Living with Allergies

Know your allergy triggers

The first step in managing your allergy symptoms is to determine the cause of your allergies. Some of the most common allergy triggers include pollen, mold, pet dander, and insect bites or stings.² You may be allergic to any of these triggers if you experience allergy symptoms after exposure. For example, in the case of insect bites or stings, you may notice blisters, hives, rashes, and itchy skin. When exposed to mold, pollen, or pet dander, you may notice a runny nose, nasal or chest congestion, and sneezing. Some people also experience itchy, watery eyes.³

Know when allergens are active

Some allergy triggers, such as pollen, are seasonal and may affect you only during specific months of the year.⁴ Other allergens, such as mold and pet dander, are present all throughout the year and tend to cause chronic symptoms.⁵ Understanding when and where you are most likely to encounter an allergy trigger will make it easier for you to avoid these triggers and/or find the appropriate treatment.

Choose the right treatment

Once you understand your allergy triggers, you can begin looking for ways to prevent and relieve your symptoms. Avoiding contact with allergens is the most effective way to avoid allergy symptoms altogether.⁶ However, allergy triggers are all around us and even the most cautious person may not be able to avoid it.

In cases like this, you can usually relieve your symptoms with over-the-counter medications. It is important to note that these medications are not one-size-fits-all, so you need to choose carefully. For example, topical creams are often recommended for allergy symptoms that impact your skin, such as those caused by insect bites or stings.⁷ On the hand, consumable allergy medication such as those in liquid or caplet formats, are best suited for symptoms such as sneezing, runny nose, and congestion.

How to Prevent Allergies with an Allergy Management Plan

The best way to manage your allergy symptoms is with proper preparation. Every allergy sufferer needs to know what triggers their allergies, when these triggers are likely to be present, and what symptoms they may experience. Next, allergy sufferers can look to developing a plan to help manage their symptoms and treatments more effectively. To create an Allergy Management Plan, follow the following steps:

Consider an allergy test

If you aren't sure what causes your allergy symptoms, consider scheduling an allergy test with your doctor or allergist to get a proper diagnosis. In most cases, allergy testing will involve blood and/or skin tests use to see if your immune system has a reaction to specific substances.⁸

Develop a treatment plan

Everyone reacts differently to their allergies. So, a unique treatment plan should be developed to reflect this. Work with your doctor or allergist to develop an appropriate treatment plan. This may involve keeping a diary of your allergy symptoms, trying different strategies to reduce exposure to allergens, or taking different medications (under your doctor’s supervision) to see what works best.⁶

Make changes to your lifestyle

If you continue to experience allergy symptoms even with treatment, consider making more substantial lifestyle changes. For example, if you have a pollen allergy, you may consider staying indoors when pollen counts are high, keeping windows closed during peak pollen seasons, and using eye drops such as Visine Advanced with Antihistamine Allergy to alleviate itchy and watery eyes.⁷ If you have a pet dander allergy, you may consider having a relative take care of your pet, or avoid pets that trigger your symptoms.⁶

Take an over-the-counter medication

You can use over-the-counter medications to alleviate symptoms in many cases.⁷ Available medications for various allergy symptoms include:

• Benadryl Extra Strength Nighttime Caplets

• Benadryl Allergy Liquid Elixir

• Benadryl Liquid Gels

• Children's Benadryl Chewables

• Benadryl Triple Action Itch Stick

These medications are available in different formats and dosage strength to help meet the needs of individuals. However, all Benadryl products are aimed at bringing about fast and effective symptom relief. It is recommended to read each product’s labels for direction and usage.

Keep in mind that you should not take more than one Benadryl product at a time, regardless of the format. You should also avoid taking Benadryl for an extended period unless advised by your physician. Benadryl can bring relief even to your toughest allergy symptoms. Keep in mind that you should always seek guidance from a doctor or another healthcare professional when experiencing allergies or any other medical condition.