Quick Tips to Manage Seasonal Allergies in Colorado

Allergy season is in full swing. We see many patients in our office with red, itchy eyes who are surprised to hear that they have allergies because they have never had them before and are unsure how to treat them. It is a common misconception that they cannot develop later in life, but you can develop allergies at any age. Listed below are common signs and symptoms of allergies.
 

Common signs and symptoms:

• Itchy and/or swollen eyes
• Watery and/or red eyes
• Runny and/or itchy nose
• Sneezing
• Sore and/or itchy throat
   

We usually see an uptick in allergies in our office beginning in April and continuing until September. There are several things you can do in your daily life to help decrease your response to allergies without medication. If you are still having symptoms, we recommend an office visit with one of our doctors to create a treatment plan.
 

Quick Tips:

• Wearing sunglasses or other protective eyewear is one of the easiest ways to help decrease your reactions to allergens. The lenses create a barrier between the allergens and your eyes and skin.
• Washing your hands and face as soon as you come inside. Showering is even better. Rinsing the allergens from you skin as soon as you can will decrease your reactivity to them.
• For contact lens wearers- remove your lenses as soon as you come inside. Allergens love to stick to the lenses. We recommend disposing of your 1 day lenses or storing your reusable lenses in Clear Care as soon as you are come inside. This will make your eyes feel better and decrease your response to allergies.
• One of the best tips is to not rub your eyes. We hear it all the time that “it feels so good to rub them”, but it will make the symptoms worse. Our body releases a substance called histamine that causes an itchy sensation when there is an allergic response in the eyes. But, the more your rub your eyes, the more histamine is released increasing the itchy feeling and overall worsening your allergic reaction. Using a cold compress is a much better option and helps reduce the histamine response.
• We love our animals in this town, but during allergy season it is important to keep your animals, especially dogs, off of your furniture. This is especially for pillows or anything that is in contact with your face.
   

These are some easy changes to make to help give you some relief during allergy season. If you need more treatment and would like to make an appointment, please call our office (303)-939-8021 or schedule online . Our doctors will assess your allergies and create a care plan for your that is tailored to you.