11
It's back to school and all those new Fall clothes that cause itchy skin and rashes. I can remember as a child hating new back-to-school clothes because they itched so much. I always had problems with sensitive skin rashes. Read how to make clothes more comfortable for kids and adults.

Allergic to Food Additives 8/17/11
Why am I writing abut food additives on an allergy blog?
Food additive aren't absolutely necessary in most foods. Most have no added nutrients for our bodies to use. I feel they are dangerous and unnecessary in foods and can cause health problems as well as allergic reactions. Read why you should stay away from most food additives...

How to Make Itchy Skin Go Away 8/6/11
For normal itching associated with dry skin, contact dermatitis, eczema, menopause, pregnancy and sun-burn there are a few simple remedies. When you itch at night and can't sleep, you need help. For the extreme itch of poison ivy and bug bites see the special sections at the end of the blog page.

Low Gluten Communion Hosts 8/4/11
The Vatican requires that Communion hosts contain some gluten, an essential ingredient in bread,. Just a little over a year ago when a pair of Benedictine sisters, after exhausting trial and error finally found a way. Thanks to their patience and perseverance . . . Read more about low gluten Communion Hosts

Allergic to your clothes? Some helpful advice.7/23/11
I have been writing this blog for one and a half years now. My most popular posts and the most comments I receive are about allergic reaction to clothes, skin irritations from laundry detergents, eczema and contact dermatitis. This is a summary of the best solutions for skin allergies . . .

Skin Allergies Reduce Risk of Cancer 7/18/11
Could there really be something good about the aggravating skin conditions so many of us endure? It could almost make our suffering more bearable to know there might be a pay-back later on.

Allergy to Mold a Growing Problem 7/10/11
Do your eyes water and do you sniff and sneeze more in certain locations in your house or when you visit friends or businesses? Do you seem to suffer more inside your home or office than outside? Do damp basements and bathrooms make you miserable? You may be among a growing list of people allergic to mold. Mold is everywhere around us, but our homes should be a sanctuary to escape the misery. Read more about Mold . . .

I Tested Dr. Bronner's Soap for a Month 7/4/11
A reader suggested I try Dr. Bronner's soap for my Eczema. Her daughter who had terrible eczema had used it with great success. I decided to try Dr. Bronner's All-One Hemp Pure-Castile Soap because it sounded the most mild. Find out what happened . . .

My First Gluten-Free Restaurant Review 6/30/11
New Day Gluten-free is a made from scratch dedicated gluten and peanut free cafe and bakery that also supplies prepared meals to-go. They supply gluten-free pizzas and gluten-free entrees to many of the better known restaurants and pizza parlors in our area. They also carry, several pasta dishes, pies, breads, muffins, made to order birthday cakes and of course cookies. Read about my lunch...

Sensitivity to Ragweed is on the Rise 6/5/11
More and more people are becoming allergic to ragweed and molds. In a recent study conducted by Quest Diagnostics, the results from nearly 14 million blood tests, from 2 million patients over a four-year study clearly show increases in sensitization to pollens. Ragweed increased 15% from 2005-2008, for mold the increase was 12%. A study in the "Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences" found that ragweed season was nearly a month longer in 2009 than in 1995 in northern areas of North America. To read more about this problem read the whole blog...

Crisco for Eczema Skin Care 4/25/11
I don't think using Crisco for a skin cream is a new use for the shortening, but it was new idea for me. I like to share things that work. I didn't want to write about my experience until I tried it for at least a month. I hate when someone writes" I just tried this product yesterday and it's wonderful", how do they know? This is my experience with Crisco...

How to do an elimination diet. 4/21/11
Most elimination diets are very complicated to successfully accomplish. You start on a very restricted diet of basically rice and lamb and very gradually add foods until you encounter a reaction. This method can take many months. I have found a shorter, faster and lass painful way to accomplish almost the same results. Read more about eliminations diets...

Make Hay Fever Season More Comfortable for You & Your Child 4/10/11
One out of seven children in the U.S. suffers from seasonal allergies.
Hay fever is a seasonal allergy that occurs when tree, grass, weeds or flower pollen in the air comes in contact with nose membranes and it triggers inflammation, causing sneezing, itchy eyes, congestion, runny nose and cough. You can reduce or even eliminate allergy symptoms gently and naturally by reducing contact with the allergens and building up your immune systems.

