But for some people, those well-known aromas present a serious health risk. However, lighting many paraffin candles every day for years or lighting them frequently in an un-ventilated bathroom around a tub, for example, may cause problems. “In terms of cancer, a far more significant type of indoor air pollution is secondhand cigarette smoke. It'll keep allergens from getting into your airways when you can’t avoid certain allergy … Scented Candles – A Problem for Allergy and Asthma Suffers. Not only do paraffin candles release such unhealthy chemicals as alkenes and toluene (linked to the development of cancer and known to aggravate allergies and asthma), petroleum products are not a renewable resource. completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Utah and went on to earn his Doctor of Medicine from Tulane University School of Medicine in 1974. But experts warn they could be doing more harm that good as they give off powerful fumes that could cause asthma, and even lung cancer. View our online Press Pack. Studies have shown that when they're burnt, they can release cancer-causing chemicals that can be especially harmful to those with respiratory conditions. If candles are compromising your health, but you still enjoy the ambience they provide, consider the following tips: Avoiding allergenic candles may be relatively simple, but if your struggle with allergies is having a significant impact on your life, consider allergy treatment. Candle making is an easy process to do at home. Stuart H. Agren, M.D. These can help you to overcome hypersensitivity. Pulmonary doctors of the German Lung Foundation (DLS) consider the use of scented candles made from paraffin as a concern for allergy sufferers and asthmatics. The paraffin-based candles produced clear sharp peaks indicating the presence of many products such as toluene, alkanes and alkenes, as well as some ketones and aldehydes. One of the most rewarding parts of my candle pouring job was listening to customers tell me miraculous stories of how the beeswax candles changed their quality of … One beloved way to make your home feel cozy and festive at this time of year is to light up a candle that smells of pine trees, gingerbread or pumpkin. They’re friendly for the whole family. For other inquiries, Contact Us. In his private medical practice, Dr. Agren specialized in family practice and allergy. Even if you don’t have these reactions, you should be aware that the candles you use could be polluting your home with unsafe chemicals. Switch to 100% beeswax candles. ", The British Lung Foundation said: "We would like to reassure people that occasional use of paraffin candles should not pose any risk to their lung health. Toluene: Found in candle soot, it’s known to affect the central nervous system. Better for your health and the environment. This is a simple explanation to the science of it all. "The Sun", "Sun", "Sun Online" are registered trademarks or trade names of News Group Newspapers Limited. If you love candles for ambiance or to help you relax, try these. Ronaghi stressed that candles and some decorations have toxic fumes and chemicals that can all inflame allergies and lead to allergic reactions. COVID-19 can spread from person to person, while allergies are not contagious. Want to help your allergies and asthma in your home? December comes alive with the sights, sounds and scents of the holiday. To inquire about a licence to reproduce material, visit our Syndication site. This includes candles and air fresheners. Although not an allergy in itself, a burning candle can emit smoke and scent, which can irritate airways and eyes. Synthetic smells comprise hundreds of different chemicals that can trigger allergic reactions. "For a person who lights a candle every day for years or just uses them frequently, inhalation of these dangerous pollutants drifting in the air could contribute to the development of health risks like cancer, common allergies and even asthma. But while candles smell nice, about one in five people report reacting to candles with symptoms that include sneezing, a runny or stuffed-up nose, itchy eyes, sinus problems, head pain, hives or other skin rashes, coughing or wheezing. They produce very little to no soot, no harmful chemicals, and very little to no emissions. Our scented candles help to relieve the stuffy senses and clear those fuzzy heads that are all too common with hayfever. They are, however, incredibly useful when it comes to treating allergies linked to environmental particulates. AllergyEasy and the AllergyEasy logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of AllergyEasy of Arizona, Inc. If you are unsure whether your symptoms are fall allergies or COVID-19, schedule an appointment with your doctor and ask about testing for COVID-19. They will also be asked to introduce a labelling scheme to warn consumers about the harmful effects of the worst offending products. Wheezing 4. Symptoms of fragrance sensitivity can include: 1. Scented candles should be used in well-ventilated rooms. However, if you look in your area, you can probably find a small business that makes candles. Help in removal of parasites growing in the ear ; Help in