Fighting Springtime Allergies 
With Peter Laufer, M.D., F.A.A.A.I.

Although there are no cures for allergies, they can be improved with proper prevention and treatment. Here are some tips to help you fight allergies:

Keep the windows closed in your car and home while using air conditioners on hot, dry, windy days when pollen counts are highest. Try to avoid being outside during early morning and evening hours, which is when pollen counts are at their highest. The best time to go outside is after a good rain has helped clear pollen from the air.

Wear a mask when mowing the lawn or gardening. Otherwise, stay away from freshly cut grass.

Take a bath at bedtime to help wash off allergens and prevent nighttime allergy problems. In general, you should shower, wash clothes, and bathe your pets more frequently than in non-allergy seasons. However, be sure not to hang your laundry outside.

Banish furry pets from furniture and from the bedroom altogether. Wash walls and doors with a damp cloth to remove sticky, invisible pet dander.

Place pieces of cheesecloth or filters made specifically for allergies under the faceplates of the bedroom heating vents to help filter out allergens, and change them monthly.

Use dust mite-proof encasing for bedding and dehumidifiers.

Wipe the inside of your refrigerator with vinegar to kill mildew.

Keep up with housecleaning by minimizing clutter and dusting thoroughly twice a week. When possible, replace carpeting with laminate flooring or another hard material that won't collect allergens.

Dr. Peter Laufer is certified by both the American Board of Allergy and Immunology and the American Board of Pediatrics. To schedule an appointment, please call 330-433-1306.