Could Your Covid Mask Be Doing Double Duty This Allergy Season?

Did you know that the masks we've all been wearing to protect ourselves and others from Covid may have additional benefits? Well, they can! They can be a vital tool in helping prevent asthma and allergy symptoms, especially during the worst part of the year, allergy season! Common everyday face masks act like barriers around our nose and mouth. They can block some or even many particles floating around in the air.

Are Seasonal Allergies Affecting You?

In the United States, it's estimated that as many as 60 million people experience allergic rhinitis (hay fever). This specific type of allergy happens when people are exposed to airborne substances (such as pollen) that appear only during certain times of year. When an individual with allergic rhinitis comes in contact with an allergen, their immune system incorrectly perceives it as a threat and jump-starts an immune response. This can result in sneezing, nasal congestion, a runny nose, and itchy or watery eyes.

Can Wearing a Mask Reduce Allergy Symptoms?

Recent research has shown that for seasonal allergy sufferers whose noses, throats, and sinuses overreact to allergens such as pollen particles, wearing a mask may help ease symptoms. This study looked at a group of nurses and found that those who suffered from season allergy had fewer symptoms after mask rules were put into place to protect them from covid-19. Specifically, 40% of the 215 nurses studied self-reported experiencing significantly less sneezing and runny or stuffy noses while wearing N95 and surgical masks
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The specific results of this study aren't that surprising, though, due to how masks work. Face masks create a physical barrier that filters particles from the air around us when we inhale. Particles that are too big to get through the filter, like Covid-19 particles (0.06 – 1.4 microns) and most allergens, won't make it to our noses or mouths. Standard surgical masks can filter particles larger than 3 microns, while an N95 mask can filter 95% of particles as small as 0.3 microns. Pollen spores are typically 10 microns or bigger, making it likely for common face masks to filter them out.

What's more, wearing a face mask increases the temperature and humidity of the air you breathe, which can help suppress a strong nasal reaction. All that said, researchers say more extensive studies are needed to confirm just how much masks can help with seasonal allergies.

Does Mask Material, Type, & Fit Matter?

In short? Yes. Masks can only do their job if they cover your nose and mouth. Taking the time to put a mask on correctly will help protect you from seasonal allergies, and if it's on correctly, you'll be less tempted to adjust it. Also, because allergens may be on your hands, the less you touch your mask, the better!

There is a difference between the protection offered by an N95 mask, a surgical mask, and a cloth mask. The N95 mask earned its name because it blocks at least 95% of very small (0.3-micron) particles. Therefore, when worn appropriately with a good seal, all of the air you inhale will travel through the filter, helping protect you as much as possible.

A surgical mask is good at protecting you from larger particles down to 3 microns or anything that may be present or carried along within a droplet. Since surgical masks don’t always get a tight seal, unfiltered air can sometimes come through in the gaps and around the edges. These masks are ideal for short-term use and are usually disposable, convenient, and quite affordable.

Cloth masks are a bit like surgical masks in that they don’t always provide the tightest seal. They are, however, commonly thought of as the most comfortable and are often reusable and machine washable. This benefit makes them one of the most affordable since they can be reused. In addition, these types often provide interior pockets for filters to be placed and replaced when necessary.

Additional Tips To Relieve Symptoms During Allergy Season:

1.) Consider rinsing your hair at night with hypoallergenic shampoo and conditioner to prevent pollen from getting onto your pillow and then in your nose and eyes.

2.) When you spend time outside, the pollen can stick to your clothes. Considering removing them and washing them with an anti-allergen laundry detergent as soon as you get home.

3.) If you deal with irritated eyes from allergies, wearing glasses can help protect your eyes from direct contact with allergens when you go outside.

4.) Pollen counts in the air are usually at their highest in the early morning hours so consider saving errands or outdoor time for late afternoon.

5.) If your allergies are severe, talk to a healthcare provider about implementing a nasal irrigation system system into your routine.

Key Points:

  • Research shows wearing a mask may reduce allergy symptoms
  • Pollen particles are larger than Covid-19 particles, meaning masks intended to help protect against Covid may also protect against allergies
  • Masks type is important when it comes to protecting you from both Covid and allergies
  • Masks won't make much of a difference if you primarily deal with eye allergies

Whats The Bottom Line?

Research has shown that wearing masks outdoors can and may help filter out allergens such as pollen. However, masks are not likely to solve all of your allergy symptoms, especially if you deal with irritated eyes. If your allergies are severe, talk with your healthcare provider about investing in additional treatment options. At National Allergy, we offer many affordable seasonal and year-round allergy solutions. These include anti-allergen personal care and home allergy products to air purifiers and dehumidifiers.