Mold Allergy: Basics You Should Know Before it Strikes You!

Allergy to mold is one of the most common health conditions that affect a majority of people around the world. When an individual becomes allergic to mold spores or other fungi, know that it could stay with them for the most part of the year.

Mold allergy occurs when the immune system overreacts to mold spores while breathing in. If you too have been experiencing mild to severe mold allergy, and looking for more information on it, you are at the right place!

What are mold allergy causes?

Just like every other outdoor allergy, outdoor mold allergy is caused when an abnormally reactive immune system comes in contact with the mold spores thriving anywhere in the environment.

It all begins when you inhale in tiny air-borne spores. Your body identifies these mold spores as harmful foreign particles and develops allergy-causing antibodies to combat them.

Even when the body has dealt with the mold spores accordingly, it keeps producing antibodies that still “remembers” the harmful foreign particles. This pro-defensive mechanism keeps causing mold allergic reactions, and mold allergy continues to strike.

What kind of molds are dangerous?

Various types of molds are present both inside and outside. However, only a few kinds of molds can trigger allergic reactions. In fact, when you are allergic to a certain type of mold, essentially it would not mean that you are allergic to some other kind of mold as well.

Some of the best known molds to cause allergic reactions include aspergillus, alternaria, cladosporium, and penicillium. Whereas, mold and mildew are types of fungi, and do not belong to any plant or animal family because of the way they breed. 

What are its symptoms?

Mold allergy symptoms are mostly similar to those of other allergies. When you have mold allergy, you will experience prolonged sneezing, runny nose, nasal congestion, itchy skin, watery and red eyes, dry and scaling skin, and cough etc. You might also notice signs of hay fever or allergic rhinitis.

Mold spores can get even more harmful when they attack your lungs and trigger chronic breathing-related problems like asthma and bronchitis.

How to cure mold allergy?

Mold allergy can be difficult to treat. But it is advisable to see an allergist when you notice its symptoms. The best defense against mold allergy is to restrict your exposure to harmful molds. Besides, prescription medicines and immunotherapy can help combat allergic reactions