Yes, you can be sensitive to gluten and not have celiac disease 3/19/11
Finally the medical community is agreeing with a fact that many of us have known for a long time. According to a new study in the journal BMC Medicine, gluten can cause a distinct reaction in the intestines and the immune system even in people who do NOT test positive for celiac disease. People with gluten sensitivity or intolerance have known this for years, but finally there is scientific evidence that "gluten sensitivity not only exists, but is very different from celiac decease." Read more about gluten intolerance...

How to Beat Spring Allergies Symptoms 3/14/11
In this blog, I list and explain 6 ways to make your Spring allergies more comfortable for you.

For much of the U.S., this was open your windows week. 2/15/11
I blog a lot about not opening your windows most of the Spring, Fall and Summer. This is to keep out allergens. A house still needs to be aired out occasionally to cut down on indoor pollutants. This is the time to air things out, It's reasonably warm right now in most of the middle of the U.S. and nothing has really started to blossom yet. ...Read More

It's freezing outside, why do I still have allergies? 2/11/11
If you've been stuck inside with the cold weather, snow and ice like half the U.S., you might find it hard to believe you still have allergy symptoms. It's the allergens that are trapped inside with you that are making you miserable. Dust mites, pet dander, mold, perfumes and even smoke from fireplaces are still around and now you are spending more time indoors. Read more about indoor allergies...

Atopic Dermatitis- why it's so hard to control 1/20/11
If you have contact dermatitis or eczema there are pretty straight forward treatments to control the condition. First you find out what you are sensitive to, then you eliminate the cause. The causes can be, perfumes, soaps, detergents, fabric softeners, textile dyes, fabric treatments, latex, household chemicals or anything your skin comes in contact with. With Atopic Dermatitis . . . read more about finding comfort.

One Year of Writing Allergy Comfort Zone 1/8/11
Last week I officially passed the one year mark writing this blog. Thank you all for a successful first year. I have had fun writing and researching this blog and I have learned a lot from the comments reader leave on the Allergy Comfort Zone Forum. I have found that my most searched blogs are the ones on skin allergies, eczema and contact dermatitis caused by fabrics, fabric dyes and fabric coatings. In my second year of blogging about allergies, I would like to see even more feed back from readers. A two way conversation is so much more fun and educational. Please leave a comment on the Allergy Comfort Zone Forum.

New Year's Resolution: Track down secondary reasons for skin irritation
I'm always very careful about what touches my skin because it is so very sensitive. Now why would I still be having problems with my skin breaking out in rashes when I am so careful with all these things that I'm allergic to? There may be secondary factors that contribute to the reaction. Read about my plans...

Can you be allergic to Christmas trees? 12/1/10
Yes, both real and artificial trees can cause allergies because they have dust and mold on them. Dust and mold are a few of the main causes of allergic reactions in humans. Real Christmas trees are cut months before we see them on the lots. They are wrapped and stacked in close and sometimes damp areas where they can pick up mold spores. Read more...

Have an Allergy free Thanksgiving 11/15/10
Thanks giving is just around the corner and my kids with allergies are coming for dinner. My family is allergic to gluten, dairy, soy and eggs. The turkey will be fine, but what about the dressing, mash potatoes, and pumpkin pie? I"ll tell you want I am preparing...

Removing "tagless" tags from clothes 11/6/10
Before writing this blog, I searched the Internet looking for ways to remove the latex based ink printed tags that so many children and adults are allergic to. I didn't find any sensible suggestion at all. So I collected all my "tagless" clothing together and started experimenting with different methods of removal. See the amazing non-toxic way to remove the labels.

Certain foods can make seasonal allergies worse 1028/10
If you are allergic to ragweed and having a particularly bad Fall look to what you are eating. Some foods can actually make the symptoms of your ragweed allergy worse.

Can I be Allergic to Bed Bugs? 10/18/10
Bed Bug bites are sometimes mistaken for allergies because the bites appear as itchy bumps. The bumps appear in the morning, usually in a line pattern and fade later in the day. Read all about bed bugs and see pictures of the bites ...

Ragweed Pollen is high this year 10/5/10
Nine steps you can take to make your life more comfortable during the high pollen days of Fall.

Is a celiac vaccine in the future? 9/28/10
An Australian research team reports the new findings in the July 21 Science Translational Medicine. The breakthrough work isolating three partial peptides has opened the way for development of a therapeutic vaccine that might help celiac patients tolerate foods that contain celiac. Read more about this break though...

