As we celebrate the ones we love this Valentine's Day, make sure that tokens of affection are ones that won’t trigger symptoms for those with allergies. We’re here to help guide your patients through gift-giving this Valentine’s Day, from flowers to candy. Valentine's Day is the time to stop and think about important people to us, from our significant others to friends, family, and children. But can Valentine's Day cause allergies to be worse for your patients? Hidden allergy triggers are lurking in bouquets, candy, a candlelit dinner out (or in), and even jewelry.

Here are some tips to keep those symptoms at bay. 

We know that pollen causes allergies outdoors (especially as we turn the corner to spring), but allergy triggers can be present, even in a bouquet designed by a florist. Save your sweetie the sneezing, itchy, watery eyes, headaches, and choose arrangements with low-trigger flowers. The good news is that roses, a traditional flower in Valentine’s Day bouquets, are an excellent choice for those who suffer from allergies. An article from Teleflora states that “WebMD reports there are quite a variety of flowers out there that allergy sufferers can live in harmony with. Begonia, cactus, clematis, columbine, crocus, daffodil, and geranium are some of the most allergy-friendly plants and flowers. Hosta, hydrangea, iris, lily, periwinkle, rose, tulip, zinnia, and more are also known for being good choices.” 

Candy is a wildly popular gift on Valentine’s Day. Individuals who suffer adverse reactions to certain ingredients need to take extra precautions, verify ingredients, and ensure no cross-contamination during processing. There are plenty of sweet-treats available for those who suffer from allergic reactions to soy, wheat, dairy, peanuts, tree nuts, and more. Remind patients to double-check the labels, do their research, and check out a list of treat ideas from Allergic Living here.

Just because your patient or their Valentine have food allergies, that doesn’t mean they can’t enjoy dinner together - in or out! Food Allergy Research and Education have put together some great tips for ensuring a safe and enjoyable meal while dining out. They recommend avoiding buffets, bakeries, and restaurants that serve pre-made food and encourage individuals to read reviews, call ahead, and communicate with restaurant staff about their allergies. Many chain restaurants have allergy-friendly items that could be worth exploring. When in doubt, keep your meal simple. For those staying in this Valentine’s Day, Pinterest can spark some allergy-friendly meal ideas and desserts. 

Valentine’s Day is one of the biggest holidays for jewelry sales - but for some, this means allergic reactions. Nickel, commonly found in costume jewelry, can irritate and cause a rash or bumps on the skin, itching, redness, dryness, even blisters. For those purchasing this Valentine’s Day - look for hypoallergenic or nickel-free jewelry. Here are some tips from Epiphany Dermatology that will help recognize a jewelry allergy and choose jewelry that causes the least amount of irritation. 

Enjoy this special weekend with the ones who are important to you. Be healthy and well.

Don’t let your patients suffer from allergies this Valentine’s Day. If you’re a primary care physician and are interested in offering fast, virtually painless allergy testing to your patients, contact us today. A member of our physician-relations team will be happy to guide you through our process and product.