Common Allergens & Allergic Reactions

Identifying The Cause of Your Allergy

In order to determine which Bio-Life International products are suitable for your allergies, it is crucial to pinpoint the specific allergen responsible for your condition. The six most common allergen sources include dust mites, pollen, pets, mould, food, and chemicals.

It’s not uncommon for individuals to have allergies to multiple allergens, and the symptoms may appear similar. For instance, both pollen and dust mite allergies can cause comparable symptoms, but if your symptoms only arise during certain months, then it’s more likely to be a pollen allergy. On the other hand, if the symptoms persist throughout the year, then you may be suffering from a dust mite allergy.

To assist you in identifying the source of your allergies, we’ve provided additional information below. If you’re having difficulty identifying the allergen responsible for your symptoms, don’t hesitate to contact our allergy helpline. Our team of specialists, based in Banbury, is available to offer advice and recommendations.

Pollen Allergies

Identifying a pollen allergy is relatively straightforward as it is a seasonal allergy, only manifesting during specific times of the year. Tree pollen levels are highest in early spring and autumn, while grass and weed pollen are more prevalent in the UK between April and July. Symptoms of an allergic reaction typically include a runny nose, sore eyes, and throat.

If your allergy symptoms persist year-round, it’s possible that they’re related to dust mites or pets, as these allergies tend to worsen during the winter when there is less fresh air circulating indoors.

What Causes Pet Allergies?

If you have a pet allergy and come into contact with a pet’s coat or their saliva on your hands, you may experience red welts and itchy eyes, among other reactions. If you tend to experience similar reactions but do not have a pet, it is likely that you are sensitive to dust mites. In many cases, individuals may be allergic to both, which is why all Bio-Life products are specifically designed to reduce pet and dust mite allergens.

All pets produce allergens, which are actually enzymes derived from their saliva, sweat glands, and urine. These allergens get onto their coats when they lick or relieve themselves, dry up, and then become airborne. The particle is smaller than one-tenth the size of a pollen grain, allowing it to float around for years. Less than 20% of these allergens stick to surfaces, making it difficult to get rid of them through cleaning alone. Vacuuming is not a guaranteed solution either, as it may only spread the allergens throughout the house. The cat allergen, Fel d1, is the most common cause of allergic reactions, while the dog allergen, Can f1, often causes the most severe reactions.

How Does Mould Spread?

Although mould spores are too small to be seen with the naked eye, the mould itself can be visible in areas of dampness such as corners, books, clothes, ceilings, and house plants. This can be helpful in diagnosing your allergy. Moulds flourish in dark, warm, and wet environments and reproduce by shedding spores. Once released, these spores float around until they come into contact with a wet surface, where they stick and release an enzyme that breaks down the surface, allowing the mould to grow.

While some moulds are beneficial to the environment, others produce toxins as a by-product of digestion, which can result in severe health problems and allergic reactions in humans and animals. Mould spores can enter the body through the eyes, nose, or mouth.

Dust Mite Allergens in Your Home

Dust mites thrive in warm and humid environments, feeding on skin cells. Soft furnishings such as mattresses, bedding, sofas, carpets, and rugs are ideal breeding grounds for these microscopic creatures. In fact, a typical mattress can house around 2 million dust mites, while a teaspoon of house dust contains 10,000!

Dust mite allergens come from their dead bodies, urine, and faeces. Common symptoms of a dust mite allergy in adults include blocked noses, especially in the morning, wheezing, and asthma. In babies and pets, eczema and hives are more common.

To alleviate symptoms of a dust mite allergy, we recommend using Bio-Life HomeCleanse®, FabriCleanse®, and AirCleanse® products, all of which are available for purchase on our online store.

How Do Bio-Life Products Help?

Bio-Life products are formulated to reduce the amount of dust mite, pet, pollen and mould in your home, thereby reducing your exposure to the allergen and the likelihood that you will suffer an allergic reaction

Fast-acting AirCleanse® will attract these airborne allergens, encapsulate and neutralise them. Spraying your mattress, duvet covers, carpets, curtains, sofas and soft furnishings with HomeCleanse® will get rid of dust mite residues and any other allergens that have settled in your rooms. FabriCleanse®, used as a laundry additive or a carpet cleaning additive removes allergens from your bedding, clothes and carpets. Wiping your pet with PetAlCleanse® once a week removes the allergens from its coat and the conditioners it contains maintain a show ready pet!

The products are Allergy UK and National Pharmacy Association approved so please visit our online store, try them and see for yourself!