The worst time of the year for textile allergy sufferers. 9/20/10
Each Fall, I have problems with my wardrobe. I'm allergic to textile dyes and fabric finishes on my clothes. In the summer I can wear a white top with a well washed white or light bottom (pants/skirts) and look half way normal. It's the Fall that is the most troublesome for me. Read more about textile allergies...

Relief from seasonal allergies, do pollen blockers really work? 9/9/10
The way most allergy medications work is to temporarily relieve symptoms. The way pollen blockers work is to stop pollen from reaching nasal membranes and lungs. This is accomplished by applying a cream, gel or petroleum jelly l to the nasal openings to trap pollen. Some of the creams or gels form a positive charge that acts like a magnet to trap negatively charged pollen grains. Chloraseptic Allergen Block Gel,
Pollen Blocker Cream and Pronatura Pollen Blocker Cream are three products that block pollen. Read more about Pollen Blockers

Peanut Dogs Help Anaphylactic Kids 8/19/10
An allergy alert dog (or peanut dog) can be a valuable tool and companion for kids with life threatening allergies. A dogs sense of smell is many times more acute than humans, this makes them perfect scent detectives to warn kids and their parents about possible life threatening situations involving peanuts or tree nuts. Read more about Peanut dogs for kids...

Celiac disease is NOT a fad diet for the millions of true celiacs
and gluten intolerants. 8/11/10
I recently heard on the Today Show that gluten Intolerance and celiac disease has become a "fad" condition. Movie stars are jumping on the celiac bandwagon to improve health and lose weight. It's important to realize that true celiac disease and gluten intolerance are very serious condition for those who test positive. Just because gluten-free diets are popular right now and many people are trying out the fad, is not a reason to discount the true health ramifications to the many real celiacs and gluten intolerants in the world. This is a serious condition ... read more...

Recipe for Kale Chips 728/10
Kale is the vegetable with the most vitamin A, K and beta carotene. A cup of fresh boiled kale has over 1,000 percent of the percent daily value of vitamin K, and over 150 percent of the percent daily value of vitamin A and beta carotene. Kale is also unusually high in vitamin C, manganese and dietary fiber. Also one cup of cooked Kale=179 mg. calcium. Everyone loves this recipe. Get the Kale recipe...

Why do blue jeans turn my legs blue and make me itch? 7/24/10
My most popular blogs by far have been the ones associated textiles and clothes causing rashes, dermatitis, eczema and skin allergies. It seems to me, more and more people are becoming super sensitive to the clothes they wear everyday. . In my previous blogs I've talked about skin sensitivity to textile dyes and fabric coatings. In my previous blogs I've talked about skin sensitivity to textile dyes and fabric coatings, now I want to tell you what to do to protect yourself. Blue jeans turn your legs blue because the dye...

Heat and Humidity Can Cause Asthma Symptoms 7/15/10
Normally your air passages are wide open, but with asthma, when you breathe this unhealthy humid air, it can irritate your lungs. Coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath can be signs of an attack. Heat increases metabolism and body temperature, which makes the body use more energy and require more oxygen. For anyone with respiratory problems, the need for more oxygen poses problems. What you can do to help summer asthma...

Some home recipes for Poison Ivy 7/5/10
I've written about Poison Ivy before, but it's that time of year when so many people are suffering the effects of the nasty plant. About 15 percent of the 120 million Americans who are allergic to poison oak, poison ivy, and poison sumac are so highly sensitive that they break out in a rash and begin to swell in 4 to 12 hours instead of the normal 24 to 48. Their eyes may swell shut and blisters may erupt on their skin. Poison Ivy is a very serious condition.

Contact Dermatitis and Chemicals used in the Jewelry Industry 6/27/10
Dermatitis is a real hazard for jewelers. I am extremely allergic to nickel as are many other people. Nickel can be found in white gold as well as inexpensive costume jewelry. It usually shows up when the surface plating wears off and the inner nickel touches the skin. Perspiration can make it worse. I am strictly against gold jewelry that contains nickel. Read more about Contact Dermatitis...

Textile allergies- are you allergic to your clothes? 6/15/10
Allergies to clothing is quite common, the reaction is mostly because of the finishes or dyes used on the fabric. More and more fabric finishes are being used everyday, so more and more people are becoming allergic to clothes. This is a subject that I have been very concerned about for the last 10 years or so when my symptoms started. Textile allergy symptoms include...

