Pollen and allergies

Allergies are your body’s overreaction to substances in the environment that are harmless to most people. The substances that cause these reactions are called allergens. When someone suffers from allergies, their immune system produces antibodies that identify a particular allergen as an “invader”. This reaction causes symptoms like a runny nose, itchy eyes, cough, and skin rashes. In severe cases, it can result in anaphylaxis which is a life-threatening medical emergency.

Types of allergens

Allergic rhinoconjunctivitis, commonly known as hay fever, is one of the most common allergies. It’s usually caused by pollen or dust mites and causes symptoms that can have a disruptive effect on your day-to-day life. Other common allergens include pet dander (tiny parts of skin shed from animals with fur or feathers); mold and mildew; food like peanuts, eggs, wheat, shellfish, and dairy; certain medications, and insect bites and stings.

Prevent an allergic reaction

The first step to preventing an allergic reaction is to avoid your allergens. Always check packaging labels and avoid eating food that may have been prepared on a contaminated surface. If you suffer from hay fever, check the pollen count (how much pollen is in the air) on the local weather forecast before leaving the house. Allergies can also flare up indoors, so keep your house clean and tidy, wash your hands, and take medication if and when required.

Wear a mask to reduce symptoms

An allergy mask filters out pollen and other allergens floating in the air and so can be worn to alleviate allergy symptoms. Pollen grains are significantly larger than viral or bacterial particles which makes them easier to block. The less pollen that is able to reach your nose and mouth, the less likely you are to suffer from allergy symptoms like sneezing, runny nose or stuffy nose. Additionally, wearing a mask makes the air in the nasal cavity warmer and more humid and so less likely to elicit a reaction in the nose.

How our filtration helps your allergies

Filtration

Airinum masks use a multilayer filter technology to provide superior protection from pollen and allergies. Pollen particles entering the respiratory system are typically between 10-1000 microns (μm) in size and animal allergens are normally between 5-10 μm in size. Both the Urban Air Mask 2.0 and the Lite Air Mask filter out more than 99.9% of particles down to 0.3μm in size, and so can be used as a pollen mask and an allergy mask.