When people think of allergies, they may think of seasonal hay fever during springtime and fall. However, you can also suffer from allergies during the winter. If you keep getting sore throats and runny noses, you may assume that it's a cold, but it could be allergies acting up. Allergens like dust mites, animal dander, and molds are common issues during wintertime since people are stuck indoors and dry air that contains allergens gets recirculated. Here are a few ways to treat your wintertime allergies.

Get in Touch with an Allergist

While you may already know about spring/fall allergens, it's a good idea to visit an allergist or another healthcare professional to get tested for wintertime allergens. The allergist will perform a skin-prick test to see if anything triggers an allergic response. The allergist can also order an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) test which can measure antibodies that have been created to combat a specific allergen.

Once you narrow down which allergens are causing you trouble, then your doctor can recommend the best medication or treatments to deal with them. For example, he or she may recommend that you start going to a clinic for allergy shots. Allergy shots are a part of immunotherapy and introduce tiny allergens to your system so that your body can start developing a better tolerance for allergens.

Ask the Allergist About the Ideal Humidity Settings

Dry air during the wintertime can make allergies even more painful since mucous membranes may dry out. You may also suffer from itchy allergen-caused eczema when the air is too dry. While a humidifier can help, you don't want to have too much humidity since that can encourage condensation and mold. If your air is too dry, consider using a saline solution for your sinuses and using hypoallergenic lotions for your skin.

Buy a HEPA Filter

High-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters are used in the healthcare industry since they can trap harmful particles at a microscopic level. The air in your home can have more allergens, like pet dander and dust mites, because there's decreased ventilation during the winter. Install a HEPA filter in your HVAC system to trap these allergens.

Stay on Top of Your Laundry

Allergens can accumulate in bedding and clothes—especially if you have pets. It's important to wash your bedding and clothes in hot water at least once a week so that dander and dust mites can be eliminated. If the laundry load is getting to be too much, you may also want to purchase covers for your mattress and pillowcases that are rated as hypoallergenic. These types of covers are more resistant to dust mites compared to other fabric covers.

For more tips on how to deal with allergies, contact a professional in your area today.