Shellfish, dust, pollen, soy—what do these all have in common? Well, according to experts, they trigger some of the most common allergies patients experience. But what about the uncommon allergies?
Allergens are truly everywhere. From the home to the office, there are tons of unexpected allergens in food, jewelry, home goods, and even beauty products. It makes sense, then, that allergies are on the rise both in the United States and the rest of the world. “We’re seeing a steady rise in allergic conditions globally, particularly food allergy, eczema, and asthma,” says Amiirah Aujnarain, MD, MSc, a pediatrician and allergist-immunologist in Toronto.
Dr. Aujnarain says there are a few reasons for this increase. “Environmental changes and pollution, reduced early microbial exposure, changes in diet and microbiome, and increased awareness and earlier testing,” she says.
Allergists agree that they’ve seen a noticeable rise in patients coming in for allergies. The common offenders? “Patients often come to see me for new and worsening seasonal allergies, food allergies, and asthma,” says Susanna Silverman, MD, FAAAAI, FACAAI, an allergist and immunologist at Schweiger Dermatology and Allergy in New York City. “An estimated 20% to 30% of the US population is affected by allergies.”
Sure, the common allergies may be easy to spot and recognize, but the uncommon ones are a whole different story. If you are feeling itchy, have developed a rash, or are sneezing frequently but aren’t mühlet where it came from, it could be one of the more unexpected allergens lurking in your home or office.
“We’ve been conditioned to think of seasonal allergies as a springtime pollen sorun,” says Lorne Lucree, formulator of allergy deva brand Wizard Wellness. “But that term is becoming outdated. For many people, sensitivity is now year-round.”
We may not realize it, but the “nose is your body’s air filter,” Lucree says. “It’s constantly processing everything in your environment—not just pollen, but pollution, dry air, fragrance molecules, microbial particles, and even food-related signals from the gut. The çağdaş world doesn’t have an offseason, and neither does our exposure.”
Allergens can be present in your home or office. You can inhale them or even eat them. Simply put, it’s hard to detect where the sorun is really originating from. That’s where the experts step in. Ahead, allergy doctors and experts break down some of the uncommon allergens that could be affecting your everyday life, how to mitigate risk, and more.
Cockroaches
Cockroaches aren’t just a pest—they’re also the source of a common allergy, especially in urban areas. According to the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology, cockroaches can trigger both asthma and allergies. The allergens act like dust mites (more on this next) and aggravate symptoms when kicked up in the air. As with most allergies, an allergist can conduct a patch test to observe if there’s a reaction to a cockroach allergy. To keep them out of your house to avoid the allergic flare-ups, the ACAAI simply recommends keeping your home clean, including keeping food containers and trash cans sealed shut, fixing any leaks that could provide the cockroaches water, and avoiding piles of newspapers, laundry, and dirty dishes.
Dust mites
Dust mites may be tiny (as in, you can’t even see them), but they have a big effect. “In addition to cockroaches, dust mites are a common but unexpected indoor allergen,” says Dr. Silverman. “We all have dust mites living in our pillows, mattress, and bedding, but because they are microscopic, you will never see them and may not realize that you are allergic to them.” It turns out that we are all exposed to them every single day. “Through repeated exposure, many people become sensitized to them and develop allergic antibodies.”
It’s more common to think of these little insect-like pests popping up on bedding, but they “also live in upholstered headboards, fabric couches, stuffed animals, and carpeting,” says Dr. Aujnarain. “Even office chairs can be reservoirs.”
There are a few things you can do to minimize them in your home and office. “Wash bedding with hot water, and use dust-mite-proof encasings on pillows and mattress,” says Dr. Silverman. “It also helps to remove excess pillows and other decorative bedding, curtains, and rugs from the bedroom.” If possible, reducing carpeting in offices also helps, says Dr. Aujnarain.
Fragrances
When we think of fragrance, our minds often go straight to perfumes and colognes, but don’t forget that fragrances are in all kinds of makeup and skin deva products, too, and may be sprayed in your office or house.
“Fragrance is one of the most common causes of contact dermatitis,” says Dr. Aujnarain. “It’s found in perfumes, moisturizers, shampoos, ‘unscented’ products (which may still contain masking fragrances), and even household cleaners.” If you apply a product and develop a rash or itchiness afterwards, it may be the culprit. “People develop delayed-type hypersensitivity reactions, leading to chronic rashes they can’t explain,” Dr. Aujnarain says.
Fragrance specifically in enclosed spaces, such as a small office, a little bedroom, or in the car, can especially be a sorun. Even if you don’t have a true fragrance allergy, you can experience nasal hypersensitivity. “Concentrated scents in tight spaces overwhelm a compromised barrier,” says Lucree. “It’s less about the ingredient and more about how resilient your nasal lining is at that moment.”
