Name: Could your Christmas tree be making your allergies worse?
Uploaded: 2025-12-24T04:59:39.638Z
Duration: 1 min 18 s
Description: Whether you use a real tree or an artificial one, it could be affecting your seasonal allergies at the most wonderful time of year.

Whether you use a real tree or an artificial one, it could be affecting your seasonal allergies at the most wonderful time of year.

Seattle

Both real and artificial Christmas trees can contribute to allergy symptoms, a phenomenon sometimes referred to as 'Christmas tree syndrome.' Allergens such as weed pollen, mold, and dust can be present on real trees, while artificial trees may accumulate dust and mold during storage.

Experts recommend using air purifiers and over-the-counter allergy medications, such as nasal steroids and antihistamines, to manage symptoms. In rare cases, animals may also be present in Christmas trees, further contributing to potential irritation.

Could your Christmas tree be making your allergies worse?

Is your Christmas tree making you cough and sneeze? Since both real and fake trees can carry common allergies, you could be experiencing what some people call Christmas tree syndrome. Christmas tree syndrome to us is when people bring in either an artificial or a real tree and then they notice some worsening of their allergy symptoms, asthma symptoms, and just general irritation of the skin, eyes, nose. While being allergic to pine trees is relatively uncommon, there could be other allergens lurking. Cleveland Clinic allergist Dr. Devin Preston says real trees can have weed pollen, mold, and dust. Even the pine smells can irritate your sinuses and lungs because of the chemical compounds. If you go the route of an artificial tree, dust and mold can build up on the tree while it's being stored. And if the tree is already up and you're noticing your allergens worsen, an air purifier or traditional allergy meds can help. For symptom management, things like over-the-counter nasal steroids, nasal antihistamines, or oral antihistamines can help with some of those symptoms. And sometimes it's not just the allergens lurking in the tree. Yes, critters from possums to owls can also leave their mark in the tree, if not still in the tree. For AccuWeather, I'm meteorologist Tony Laubeck.

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