Are Air Purifiers Any Good for People with Allergies?

Suffering from allergies can be a nightmare, especially at certain periods of the year. Symptoms such as watering itchy eyes, sneezing or a runny or blocked nose, or even an itchy rash on your body are typical allergy symptoms that are experienced by millions of people all around the world.

There are a number of causes of allergies, with some of the most common ones being an allergic reaction to food such as shellfish, peanuts or dairy produce. Another is when you suffer from an allergic reaction to medication, with penicillin based antibiotics being the main cause. 

Airborne allergens

Another very common source of allergies are from airborne allergens, such as dust mites, mold and pollen. Hay fever is one of the most experienced types of airborne allergy and can affect huge numbers of the population, particularly during the spring and summer months.

You’d be forgiven for thinking that such allergies are limited to the outside, and that at home, you can escape them. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. In fact, indoor air is sometimes twice as polluted as that outdoors due to things such as mold and dust that is common in all homes, as well as chemicals from household products, that can build up over time by being kept in an enclosed space.

Some antigen such as that from a pet cat or dog can float around in your home for hours. Even if you open your windows to let in fresh air, the chances are that you are not going to make much difference to the allergens in the air. One common solution to this problem is to get an air purifier. However, there are questions as to how effective they are when it comes to dealing with allergies.

What is an air purifier?

An air purifier, or cleaner as it is sometimes known, is a device that you place in your home which will clean the air, removing contaminants that are floating around, with the result being a better quality of indoor air. You can find a lot of great information at 5 Best Air Purifier for Allergies (2020 Reviews Updated).

There are many different types of air purifier and you can find models that can also help to remove other elements from the air in your home such as smoke, pet dander and also odors. Air purifiers are effective up to a certain point. If you are a smoker with 5 pet cats, it’s unrealistic to think that by buying an air purifier and switching it on for 5 minutes, the quality of air in your home is going to dramatically improve. 

For the best results, it is best to combine the power of an air purifier with an air filter. Though many people mistake the two devices for the same thing, they are not. Air filters, such as HVAC systems are only able to collect large dust and dirt particles from the air in your homes. But for allergens that can lead to allergic symptoms, your best bet is to go with an air purifier. 

It’s also worth remembering that not all pollutants in a home are floating about in the air. Some are embedded into the floors, walls and furnishing all around your house.

Are they effective for allergies?

There are a few factors involved when it comes to saying whether or not air purifiers are effective for allergy sufferers. The first factor would be looking at the individual and what their level of suffering is. Are they heavily affected by allergens in the air, or do they possess only mild symptoms?

Another factor would be related to the model and type of air purifier that is purchased. There are several different types of air purifiers and filters, each of which have their own benefits. For example, a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter is ideal for removing particles from the air, whereas an ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI) can inactivate microbes in the air, but not remove them from the air.

At the end of the day, it will all come down to a little trial and error and working out the best combination of both an air purifier and also air filter, as the two devices working together are much more effective than just one.

Some final thoughts

If you are someone that suffers greatly from airborne allergens that trying out an air purifier for your home is a good idea. If there is a specific area of your home where you seem to suffer the most, such as the living room, then that’s the best place for the device. 

If you do find that there is some improvement in your symptoms, then it might be worth considering picking up another unit for your bedroom or a different room in your home, as this can play an important role in the managing of your allergies, which in turn can have a positive effect on your quality of living.