Q: I always get sneezy and congested around the holidays. Is my Christmas tree to blame?
The holiday season can be a time filled with joy, mirth and — sometimes — itchy eyes, irritated skin, congestion and wheezing. This cluster of symptoms, sometimes referred to as “Christmas tree syndrome,” typically doesn’t stem from an allergy to the Christmas tree itself.
But sometimes certain hitchhikers on the tree, like mold or dust, can cause an allergic reaction, experts say. And if you’re sensitive to the tree’s fragrance or sap, that can also irritate your skin or airways.
Thankfully, there are ways to minimize the risk that your Christmas tree will turn you into a sneezing, sniffling Scrooge.
What are the potential triggers?
Typically, when people are allergic to trees, they are allergic to their pollen — the powdery substance that plants produce during reproduction.
But evergreen pollens are less likely to induce an allergic reaction than other tree pollens, and trees don’t usually produce pollen around this time of year, so it’s unlikely that a person would be truly allergic to their Christmas tree, said Dr. Joshua Davidson, an allergist and immunologist in Redondo Beach, Calif.
That said, you could still experience allergic or allergy-like reactions when spending time with your favorite pines, spruces and firs. Here are some potential causes.