clearing mold caused by Candida yeast allergy ; Sinuses are able to drain and flow freely reducing pressure ; Improved balance and rejuvenation of the equilibrium; Beneficial relief may be obtained from ear candling for the following conditions: Sinus discomfort congestion (reduced) If you're like a lot of folks with allergies, you may want to stay away from strong fragrances. Don’t use any scented products at all to minimize your possible exposure to your allergy or sensitivity triggers. You may be fine with one scent, but others may send you into allergic misery. Melt away hayfever symptoms with our candles. He added: "Switch to battery-operated tea lights or strings of fairy lights to create the same visual effect. Similarly, a study sponsored by international candle organizations — including the U.S.-based National Candle Association — compared paraffin wax, soy wax, palm wax, and beeswax candles and determined that they all burned similarly and safely. He has also been a trailblazer in the field of food allergy treatment and research, developing a program to treat multiple food allergies simultaneously using sublingual immunotherapy. Our candles are hand-poured using 100% pure soy candle wax and all cotton wicks. Smug mum leaves kids at home & jets to Dubai so she can ‘homeschool in paradise’, I let my child pick their own gender - but people accuse me of abuse, I quit £90k job to live on a boat - I wee in a bucket & rarely shower, Cleaning fan paints her floor twice a DAY to make sure it’s always gleaming, Head lice experts share the worst case they’ve EVER seen of thousands of nits, ©News Group Newspapers Limited in England No. The chart on this page can help you decide if your symptoms are more like allergies or more like COVID-19. Worsening asthma symptoms 6. Allergy Easy > Allergy Information > Candle Allergies, The information on this site is intended for US medical professionals only. According to their 2009 study, undesired chemicals were emitted because the candles are by-products of oil refineries. "Ask family and friends not to light candles before you visit or while you’re there. • 100% beeswax candles have been reported to actually help allergies and asthma. Trying to unravel which chemical is problematic for you can be nearly impossible. After 20 years in private practice, Dr. Agren became the Founder and President of AllergyEasy, which helps primary care physicians around the country offer allergy testing and sublingual immunotherapy treatment to their patients. The Sun website is regulated by the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO), Our journalists strive for accuracy but on occasion we make mistakes. One way I like to combat stuffiness is with a aromatherapy candle. For those who suffer from seasonal allergies, the long-awaited arrival of spring is a double-edge sword that brings blooming flowers and sunshine — along with airborne pollen and other allergens that will stuff noses and make eyes water. Going indoors offers some relief — unless you encounter one of these 15 things within the home that can actually cause allergy symptoms to … Dr Andy Whittamore, Asthma UK’s in-house GP, said: "Although we don’t yet know exactly which chemicals or fragrances are most likely to trigger people with asthma, our advice is for people to avoid them if they notice they cough more or get symptoms such as breathlessness around scented candles.". If you’re looking for hypoallergenic candles, consider the various types of candles available. Headaches 2. For further details of our complaints policy and to make a complaint please click this link: thesun.co.uk/editorial-complaints/, Comments are subject to our community guidelines, which can be viewed, Scented candles ‘give off cancer-causing fumes', experts warn, Asthma symptoms - Medical doctor Alvin Singh explains what asthma looks, feels, and sounds like, Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO). Instead, choose soy or beeswax candles, which are renewable, free of toxins, and biodegradable. Warmer weather is upon us, flowers are blooming and so are our allergies! There are no special tools or eq In producing soot, candles with traditional wicks are also often producing harsher chemicals into the air, like lead. Dr Massoudi's team burnt candles in a chamber which pumped the gases into a glass ampoule containing highly absorbent activated coconut charcoal. 679215 Registered office: 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF. Below are the top 5 essential oils that can help fight against allergies. While humidifiers can help treat a range of allergic symptoms, they are not intended to be used as a treatment for food allergies, latex allergies, or any other contact-based condition. Candle Allergies. Because beeswax candles clean the air and reduce indoor pollutants, they can effectively reduce asthma, allergies, and hay fever. Most scented candles are made with paraffin wax, which is derived from petroleum, coal or shale oil. Candles, aromas and wood fires Holiday decorations often include candles, scented pine cones, infusers and sprays that make the house smell like the holidays. Both can help desensitize your body to allergens in the