Dining in Italy with Allergies 6/7/10
I just got back from a wonderful vacation in Italy. Read my blog about my experiences with food and wine in that beautiful country. Ever since my daughter was diagnosed with celiac disease, egg allergy, casein allergy and soy allergies, I have become extremely interested in what ingredients are in foods. She was not traveling with me on this trip but I took note of what would be available for her for future reference. Allergies and traveling

Are the FDA & EPA really protecting us from harmful chemicals? 5/24/10
Those of us with allergies are more susceptible to poisons and reactions to chemicals than the general public. So I would like to expand my subject from allergies to a wider problem of new chemicals not being tested properly

More allergies now than any other time in recorded history 5/18/10
I have researched this issue on both sides of this issue; this is what I've found: Why have allergies gotten worse through the years?

Allergies have gotten worse through the years 5/10/10
Many experts think it could be because of global warming. Higher concentrations of CO2 in the atmosphere speeds plant growth, while the warmer temperature that bring Spring and allergy season arrives earlier and earlier. Spring-like conditions are arriving as much as 14 days earlier in some parts of the U.S. A warmer climate will make allergies worse for most of us. Total pollen counts in many areas of the country are increasing every year. Also industrialized population's sensitivity to pollen and other irritants is increasing as well. Why are we more sensitive to pollen than ever before and what does ozone has to do with it? Read more....

Beware of Nanoparticles Used in Cosmetics and Sun Screens 4/30/10
0A nanoparticle is a piece of material so small that its size is measured in nanometers or billionths of a meter. As a comparison, a typical nanoparticle is approximately 1/50000 smaller than the diameter of a human hair. The size of nanoparticles is their greatest asset and also their greatest health risk. I feel strongly that this new technology has the potential to create new allergens or weaken our natural defenses against natural allergens. We should always be aware and on guard to protect our bodies read more about nanoparticles...

Hypo allergenic Trees 4/23/10
Did you know that some trees are more allergic than others. I didn't realize this until I read the New York Times opinion article by Thomas Leo Ogren. Male trees make more pollen than female trees, the male trees are chosen as city street trees because they are "cleaner" they produce no fruit or seed pods to litter the streets. There is no thought to the pollen that affects so many allergy sufferers in the city. Ways to curb pollen on your street.

Do you Eat Genetically Engineered or Modified Food? 4/17/10
I didn't think too much of the whole GM thing, until I heard about the up-roar in Europe about American GM foods being exported there. Why were Europeans so upset about American GM foods? I started to do more research and found out the issue was not really as simple or as safe as I thought. Scientists have known that GM crops might cause allergies. But there are no tests available right now to prove that GM crops are safe or unsafe, because people are not usually allergic to a food until it is eaten several times, sometimes years. The introduction of genetically engineered foods into our diet was done quietly...

Bee Sting Allergies 4/15/10
Bees, wasps, hornets and yellow jackets are the most common stinging insects in the U.S. One of the best ways to prevent these stings is to leave the insects alone– as many insects many may only sting in self defense. Wear light colored clothing, avoid perfumes. Wear clean clothing and shower regularly– sweat attracts bees. In addition avoid flowering shrubs and don't...

Itching of Poison Ivy 4/9/10
Symptoms for individuals can range from transient redness to severe swelling and blisters that may ooze fluid. The rash usually occurs within 48 hours after coming in contact with the sap of the poison plant. I have a friend who spent a week at a camp with shared showers. She had not gone into the woods or taken off her shoes and socks all that day. But the person who used the shower right before her had worn sandals in the woods and had poison ivy sap on their feet. My friend picked up a nice case of poison ivy on her feet from the shower floor. How to identify poison ivy and what can you do for poison Ivy itching...

What you should do for Dairy Allergy 4/7/10
Most people who say they are allergic to dairy actually have problems digesting lactose which is the sugar in milk, this is called lactose intolerance. If you have this condition, you lack the enzymes that are necessary to break down the lactose in milk. You might have nausea, diarrhea, bloating, flatulence and malabsorption. Up to 75% of the world's population is lactose intolerant in adulthood. A true milk allergy such as casein allergy is much more serious. Symptoms of casein allergy...

Preventing Asthma Attacks 3/31/10
Asthma Attacks which are a sudden worsening of asthma symptoms can be triggered by allergies that increase the inflammation of the airways of children and adults with asthma. What allergies can cause asthma...

