Can you develop allergies after moving?

Moving because of allergies is quite a common occurrence – many people suffering from asthma, pollen allergy, insect sting allergy, and other conditions triggered by something specific to their current environment choose to relocate with the hope of getting away from the irritants and allergens causing their condition. And oftentimes, allergic people who move to a different environment (different climate, different air quality, etc.) do indeed experience an improvement in their symptoms.

Hard to believe as it may be though, the exact opposite scenario – developing allergies after moving – is also very common. A lot of people who haven’t had allergies before, suddenly begin having flare-ups after moving to a new area.

There are many reasons why moving to a new location, especially a distant one, may trigger new allergies – different weather conditions, new allergens, higher concentration of irritants in the air, etc. There are also many different ways to cope with new house allergies.

Read on to find out why moving makes you more susceptible to allergies and what you can do about it.

Can moving cause allergies?

Moving, per se, cannot cause allergies, but you can develop allergies after moving.

Something in your new area may cause allergy

When you move to a new place, you get exposed to a new set of allergy triggers:

1) Different climate

If you move to a different part of the country, the weather in your new area may be very different from what you’re used to and may cause your immune system to react.

Besides, the specific climatic conditions and weather phenomena in an area can have a big effect on allergies too:

• High humidity levels can cause respiratory problems and trigger allergy-induced asthma and allergic rhinitis (hay fever). Since mold and dust mites thrive in humid environments, high humidity can also cause – or aggravate – mold allergies and dust allergies;
• Low humidity can trigger skin-related allergies;
• Strong wind can cause – or aggravate – hay fever, as it keeps pollen airborne and carries it over long distances;
• Cold air can trigger allergic asthma; etc.

It is, therefore, easy to understand why so many people develop seasonal allergies after moving.

2) New allergens

Moving to a new environment can expose you to allergens you’ve never been exposed to. There may be types of plants in your new region that didn’t grow in your old location, biting and stinging insects that didn’t live in your previous area, etc. – and you may be allergic to some of these insects or the new types of pollen may trigger an immune response, etc.

Even if you don’t experience any allergic symptoms in the first months after the relocation, keep in mind that allergies might develop over time – when you’re exposed to new allergens, it may take two to five years to get sensitized to them, so you may start having flare-ups a few years after your move.

3) Different air quality

When you move to a new city, the amount of allergens in the air may be higher than it was in your previous location. The air in urban areas, for example, is likely to contain much more irritants (such as smoke particles, dust mites, and mold spores) than that in rural settings.

Besides, the pollen counts in your new area may be much higher than they were in your old one and that may cause big issues.

The further away you move from your old location, the more different your new environment is likely to be from your old one – so, there will be a greater risk of your relocation triggering environmental allergies. It is, therefore, much more common to develop allergies after moving to a new state than after moving locally.

Yet, sometimes, you may only move across town and still get new allergies – in such a case, the reason should be looked for in your new home.

Something in your new home may trigger an allergic reaction

If you suddenly start experiencing allergy symptoms after moving into your new house or apartment – and especially if these symptoms alleviate whenever you leave the place – the problem may be something specific to the home.

Allergies after moving to new house may be triggered by:

• Dust – Dust is the most common indoor allergen. There may be a lot of dust mites in your new home – these microscopic creatures thrive in stagnant, humid environments and since your new place may not have been aired out regularly for quite some time (after the previous occupants left and before you moved in) and the indoor humidity levels may be high, dust may have accumulated in large quantities. Besides, you may have brought in a lot of dust when taking your items into the home. Being exposed to too much dust may trigger allergic symptoms such as congestion, sneezing, itching eyes, and postnasal drip;
• Mold – Mold is very harmful to the health and may cause not only strong allergic reactions, but severe illnesses as well. Even if you can’t see mold patches on the walls or ceilings of your new home, there may be hidden mold in the house – under carpet or tiles, behind drywall or wallpaper, etc. – and it may cause your immune system to respond with allergic reactions;
• Pet dander – Your new place may have been home to an animal to which you’re allergic – if the house wasn’t deep-cleaned before you moved in, pet dander could still be present and might trigger allergic symptoms;
• Smoke particles – If the previous occupants of the home smoked, smoke particles may still be clinging to the carpet, wallpaper, etc. – and you may be allergic to the stale smoke.

You may even be allergic to some of the building materials your new house was constructed with.

The specific causes may be different, but allergies after moving into a new home are often caused by something in the home.

The increased stress during a house move can make you more susceptible to allergies

Moving is extremely stressful and stress can throw your immune system out of whack – it can’t respond properly and that makes you more susceptible to allergies. So, allergic reactions are more likely during and after a house move when your immune system is compromised by the relocation stress.

Related: How to handle stress when moving

Fatigue – which is unavoidable with moving – also weakens your immune system and can contribute to allergies after relocation.

Good to know: You may not develop new allergies after moving, but your existing ones (if you have any) may aggravate. It is common for allergies to get worse after moving for much the same reasons as those for developing new sensitivities – higher pollen counts in your new location may aggravate your hay fever; pollution in your new city may intensify your allergic reactions; certain climatic conditions in your new area can exacerbate your allergies; moving stress can cause your body to release higher levels of histamine which can make your allergic reactions worse than what you’ve experienced in the past; etc.

How to deal with allergies after moving

Developing allergies after moving can cause you serious problems and prevent you from enjoying your new life – you need to find a way to cope with them, so you don’t start regretting moving to your new place.

Here are some tips on how to prevent new house allergies, what to do if you develop new allergies after relocating, and how to manage allergies when moving:

• Make sure all your belongings are clean and completely dry before packing them for moving (to avoid bringing dust and other allergens to your new home and to prevent mold from developing on your items during the move);
• Hire licensed, experienced, and trustworthy movers to take care of your relocation – the pros will perform your move in the safest and most efficient way possible and will do all the hard work for you, so you won’t be so stressed and exhausted by your relocation endeavor and your immune system won’t be compromised by your move;
• Deep clean and air out your new home before moving in to get rid of dust, pet dander, and other potential irritants;
• Look for signs of mold in your new place – check under appliances and cabinets, inspect the kitchen, the basement, the attic, and the bathrooms, check air vents and crawl spaces, etc. – and if you find any, call a professional mold removal company to mitigate the problem and make your living environment safe and healthy;
• Keep indoor humidity levels below 50 percent to keep dust down and prevent mold growth;
• Keep the windows closed when pollen counts are high (during pollen season, early in the mornings, on windy days, etc.);
• Install a HEPA filter in your central furnace and your air conditioning unit;
• Begin taking allergy meds prior to pollen season to minimize allergic reactions;
• Consider allergy shots.

If nothing helps, however, and your post-relocation allergies are so severe that they’re ruining your new life, you may have no choice but to move again – to a new house or to a new area where dust, mold, pollen, pollution, and other allergens won’t be an issue. Just make sure you use professional moving services, so the stress and hassle of moving do not once again aggravate your allergies.