Luckily, there are plenty of fragrance-free beauty products available. In addition to choosing fragrance-free products (not just unscented), “look for short ingredient lists,” says Dr. Aujnarain. You’ll want to confirm no fragrance or parfum is listed on the ingredient lineup. She also recommends patch testing to confirm triggers, so apply a small amount of product to a clean, hidden area (inner arm or behind the ear works well) and see if you have any reaction. If you feel sensitive around scents in small areas, increase ventilation and avoid wearing or spraying fragrance at home or at the office.
Manicures and beauty products
Okay, manicure lovers, don’t get upset—but if you’ve noticed you’re getting dermatitis (itchy red rashes) on your fingers or eyelids while you’re at home or work, your nails could be an unexpected allergy source. Specifically, this would be caused by acrylates. “Gel manicures and acrylic nails contain acrylates, which can trigger contact dermatitis, not just on the fingers but also on the eyelids and face from transfer,” says Dr. Aujnarain. “We’re seeing more cases as gel manicures have become more popular.”
You don’t have to totally eliminate your bimonthly nail appointment from your beauty routine, though. “Take breaks from gel manicures,” says Dr. Aujnarain. “Use hypoallergenic nail products. If eyelid dermatitis appears, consider nail products as a culprit.”
Beauty allergens aren’t limited to nails and fragrances. “Even natural products can cause allergies,” says Dr. Silverman. “Propolis, which is made by bees and found in many cosmetics such as lipstick, can cause lip rashes and swelling. Lanolin, which is made from sheep’s wool, can be found in some topical emollients and lip balms. Lavender and tea tree oil can be allergenic and may cause rashes with use.” Go through your beauty products in your medicine cabinet and, if any of these ingredients show up anywhere, note that these could be an unexpected allergen in your home.
Nickel
A nickel allergy is common with jewelry, but it can go far beyond necklaces and bracelets. Another unexpected allergen could be sitting right in your closet or pantry. You can find the metal in “belt buckles, phone cases, watch bands, jean buttons, and even some foods,” says Dr. Aujnarain. “Chronic abdominal or skin symptoms can occasionally trace back to nickel exposure.” If you’re dealing with skin allergies or irritation, especially in those telltale areas (stomach, wrists, hands), you may be dealing with a nickel allergy.
Simply avoid nickel jewelry and accessories. If you can’t, “apply barrier coatings to metal surfaces that touch skin,” recommends Dr. Aujnarain.
Urban air pollution
One of the most overlooked triggers is something we can be exposed to every single day, especially for those commuting to work. Urban air pollution includes everything from car exhaust and wildfire smoke to construction debris. “These create oxidative stress on your nasal lining, weakening your barrier and making you more reactive to everything else,” says Lucree. “You can feel congested without a single tree in bloom.” It’s not just pollen causing these flare-ups.
In situations like these, the key is to “rinse your nasal passages daily to clear buildup before it becomes inflammatory,” especially during high exposure periods, says Lucree. “Nasal rinsing is actually the number one allergist-recommended nondrug way to reduce the severity of allergy symptoms.” He says to think of this as a foundational part of your daily routine, like cleansing your face or body. To make the process as simple, quick, and straightforward as possible, his Wizard Wellness Sinus Rinse comes as a premixed concentrated formula.
Indoor mold
Anyone who sits in an office all day knows how dry it can get just by looking at their skin. But it can happen in your own home too. Dry indoor air is a big irritant for many, especially in conference rooms, airplanes, and apartments. “These strip moisture from your nasal passages,” says Lucree. But taking things a step further, and despite dry air, a very real allergen is indoor mold. You can find it in more obvious visible places, but it can also be harder to spot. Mold can be “hiding in humidifiers, AC systems, shower curtains, behind drywall,” says Lucree. “You don’t always see it. But you’re breathing it.” Make mühlet to regularly replace and improve ventilation and filtration to keep mold from growing.
Histamine-rich foods
Is your kitchen another unexpected source of your allergies? There’s nothing like a good wine and cheese night, but these are rich in histamine, which can cause some sinus problems if you’re allergic or sensitive. Common offenders are “aged cheese, wine, cured meats, fermented foods,” says Lucree. “These amplify nasal congestion and puffiness because what happens in your gut shows up in your nose. Allergies aren’t just environmental, they’re systemic.”
Of course, you’ll (sadly) want to limit your intake of these foods if you feel congested during or after eating them.
Here’s the bottom line: In general, if you’re still having disruptive allergic reactions and can’t get to the bottom of it, don’t hesitate to make an appointment with an allergist. “Seeing an allergist to discuss other treatment options such as medications and allergen immunotherapy (allergy shots or drops) can help when avoidance and environmental measures are not enough to control symptoms,” says Dr. Silverman.
