Wearing masks, washing hands help those allergic to pollen, dust

Some patients who have been staying indoors have increased their exposure to indoor allergens, such as dust mites or pet dander, says Dr. Jassem Abdou

ABU DHABI

Summers in the UAE can be challenging for sufferers of airborne allergies – with COVID-19 precautions having both a positive and negative impact depending on the allergy trigger – but there are many steps that allergy sufferers can take to manage their condition, according to a consultant in respiratory medicine at Healthpoint, a Mubadala Health partner.

Dr. Jassem Abdou, Head of the hospital’s Pulmonary and Sleep Medicine department, says: “Some of our patients who have environmental allergies – such as pollen, fungal spores, and dust allergies – are experiencing some relief from wearing masks or spending less time outdoors. Avoidance of allergens, that is, those factors that trigger an immune system response resulting in allergic symptoms, is an obvious and very effective strategy for dealing with allergies.”

Dr. Abdou points to a 2020 study published in the US National Institutes of Health PubMed Central, which sought to investigate the impact of mask-wearing on the symptoms of allergic rhinitis, commonly known as ‘hay fever’. The research indicated that face mask usage could reduce allergic rhinitis symptom severity in chronically affected individuals.