Dust mites are the leading cause of allergies, just ahead of grass pollen. All over the world, the return of pollen at the end of winter is a real nightmare for those who are allergic to it. Just like air pollution, it is a real public health problem. In this post, we will see what pollen is, when it appears, its symptoms and its impact on health. What are the tips to protect from pollen? Does an anti-pollution mask protect from pollen? How to choose an anti-pollen mask?
What is pollen?
Pollen is simply part of the life cycle of plants because it is microscopic grains from 2 to 200 µm produced by the male organs of flowers, the stamens, in order to fertilize the female flowers. To the naked eye, it looks like dust because the grains are so small and it is for this reason that pollen contributes, despite itself, to poor air quality.
Due to their very small size, most pollen grains will lodge in the eyes and upper airways, mainly in the nose and sinuses. Not all pollens are allergenic. Fortunately, because they already bother 25% of people who are very sensitive or even allergic as soon as the pollen season begins.
Pollen allergy, when does the pollen season start?
Even if, depending on the species, it is possible to find pollen all year round, the grass pollen season returns in Europe every year with the first fine days of spring.
There are three pollen seasons depending on the plants.
Tree pollen from January to April
Pollination of trees starts in early January and lasts until the end of April.
There are six tree species that are particularly allergenic: birch, plane tree, beech, oak, willow and cypress, whose pollen measures on average between 20 and 60 microns.
Grass pollen from April to August
It is the season of the famous "hay fever" or allergic rhinitis which represents almost half of pollen allergies because all regions of the country are affected.
There are three types of grasses that have allergenic pollens ranging in size from 15 to 150 microns:
– Forage grasses which are plants used for animal feed, in the form of pasture or hay. It is trivially the grass of meadows.
– Cereal grasses which include wheat, oats, rye and barley. They are also consumed in human food and can cause food allergies.
– Ornamental grasses are hardy plants that beautify our gardens like angel hair or pampas grass.
Herbaceous pollen from August to October
These summer pollens are perfect for spoiling the holidays. Among the hundreds of species, ragweed is the best known with an allergenic potential of 5/5 according to the RNSA. Ragweed pollens are particularly concentrated in the Rhône-Alpes region, Burgundy, the center and Provence, even if they tend to spread to other regions of the country. Herbaceous pollen measures from 3 to 200µm.
The European climate and health observatory website, is the best information and news guide on the subject. You will know for each country the level of pollen present in the air, for each type of pollen. A very effective tool for people with allergies. A mobile application also exists to prevent alerts and give advice.
What are the symptoms of a pollen allergy?
The 2021 annual report on the monitoring of pollen and mold in ambient air in France was published by several organizations, including the Association des Pollinariums Sentinelles de France (APSF), the Atmo France Federation, and the National Aerobiological Surveillance Network (RNSA). This report announces that 30% of French people are affected by respiratory allergy linked to pollen.
The most well-known form is allergic rhinitis, which is accompanied by runny nose, serial sneezing, and throat irritation. In half of the cases, it is accompanied by conjunctivitis, i.e. red, itchy eyes. Be careful because an allergy that is not treated properly can turn into asthma.
The RNSA reminds us that pollen concentrations are “higher on beautiful sunny days” and that “the air pollution peaks may exacerbate possible allergic symptoms.”
How to treat or protect yourself from pollen allergy?
The most lasting response remains desensitization by an allergist, which consists of exposing allergic patients to the substance, at a low dose, over a period ranging from a few months to several years so that their body gradually gets used to it.
The immediate response remains the use of antihistamine products (medication that counteracts the effects of histamine, an inflammatory substance released in large quantities by cells in the event of an allergic reaction) such as the famous Zyrtec . This medication is available without a prescription .
However, in the absence of medical advice, it should only be used in the event of a reappearance of symptoms already diagnosed by a doctor and previously treated with a medication containing the same substance (cetirizine).
It will also be advisable for the most sensitive people, especially children, to limit their exposure to pollen, even if this remains a challenge given its extreme volatility. It can even be found everywhere, in every house, unless you live with closed windows.
Other tips:
- Do not undress in your bedroom to avoid pollen falling on the pillows.
- Open the windows to air your home before sunrise and after sunset.
- Wash your hair often, especially if it is long, because pollen likes to hide there.
- Reduce exposure to irritating or allergenic chemicals such as household products, cigarette smoke, home fragrances, incense, etc.
- Do not mow the lawn or do gardening during the day. Wait until evening.
- Do not dry your laundry outside as the detergent will settle and stick to the damp laundry.
- Wear protective glasses when traveling by bicycle or motorcycle
- Do not open the window when traveling by car
Does wearing an anti-pollution mask protect against pollen allergies?
Given the tiny size of pollens and their extreme volatility, wearing an anti-pollution mask can be a very good solution, provided that it filters particles smaller than 2 microns and that it is well sealed so that 100% of the air inhaled passes through the filters. It will therefore be a respiratory mask with the minimum FFP2 standard. However, confirm with your allergist.
Professor Frédéric de Blay, president of the French Federation of Allergology, and head of the allergology, asthma and respiratory pathologies department at the Strasbourg hospital, states that " patients allergic to pollen have fewer symptoms, rhinitis or even asthma if they wear a mask."
Homemade masks or surgical masks are not effective enough protection against pollen because too much of the air inhaled passes through the sides without being properly filtered. Their purpose is to protect others from viruses (as during the Covid pandemic) more than to protect the wearer.
Advice : Remember to wash the anti-pollen mask very regularly and change the filters because the pollen will be captured inside. They must be removed.
Features of Frogmask masks
Frogmask masks perfectly meet these two conditions of optimal protection and will allow you to breathe air filtered from pollen. Their FFP2/N95 filters block a minimum of 94% of particles present in the air up to 0.4µm, which is more than the smallest pollen. The brand also offers 3 sizes of masks (M, L and XL) which allows you to choose the one that fit best to your face shape and which will therefore offer the best airtightness. Follow the size guide to order the mask adapted to your body shape.
With their two flexible rods at the nose (one on the filter and the other on the mask), the hot air exhaled through the mouth or nose rises very little along the nose and therefore does not cause fogging if you wear glasses.
Purchasing a Frogmask mask is the insurance of strong protection to the FFP2/N95 standard against air pollution, dust and pollen in order to limit the risk of allergies during your outdoor activities and your journeys by bike or motorbike.