environment that make you feel miserable. Allergies and Crystals that Help. But while candles smell nice, about one in five people report reacting to candles with symptoms that include sneezing, a runny or stuffed-up nose, itchy eyes, … Is your nose stuffy and congested? Sneezing 8. Not only might this impact your or your family if you have allergies, asthma, or are prone to headaches, but it also has an impact on the fragrance itself. “Inhalation can lead to … Burn a beeswax candle! Switching to natural wax candles that use soy could be better for both your health and the environment. Runny and stuffy nose 7. December comes alive with the sights, sounds and scents of the holiday. To see all content on The Sun, please use the Site Map. Most people will never go back to using paraffin candles once they’ve tried the natural beeswax candles because they do … Candles of all types should not be left burning unattended. Incense plays a major role in many Pagan rituals, spellwork, circles, and cleansing procedures. Do you suffer from seasonal allergies? Unlike allergies, sinus infections are … Breathing them in should help open up airways and helps relieve sinus pressure, so if we use them already to help with these things, why not make a candle scented with them as well to take it a little … Experts have criticised the research, saying that there's not enough evidence to prove that it could cause cancer. A spokesperson for Cancer Research UK, said: "There is no direct evidence that everyday use of candles can affect our risk of developing cancer. *When we think custom, we normally think expensive. Black Beeswax Pillar Candle - 6" Hand-Rolled Pure Bees Wax Candles - Handmade Unscented Candles With Cotton Wick - for Relaxation, Meditation and Decor - no Petroleum - Hypoallergenic (Black Color) ", Avoid scented candles if you notice you're coughing more or get symptoms such as breathlessness. Dr. Agren has been featured on local CBS, NBC, and ABC news affiliates and won the peer-nominated “Top Doc” award from Phoenix Magazine. Candles, Air Fresheners Can Trigger Allergy-Like Symptoms : Shots - Health News Allergists see an uptick in problems reported by people sensitive to chemicals in … They are non-toxic, good for allergies, and naturally dripless. Earlier this year, Michael Gove - the environment secretary - said that candle manufacturers would have to reduce emissions on scented candles. They produce about a tenth of the soot created by a paraffin candle. But the researchers did note that emissions from using paraffin candles occasionally is unlikely to affect people. Decorations that fill your home with holiday scents can jump-start nasal congestion, sneezing and a runny nose in just about anyone. One beloved way to make your home feel cozy and festive at this time of year is to light up a candle that smells of pine trees, gingerbread or pumpkin. Not everyone is affected by allergies, but those of us who are, sneezing, coughing, runny nose, rashes and headaches can certainly dampen springtime, or anytime for that matter. Essential oils can be applied topically, diffused aromatically or taken internally for soothing the senses which also helps in avoiding many health issues caused due to allergies. Wear a Mask. Do you suffer from Asthma or Allergies? News Corp is a network of leading companies in the worlds of diversified media, news, education, and information services. By vaporising allergy-busting essential oils our candles help to keep your sinuses clear. A skin allergy like contact dermatitis — an itchy, red rash that appears on the skin "However, we would advise people to take sensible precautions when burning candles, such as opening a window to keep the room ventilated to minimise the amount of emissions breathed in.". There are … Among their suggestions: People with allergies or asthma may want to steer clear of scented candles, or particular scents that may trigger reactions. When shopping for candles, look for products made in the US or Canada from beeswax or natural soy or vegetable-based wax, that contain lead-free 100% unbleached cotton wicks. Dr Ruhullah Massoudi said: “The paraffin candles we tested released unwanted chemicals into the air. When the burning materials are released, they may cause or exacerbate the respiratory symptoms. Your physician can order an allergy test kit and gauge your sensitivity to common allergen extracts. This DIY Sinus Relief Candle will help open your nasal passages with a calming and relaxing scent. Over 200 physicians in over 32 states use the AllergyEasy program to help their patients overcome environmental and food allergies and asthma. Scientists at South Carolina State University found that long-term exposure to fumes given off by paraffin wax could lead to cancer, allergies and asthma. More like COVID-19 relieve the stuffy senses and clear those fuzzy heads that are too. To no emissions can probably find a small business that makes candles,! To natural wax candles that use soy could be better for both your health and the environment secretary said! Of diversified media, news, education, and cleansing procedures nose and chest labelling to! 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