Could I Have a Christmas Tree Allergy?
Key takeaways:
Christmas trees contain allergens and irritants that can worsen allergies and asthma. Mold and pine sap from Christmas trees — rather than tree pollen — are likely to trigger allergies.
Poison ivy often grows near pine trees and can leave behind resin on Christmas tree trunks and branches. This resin can trigger an itchy rash.
Artificial trees can build up dust and mold in storage, which may also worsen allergies and asthma.
Table of contents
Does setting up your Christmas tree make you sneeze or feel short of breath? Or do you get an itchy rash on your hands and arms after putting up your Christmas tree? These symptoms aren’t a coincidence — they’re signs you could be allergic to your Christmas tree.
Here’s why Christmas trees can cause allergies, asthma, and rashes, and what you can do to stay comfortable this holiday season.
What is Christmas tree syndrome?
Christmas tree syndrome is when you develop allergic symptoms to your Christmas tree. You may notice respiratory symptoms like sneezing or itchy eyes. Or you may develop a rash on your hands. In some people, it can trigger an asthma flare.
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Typically tree pollen isn’t to blame for Christmas tree allergies. When you bring a tree indoors, you’re bringing in a host of potential allergens that live in nature, from mold to that strong pine fragrance — and even poison ivy.
What are the symptoms of Christmas tree allergies?
Symptoms of Christmas tree allergies are similar to seasonal allergy symptoms. If you’re allergic to your Christmas tree, you may experience:
Sneezing
Runny nose
Itchy nose
Itchy or watery eyes
Throat irritation from postnasal drip
Christmas tree allergies can also lead to itchy rashes. These rashes are a sign of contact dermatitis, a type of skin allergy.
And Christmas tree allergies can worsen underlying asthma or trigger an asthma flare. This can lead to symptoms like:
Cough
Shortness of breath
Rapid breathing
Wheezing
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How does a live Christmas tree trigger your allergies?
There are several ways that your live Christmas tree can trigger underlying allergies or cause a new allergy to flare. Here are the common culprits.
Mold
Mold is a fungus. And fungi live everywhere in nature. It’s almost certain that your live Christmas tree has mold spores on it. One study found that mold spores in the air increased by a factor of four after setting up a live Christmas tree in an apartment.
Many people are allergic to live mold spores and even a small number of them can set off some people’s allergies or asthma.
Fragrance
The fresh pine scent of a Christmas tree can make your home smell lovely during the holidays. But that scent comes from a substance called terpene, which is found in the sap of pine trees.
Although terpenes smell nice, these chemicals can also irritate your skin and cause contact dermatitis. When you set up your Christmas tree, you’re likely to come in contact with pine sap and terpene. If you’re sensitive to terpenes, you can develop contact dermatitis.
Contact dermatitis is a skin allergy that’s set off by substances like natural or human-made chemicals. Contact dermatitis causes an itchy, red rash on the parts of the skin that come in direct contact with those chemicals. Contact dermatitis can get worse with repeat exposures. That means your rash might get worse every time you come in contact with pine sap.
Dust mites
Dust mites are tiny insects that feed on dead skin cells. While they’re more often found indoors and in spaces like ductwork, they can also live outdoors. Dust mites can trigger people’s allergies and asthma.
Dust mites can live on any object, including live Christmas trees. When you bring a Christmas tree into your home, you’re also bringing in some dust mites. People with severe dust mite allergies are often very careful to keep dust mites out of their home, and they’re also very careful about bringing anything new into their home.
Unlike clothes or furniture, you can’t clean a Christmas tree and remove all the mites. So if you’re very sensitive to dust mites, you should be aware that there may be enough mites on your tree to trigger your allergies.
Poison ivy
Poison ivy is a plant that contains a resin called urushiol. Some people are allergic to this resin and can develop an itchy, red rash if they touch it. Many people think poison ivy is only around in the summer. But that’s not true. Poison ivy leaves may die back in the winter as the plant rests, but the urushiol is active all year round.
Another fun fact about poison ivy — it loves pine trees. Whether you’re cutting down your own tree or picking up a precut tree, it’s possible the trunk of your tree was recently encircled by poison ivy. When the poison ivy gets pulled or cut off, urushiol can get left behind on the Christmas tree trunk. It can then get on your hands as you set up your tree, causing an itchy rash.
