Mold Allergies
Mold Allergy Doctor in NYC
Get Relief from Your Mold Allergy with Sublingual Immunotherapy (Allergy Drops)
It’s estimated that—brace yourself—there are tens of thousands of different types of fungi, otherwise known as mold. Mold lives on dead, decaying material and thrives in warm, damp moist places. Think of your shower and basement. But mold can also thrive outdoors. The main sources of outdoor mold are the brown patches of dead grass you see during a hot dry summer or the decaying leaves of autumn. The spores become airborne and can be breathed in through your nose and mouth.
The American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (ACOEM) estimates that about 10% of Americans are allergic to mold.
How to Know If You Have a Mold Allergy
If you are allergic to mold, you may experience:
- a stuffy nose
- itchy eyes and skin
- shortness of breath and difficulty breathing
Mold spore season begins in the spring, peaks in the summer and plateaus through the fall. If you have symptoms year-round, you should get blood tested for mold, as well as other indoor allergies like dust and pet dander. Usually, we can test for a panel of potential indoor and outdoor allergens in your environment. Allergy drops have been successful in reducing symptoms with many patients.
Telehealth New Patient Meeting
We know it can be difficult to always find time to get to the doctor’s office which is why we are now offering telehealth virtual new patient meetings with Dr. Mitchell. During the meeting, you will speak directly with Dr. Mitchell about your health issues just like you would at his office.
It is important for all those who are interested in a telehealth appointment with me to know that medico-legally I cannot diagnose or treat anyone unless we have a face-to-face, in-person office visit. I cannot prescribe any medications or supplements from a telehealth visit (the exception to this is if you live in New York State).
These telehealth visits are intended for educational and informational purposes only. My goal is to help provide you with these resources to work with your local healthcare provider to get the best care possible.
Call our office today at 212-397-0157 to schedule your meeting or request an appointment online.
Mold Allergy Relief
The major indoor mold allergens are Aspergillus and Penicillium (this is not the same as the medicine penicillin, which also comes from a mold). Your goal is to remove mold in your house and to try to prevent moisture from building up.
Outdoor molds can cause asthma and severe eye and nose irritation. Alternaria and Cladosporium are the two most common outdoor molds. They tend to be highest when the humidity soars, or in the fall when the decaying leaves on the ground spew them into the air.
What You Can Do:
- To remove existing mold inside your home, clean surfaces with detergent and water, or if necessary, use a fungicide that contains 5 to 10 percent bleach. Use no more than 1 cup of bleach per gallon of water (never mix bleach with ammonia or other household cleaners because this will produce toxic fumes.)
- If mold covers an area more than 10 square feet, consider hiring an indoor environmental professional.
- To control humidity, use dehumidifiers during summer months, or whenever it’s humid and try to air out bathrooms and showers.
- If you do have flooding, remove or replace soaked carpets and upholstery. It’s best not to have carpets in the basement.
- Have your air conditioning system checked for trapped moisture which can produce mold.
How We Can Help You Get Relief from Mold Allergies
Use allergy drops, which can be taken to build up immunity to mold and give needed relief. At Mitchell Medical Group, we have a unique 3-step approach to treating mold allergies that have proven successful in even the worst allergy cases.
Our approach looks at your diet, lifestyle, medical history, and current medications. We often find that one or more of these factors cause your allergy. Once we find out what it is, we get to work making you better. Unlike other allergists, we don’t just give you a pill and send you home. You leave with an action plan on your very first visit.
Call our Manhattan office 212-397-0157 or Long Island office 516-678-9600 to schedule your new patient Meeting.