From pollen to peanuts, get to know which allergy myths you’ve been believing all along…
If you’re one of the millions of people who suffer with allergies in the UK, chances are you’ve heard plenty of advice and ‘facts’ about how to treat or manage them – but how much of that is true? With so much information out there, it can be hard to tell what’s fact and what’s fiction, so we’re clearing things up, starting with 15 of the most common allergy myths.
Let’s talk allergies
Before we get into it, let’s take a closer look at allergies.
Allergies happen when the immune system reacts to something that’s normally harmless, like pollen, dust or animal fur. The reaction can range from mild, such as itching, to more severe or even anaphylaxis (a life-threatening reaction).
Common symptoms include things like:
- Itchy skin or a raised 'allergy rash' (a hives-type rash)
- Coughing
- Wheezing or breathlessness
- Swollen eyes, lips, mouth or throat
- Diarrhoea
- Pain or tenderness around your cheeks, eyes and forehead
- Feeling or being sick
In addition, hay fever can cause specific symptoms such as a runny nose, sneezing and watery eyes.
What are the most common causes of allergic reactions?
There are a few types of allergies based on the allergens causing them, with the most common being:
- Tree, weed and grass pollen (hay fever)
- Foods such as peanuts, milk and eggs (food allergy)
- House and dust mites
- Animals, especially cats and dogs
- Insect bites or stings, such as from bees and wasps
- Mould
- Latex
- Some medicines
Busting 15 common allergy myths
Want to get to know your allergies? Take note as we separate fact from fiction.
Myth: Allergies are just seasonal
Fact: While some allergies like hay fever are more severe during certain times of the year (typically between March and September), most other allergies are year-round and can become a part of daily life. This includes food allergies and the likes of dust, pet and medicinal allergies too.
Myth: Food allergies are the same as food intolerances
Fact: Food allergies are caused by the immune system reacting to a certain food as though it was harmful, causing symptoms like itchy skin, wheezing or swelling of the lips, face and around the eyes. They can often be mild but can sometimes be life-threatening.
A food intolerance is when you have difficulty digesting certain foods, such as some dairy products like milk (which contain lactose, a type of sugar). They’re not usually serious but eating them can make you feel a bit unwell, with symptoms like diarrhoea, bloating and tummy pain.
Myth: Eating local honey can help with hay fever
Fact: While local honey is associated with a number of health benefits, unfortunately helping with hay fever symptoms is not one of them. It’s thought that the local pollen in honey can help desensitise the allergic reaction, but there’s no real evidence to support this.
Myth: You can outgrow your allergies
Fact: It is possible to outgrow some allergies with age, such as egg, wheat and dairy, but other types of allergies such as peanuts, tree nuts, fish and shellfish are less likely to be outgrown.
Myth: Hay fever is caused by hay
Fact: Despite it being in the name, hay does not cause hay fever. It’s caused by an allergic reaction to pollen (the fine powder that plants produce) which is found in grass, trees and weeds.
Myth: If you’re allergic to one pet, you’re allergic to all pets
Fact: Being allergic to one pet doesn’t automatically mean you’re allergic to all pets. You can be allergic to specific animals, breeds and certain types too.
Myth: A peanut allergy is the most serious allergy
Fact: No single food allergy poses more of a threat than another. While some people may only experience mild symptoms, it can be life threatening for others – no matter the allergen.
Myth: You can take more than one antihistamine per day
Fact: It’s recommended to only take one antihistamine per day, as stated on the label.
If you do struggle with strong symptoms, particularly for hay fever or dust allergies, you can use other over-the-counter remedies alongside an antihistamine, such as eye drops and nasal sprays. If you find that these don’t help ease your symptoms, you can speak to a pharmacist who may be able to recommend an alternative treatment.
Myth: Babies shouldn’t eat common allergen foods
Fact: Babies don’t usually have to avoid common allergen foods, but when you start to introduce solid foods to them, it’s a good idea to slowly introduce the foods that could trigger an allergic reaction. Do this one at a time in very small amounts so you can look out for any reaction.
Some common foods to encourage them to try include cow’s milk, eggs, nuts and peanuts, fish and shellfish, celery and mustard, and foods that contain gluten and wheat.
However, if your baby already has an allergy, or if you have a family history of allergies, speak to your health visitor or GP for advice before introducing new foods.
Myth: You can test for allergies using a hair sample
Fact: While some companies offer allergy tests using hair samples, there isn’t much scientific evidence to prove these samples can identify an allergy.
Myth: Food allergy reactions get more severe each time
Fact: Food allergy reactions don’t automatically become worse with each exposure. However, people with a known food allergy should always avoid the type of food they’re allergic to, as in some cases allergic reactions can be severe.
Myth: Allergies can be cured
Fact: There are a number of ways to manage allergies, but unfortunately there is no specific cure.
You can scroll down to read our section on ‘How to manage common allergies’ for more information.
Myth: Children with an egg allergy shouldn’t get the flu vaccination
Fact: If your child has an egg allergy, it’s important to tell the person vaccinating them and to let them know about the severity of the allergy. This is because there are different types of flu vaccinations available in the UK, and there may be one that's suitable for your child.
Myth: Dust mites are caused by having a dirty home
Fact: Dust mites are found in most homes, typically in areas like bedding, carpets and soft furnishings. But having dust mites doesn’t mean you have a dirty home, they just thrive in warm, humid environments, rather than dust itself.
Myth: You can’t have an allergic reaction to natural & organic foods
Fact: Restricting your diet to organic food doesn’t guarantee they’ll be free from food allergens. This is because a lot of allergenic foods are natural and unprocessed, like cow’s milk, eggs and shellfish.
How to manage common allergies
While allergies can’t be cured, they can be managed by:
- Avoiding the thing you're allergic to wherever possible, and trying to limit your exposure (such as checking food labels for food allergies, keeping windows closed for hay fever, and cleaning regularly for dust mite and pet allergies)
- Taking over-the-counter medicines for mild allergic reactions like antihistamines and steroid creams
- Being prepared for severe reactions (if applicable) – if you’ve been prescribed an adrenaline auto-injector such as EpiPen, make sure you always keep it with you in case of a severe allergic reaction
- Desensitisation (immunotherapy) for severe allergic reactions – this involves exposing you to the thing you're allergic to over time, so your body gradually gets used to it (this must be done by a medical professional)
You can get more advice and information on managing allergies on our Allergy Health Hub.
Help manage your allergies
Frequently asked questions
Why are my allergies so bad all of a sudden?
There are a number of reasons why your allergies may be worsening, such as a change in your environment, new exposure to allergens, a shift in your immune system or because your body has developed a sensitivity to something you’ve been exposed to for years.
If you’re concerned about your allergies getting worse, speak to your GP for advice.
You can find out more on our Allergies Health Hub.
Does having allergies mean your immune system is weak?
No, having allergies doesn’t mean your immune system is weak. Allergies happen when your immune system reacts to a specific substance as though it’s harmful, although it’s not clear why this happens.
Can vitamin D reverse allergies?
No, vitamin D can’t reverse allergies. The role of vitamin D is to regulate the amount of calcium and phosphate in the body which are both needed to help keep bones, teeth and muscles healthy.
You can find out more about vitamin D in our article.
