Because I have sensitive skin and allergies, I worried about eczema affecting my children long before I became pregnant with my oldest daughter. Both my brothers dealt with eczema and other skin problems growing up. However, this is not the only problem that I have. I seem to have developed a dust allergy as well, […] More
Adding to the growing body of research on the importance of gastrointestinal microbiota for good health, a new series of studies presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology in Houston, Texas suggests that factors such as gestational age, birth method, and breastfeeding influence the development of the immune […] More
As I have previously written, I suffer from moderate to severe allergies including allergies that manifest as nasal allergy symptoms. My preferred allergy medication is Flonase. However, because Flonase is a category C drug, I have opted to refrain from using the medication before and during pregnancy. Despite trying other treatment options, only Benadryl (diphenhydramine) […] More
For some individuals, cell phones may be a source of metal sensitization and a potential cause of allergic contact dermatitis (ACD), says a new study published in the journal Pediatric Allergy, Immunology, and Pulmonology. Many cell phones and other similar electronic devices contain and release metals such as such as nickel and chromium. Certain metals […] More
Previous studies have concluded that individuals of lower socio-economic status have an increased risk of asthma, allergies, and other inflammatory disorders. Now a new study as published in the journal Clinical & Experimental Immunology suggests that the increased risk may result from individuals of lower socio-economic status more often living in more urban areas, resulting […] More
With a warning not to try exposure therapy at home, researchers conducting a study on children with peanut allergies (STOP II trial) discovered that exposing allergic individuals to larger and larger amounts of peanuts over time could build up a tolerance to the nut. The results of the oral immunotherapy (OIT) study were published in […] More
Despite previous recommendations that pregnant women avoid peanuts to reduce the risk of allergies and asthma in their children, new research from the Dana-Farber Children’s Cancer Center in Boston, Massachusetts suggests that women who are not allergic to nuts or legumes and who eat peanuts during pregnancy lower the risk of their child developing a […] More
Children who grow up with dogs in the house have long been known to have a decreased risk of allergies and asthma. Now new research published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences indicates that changes in gut microbes are responsible for the safeguard that dogs provide to young children. To study […] More
If you suck on your child’s pacifier rather than cleaning it with boiling or rinsing, you could be saving them from eczema, asthma, allergies, and other disorders. A new study published in Monday’s journal Pediatrics has found that the exposure of germs from pacifiers can help children by exposing them to important microbial conditions. The […] More
Does exclusive breastfeeding cause food allergies to nuts? According to a recent study from the Australian National University, yes, babies who are exclusively breastfed for the first six months of life are at an increased risk of developing a nut allergy. The study discovered that the likelihood of developing a nut allergy was 1.5 times […] More
Which medications are safe to take for colds and allergies while breastfeeding? As soon as my daughter was born back in December, I began researching the answer to this question. I suffer from pretty terrible allergies. Without some sort of medication, my nose becomes so congested and runny that I can no longer breathe properly. […] More