Gluten-free Polenta Appetizers Squares 3/25/10
I love this recipe, just make sure the polenta you buy is totally made of corn and not a mixture of other grains. Polenta and cornmeal are basically the same, cornmeal will

Do you have red itchy, allergy eyes? 3/23/10
Sometimes the first signs of allergies are irritated itchy eyes. In some areas of the country the pollen in the air is especially hard on eyes. Read the full blog about red itchy eyes...

Are your clothes causing an itchy rash? 3/17/10
If you have textile dermatitis, you are not alone, more and more people are becoming sensitive to the clothes they wear. Generally, it is not the cloth itself people are allergic to, but the dyes and finishes added to the fibers. Textile dermatitis also can be caused by detergents used to wash your clothes and fabric softeners. Textile rashes usually occur at friction points on the body: Under arms, inner... [read more about textile dermatitis]

You think you have Celiac Disease, what now? 3/12/10
Gluten is Everywhere! Those with celiac disease and gluten intolerance have a uphill battle to find all the gluten contaminants in their food and surroundings. The more I read, the more I'm finding out how very difficult it is. Gluten can be in anything, even food items that do not list wheat in the ingredients. 8 steps to get you started ...

7 ways I relieve sinus problems
The worse time for sinus problems is Winter as far as I'm concerned. In the Spring and Fall, other seasonal irritants kick in and at least my sinuses can drain. In the Winter when the central heat is on the membranes in our noses and sinuses get dry. Mucus isn't cleared as effectively, so the risk of infection and blockages causing headaches and pressure can occur. A few things to try for sinus...

Banish Dry Skin Without Costly Prescription Cream
You don't have to spend your winters in dry, tight, itchy skin. I have incredibly dry, sensitive skin. I've had eczema for the last 10 years, the severity of it changes depending my stress level, the weather, and on my exposure to allergens. There are four products that have helped me to keep my skin healthy with very little medicated creams or ointments. They are dye and fragrance free, and I recommend them without hesitation to everyone with eczema I meet... Read about banishing dry skin

Why I love my Neti Pot? 2/14/10
I can't believe I'm writing this on Valentines Day. Am I weird or what? I love my neti pot because it helps me to breath, it thins the mucus that constantly is draining from my sinuses and helps with sinus headaches. It also cleans germs and allergens from my nasal passages. I think it keeps me healthier. I don't really use a traditional neti pot, the type I use is a plastic bottle that you squeeze and it acts like a fountain I think it's [...]

Nickel Allergies 2/5/10
I have had nickel allergies for many years. Many people do also, but don’t realize it because they don’t know that much of the costume jewelry that is sold and most white gold jewelry contains nickel. If you get a rash (contact dermatitis) from a belt buckle, watch, ring or if your ears get red and swollen wearing earrings it’s probably the nickel in the metal. When you buy an engagement ring or wedding ring …read more about nickel allergies

Foods that fight seasonal allergies 2/3/10
For seasonal or environmental allergies such as pet dander, dust mites and hay fever it can be possible to limit the severity of your allergies by increasing your body's ability to cope with your reaction to the allergen. Read about other foods that help to fight allergies...

Children and Their Allergies 1/25/10
At least 1 in 50 of all children are allergic to nuts. All allergies are on the increase particularly in the developed, western world. The Hygiene Hypothesis has been offered as a reason for this fact, but there is no absolutely conclusive evidence to confirm why the incidence of allergies and asthma is highest in the cities and towns of industrialized nations, but is relatively low in rural areas and developing countries. While it is good advice to keep allergy and asthma triggers out of the home... read more about children's allergies

Runny nose and other seasonal allergies 1/24/10
It's not even Spring and already your allergies are terrible? Look to your environment for the triggers: Dust mites, pet dander, mold, fibers, insect parts and particles of air pollution from outside can all cause allergy problems. What's the best way to unstuff a nose. • Take a warm shower without using the exhaust fan. (be sure to air out the bathroom later to avoid mold growth). The extra steam can help clear the nose and sinuses. • Be careful if you use a humidifier... Read the complete blog on seasonal allergies...

What causes allergies and hyper-sensitivity? 1/19/10
Histamine is the culprit, antihistamines the relief. The allergic reactions that you and I and many others are experiencing are caused by histamine, the body's inflammation mediator. Histamine, which is an important protein in the body and upon its release it can cause allergic symptoms to appear. Though histamine is a protective mechanism of the body, its over activation may result in life-threatening situations and worse, death. Read about what causes allergies

Nutritional labels can be dangerous for allergy suffers 1/8/10
This morning I noticed an article in the newspaper about nutrition labels being up to 20% wrong on calorie count. and it got me to thinking..... If they are wrong on calorie count, could they also be wrong on the listed ingredients or sodium level or other potentially dangerous fact? See how labels can be dangerous...