Flocking
Spraying artificial snow or “flocking” your tree can also irritate your lungs. Flocking releases small particles into the air, and breathing them in can irritate the airways, triggering asthma or allergies. Technically, this isn’t your Christmas tree’s fault but could be another reason your allergies act up when you set up your tree.
Can tree pollen cause Christmas tree allergies?
No. A common misconception is that the pine tree pollen is the major trigger for a Christmas tree allergy. But pine trees make pollen in the springtime. By the time Christmas comes around in the Northern hemisphere, trees make very little pollen.
Also, pine pollen doesn’t tend to trigger allergies the way other types of tree pollen do. Pine pollen is actually much larger and heavier than other tree pollen. That means it doesn’t hang in the air, and people don’t breathe it in as easily. So pine pollen isn’t likely to trigger allergies or asthma.
Can you be allergic to a fake Christmas tree?
You can consider switching to an artificial Christmas tree. But artificial trees aren’t perfect either. Over the course of the year, an artificial tree is likely to gather dust, insect droppings, and dust mites while in storage. So it can also trigger your allergies.
What can you do to prevent a Christmas tree allergy?
If you want to stick with a live Christmas tree, there are some things you can do to lower your risk of triggering your allergies.
Clean your tree
Spray your tree down with a hose and let it dry in a garage or covered porch for a few days before bringing it into your home. This can help get any mold, insect droppings, or other debris out of your tree. You can also use a leaf blower to remove dust and pollen that are clinging to the tree.
Wear gloves
If you get a rash after putting up your tree, you’re probably allergic to poison ivy or terpenes. You can wear gloves while setting up your tree to stop these chemicals from coming in contact with your skin and causing an allergic reaction. You should also wear long sleeves, pants, and socks. Make sure to wash all your clothing after putting up your tree because these chemicals can get onto your clothes and then your skin. Avoid touching your face while setting up your tree.
Decorate wisely
Stick to ornaments and tree decor that won’t trigger your allergies. Avoid sprays, aerosols, and other products that create fumes or fragrance.
What can I take to stop Christmas tree allergy symptoms?
If your tree is already up, and you’re having symptoms, you may need to take allergy medications. Options include:
Saline rinses to help flush allergens out of your nose and sinuses
Over-the-counter (OTC) oral antihistamines like Claritin, Zyrtec, or Allegra, for nasal symptoms
OTC nasal steroid sprays, like Flonase, Afrin, or Nasacort, for nasal symptoms
OTC antihistamine eye drops like Pataday or Zaditor for itchy eyes
OTC topical steroid creams like hydrocortisone 1% for rashes
Call your primary care provider if you have asthma and you feel like your asthma symptoms are getting worse. You may need additional treatment to help you get over your Christmas tree allergy.
Frequently asked questions
Christmas tree rash describes the rash from pityriasis rosea. This is a harmless rash that sometimes can resemble the shape of a Christmas tree. But it’s not related to Christmas tree allergies. It’s not known what causes it, but it’s thought to arise after having a virus, like the common cold. Certain medication may also trigger it. Pityriasis rosea usually goes away on its own.
You may continue to have an allergic reaction until you get rid of the allergens that are causing it. If you develop a rash, it will likely go away in a few days as long as you don’t touch the tree again. You can reduce your risk by spraying down your tree before bringing it inside. But if you consistently get Christmas tree allergies, you may need to switch to an artificial tree.
There’s really no type of Christmas tree that would cause less allergies than others. That’s because it’s not the pollen that causes the allergies, but other things like mold and fragrances. You’re likely to lower the risk of poison ivy allergies if you buy a tree from a farm or vendor rather than cutting it down yourself in the forest.
The bottom line
Christmas trees are beautiful to look at, but they can aggravate your allergies and asthma by releasing mold and irritants in your home. The pollen itself, however, isn’t usually the culprit. Christmas trees can also cause rashes by triggering contact dermatitis, a type of skin allergy. If you have a Christmas tree allergy, you can try OTC treatments to relieve your symptoms.
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References
American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology. (2018). Pine tree “allergy.”
Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. (2015). Dust mite allergy.
Kurlandsky, L. E., et al. (2011). Identification of mold on seasonal indoor coniferous trees. Annals of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology.
Matura, M., et al. (2005). Selected oxidized fragrance terpenes are common contact allergens. Contact Dermatitis.
Michigan United Conservation Clubs. (2023). Don’t make a rash decision, watch out for poisonous plants in the winter.
