How To Cure Allergic Rhinitis Permanently: Is It Possible?

Allergic rhinitis, or hay fever, is a common allergic reaction that causes inflammation in the inside of the nose. This results in excessive sneezing and a runny nose, among other symptoms, and it can cause discomfort to those who suffer from it. If you’re wondering how to cure allergic rhinitis permanently, the first thing you should know there is no known cure for allergic rhinitis. The only thing you can do is treat the symptoms using home remedies and medical treatments. Prevention — by avoiding exposure to allergens — also plays an important role.

Allergic Rhinitis Prevention

As there is no way how to cure allergic rhinitis permanently, the best course of action is to avoid the allergens that cause it in the first place. Some of the most common allergens that cause allergic rhinitis are pollen, dust mites, animal dander, and mold.

Pollen

This type of allergen comes from plants and trees. Pollen usually causes seasonal allergies and may trigger asthma as well. The type of pollen that is in the air varies depending on what season it is. For instance, pollen coming from trees travels in the air during spring, pollen from weeds travels during fall, and pollen from grasses travels during summer. 

The best way to avoid exposure to pollen is to:

• After being outside, make sure to wash your hair and rinse your entire body. It is also a must that you change your clothes right away. 
• After laundry, do not hang your sheets or clothes outside as pollen may stick to them. 
• Make sure to keep windows closed during pollen seasons. 

Dust Mites

These are tiny insects that live in bedsheets, carpets, and furniture. And unfortunately, they are impossible to get rid of. The next best thing to do is to is to prevent coming in contact with dust mites by doing the following:

• • See to it that you wash your covers/sheets regularly and use hot water. 
  • As much as possible, keep stuffed toys, heavy drapes and carpets away from you since dust mites live in these. 
  • Switch to cleaning floors with a damp mop/rag rather than sweeping them dry. 
  • Dust-proof covers are highly recommended for bed covers and pillow cases. 
  • Foam rubber beddings will usually be infested with dust mites, so do avoid using these. 

Animal Dander

If you know that you are allergic to pets, then it would be best not to own one. However, if you still want to have a pet, then you may want to consider doing the following: 

• • Keep your pets away from bedrooms, or indoors 
  • To reduce animal dander, bathe your pets once a week. 
  • Always sanitize or wash your hands after handling pets. 

Mold

These allergens love to grow in damp areas such as bathrooms, closets, or dip trays in refrigerators. There are numerous ways in which mold in your home can be minimized:

• • Avoid using humidifiers. 
  • Clean damp areas in your home regularly (bathrooms and basements). Keep them well-ventilated  and dry to prevent the growth of mold. 
  • Keep humidity in your home between 30 and 50 percent. 

Other Irritants

Apart from the allergens mentioned, there are other irritants that trigger allergic rhinitis: 

• • Cigarette smoke. Stay away from people and areas where there is tobacco smoke and if you smoke, you may want to quit. 
  • Cold air. Covering your nose and mouth using a scarf will help in preventing allergic rhinitis due to cold air. 
  • Odors. Try to avoid inhaling odors such as paint, insecticides, hair spray, perfumes, and other strong odors. 
  • Colds/Infections. Ensure that you always wash your hands to avoid infectious diseases that may trigger allergic rhinitis. 

Medications for Allergic Rhinitis

The closest we can come to how to cure allergic rhinitis permanently is finding a treatment that works for you. Consult your doctor for medication that can help relieve allergic rhinitis symptoms.

• Corticosteroids. This is an anti-inflammatory drug that treats health issues such as allergic rhinitis, asthma and lupus. The nasal form of this spray is most effective in treating allergic rhinitis. Also, it is recommended that this medication be used non-stop or frequently in short time periods. 
• Antihistamines. This medication can help people who have allergies as well as colds. Antihistamine nasal sprays are most effective in treating allergic rhinitis. 
• Decongestants. These are typically used in treating symptoms of allergy, especially a stuffy nose. This medication should not be used for more than three consecutive days. 
• Immunotherapy (allergy shots). This type of medication is for people who experience symptoms of allergy that are too much for them to handle.  With immunotherapy, the dosage of each shot increases until it reaches a point where a person is able to have their symptoms under control. 
• Sublingual Immunotherapy Treatment (SLIT). This type of medication is similar to allergy shots, however, the process in which this is taken is done by putting the medicine under the tongue. This helps in the treatment of allergies from grass pollen. 
• Leukotriene inhibitors. Leukotriene inhibitors are responsible for blocking leukotriene and other chemicals in the body that cause inflammation and symptoms of hay fever (allergic rhinitis). These are prescribed for long term control of attacks.

Key Takeaway

While there is no way how to cure allergic rhinitis permanently, there are certainly ways in which people can treat this health condition by using medications and other preventive measures. 

Learn more about Nose and Eye Allergies here.