Help, Dust Bunnies are giving me Asthma. 1/7/10
They sound cute and cuddly, but Dust Bunnies can cause problems for Asthma and indoor seasonal allergy sufferers. These annoying small clusters of dust particles that seem to gather in every nook and corner, are a complex mix of stuff that can include pet dander and fur; insect feces; fibers of such fabrics as wool, synthetic fibers and cotton; yucky insect body parts... read about asthma...

Are "Hypoallergenic" products really allergy free? 1/6/10
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration says that there is no federal standards or regulations to govern the use of the term "hypoallergenic." On the other hand, I have always had better luck with products marked "hypoallergenic" than the ones that are not marked this way. Just eliminating the heavy perfumes helps my allergies to a certain extent... See the full blog about hypoallergenic products

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A blog to help make life more comfortable for allergy suffers

Helping Kids with Allergies Here are 6 things you can do to make your child more comfortable during allergy season.

Does Grandma know best? 11/12/12 I often write about eczema, contact dermatitis and other skin rashes, this advice from grandmothers may help some people. I find "Old Wives Tales", "Grandma's Wit" and "Grandma's Remedies" to be very helpful. Read more about grandma's remedies...

Yes, you can reduce allergens in your home 1/2/12 Reducing allergens in your home is a year around job, but especially necessary when we are all sealed up inside our home or apartments for the winter months. Read more about allergens...

Caution! Correct Use of Neti Pot! 12/16/11 Louisiana health regulators warned residents Tuesday about the dangers of using neti pots improperly. There have been two deaths linked to neti Pot use in Louisanna. Neti pot use...

Causes of eczema and dermatitis and how to eliminate them 10/1/11 Eczema is used as a general term for many types of skin inflammation and itching skin (also called dermatitis) and allergic-type skin rashes. There are many things that can irritate your skin. Read about to elimination these causes

Skin Allergies Reduce Risk of Cancer 7/18/11 Could there really be something good about the aggravating skin conditions so many of us endure? It could almost make our suffering more bearable to know there might be a pay-back later on.

I Tested Dr. Bronner's Soap for a Month 7/4/11 A reader suggested I try Dr. Bronner's soap for my Eczema. Her daughter who had terrible eczema had used it with great success. I decided to try Dr. Bronner's All-One Hemp Pure-Castile Soap because it sounded the most mild. Find out what happened . . .

How to Beat Spring Allergies Symptoms 3/14/11 In this blog, I list and explain 6 ways to make your Spring allergies more comfortable for you.

Certain foods can make seasonal allergies worse 1028/10 If you are allergic to ragweed and having a particularly bad Fall look to what you are eating. Some foods can actually make the symptoms of your ragweed allergy worse.

Can I be Allergic to Bed Bugs? 10/18/10 Bed Bug bites are sometimes mistaken for allergies because the bites appear as itchy bumps. The bumps appear in the morning, usually in a line pattern and fade later in the day. Read all about bed bugs and see pictures of the bites ...

Ragweed Pollen is high this year 10/5/10 Nine steps you can take to make your life more comfortable during the high pollen days of Fall.

Are the FDA & EPA really protecting us from harmful chemicals? 5/24/10 Those of us with allergies are more susceptible to poisons and reactions to chemicals than the general public. So I would like to expand my subject from allergies to a wider problem of new chemicals not being tested properly

More allergies now than any other time in recorded history 5/18/10 I have researched this issue on both sides of this issue; this is what I've found: Why have allergies gotten worse through the years?

Preventing Asthma Attacks 3/31/10 Asthma Attacks which are a sudden worsening of asthma symptoms can be triggered by allergies that increase the inflammation of the airways of children and adults with asthma. What allergies can cause asthma...

Gluten-free Polenta Appetizers Squares 3/25/10 I love this recipe, just make sure the polenta you buy is totally made of corn and not a mixture of other grains. Polenta and cornmeal are basically the same, cornmeal will

Do you have red itchy, allergy eyes? 3/23/10 Sometimes the first signs of allergies are irritated itchy eyes. In some areas of the country the pollen in the air is especially hard on eyes. Read the full blog about red itchy eyes...