There’s a lot of misinformation circulating about allergies and asthma. Some of it is harmless folklore; some of it leads people to make decisions that make their symptoms worse. Here we address the most common myths we encounter — and what the evidence actually says.
“Allergies and asthma aren’t that common”
They are, in fact, remarkably common. Around one in five Australians will develop an allergy at some point in their life, and about one in ten will develop asthma. The rise of allergic disease over the past few decades is one of Australia’s significant public health challenges — not a niche concern.
“Allergies are just a minor inconvenience”
For some people, allergies are mild. For others, they are genuinely life-altering — and in some cases, life-threatening.
Severe allergic reactions (anaphylaxis), most commonly triggered by foods, medications, or insect stings, are potentially fatal. Even conditions that seem less serious, like allergic rhinitis (hay fever), carry real consequences when left untreated: poor sleep, persistent fatigue, difficulty concentrating, and time off work. In children, untreated hay fever can affect learning and school performance in ways that are easy to miss.
Unmanaged allergies can also worsen asthma, sinusitis, eczema, and hives. Taking allergies seriously — and getting a proper diagnosis — matters.
“Smoking doesn’t affect asthma”
Smoking is a well-established asthma trigger. Children born to mothers who smoked during pregnancy, or who are regularly exposed to cigarette smoke, have a significantly higher chance of developing asthma than those who aren’t.
“Hay fever is caused by flowering plants”
This is one of the most persistent allergy myths. Flowering plants — the ones that look and smell beautiful — actually produce large, sticky pollen that doesn’t travel far in the air and relies on bees and birds for pollination. It rarely ends up in anyone’s nose.
Hay fever is almost always triggered by airborne pollen from wind-pollinated grasses, weeds, and trees — plants that produce fine, light pollen in enormous quantities. When people feel irritated around scented flowers, it’s usually the fragrance causing chemical irritation, not the pollen.
“Moving interstate will fix my allergies”
Possibly for a while — but rarely for long. Hay fever triggers like grass pollen exist across Australia, and allergens like dust mite, mould, and animal dander are present almost everywhere. Some people do get temporary relief after relocating, but over time, exposure to new local plants and environmental allergens often leads to new sensitivities developing.
Relocation is not a treatment strategy.
“Getting used to animals will reduce my allergy to them”
The opposite is more likely. If you are allergic to an animal and continue to live with one, sensitivity typically worsens over time — not improves. Around one in three people who are already allergic and continue to be exposed to an indoor pet will develop additional animal allergies as well.
Animal allergens are found in dander, saliva, urine, and — in birds — feathers. Pet hair can also collect outdoor allergens like pollen, adding to the overall allergen load in the home.
If you are allergic to a pet, the most effective step is to minimise indoor exposure: remove the pet from the home, if possible, at minimum keep them out of the bedroom, choose hard flooring over carpet, and wash the animal regularly to reduce allergen shedding.
“You can only develop an animal allergy if you own a pet”
Not true. Animal allergens — particularly from cats and horses — can be carried on clothing and transferred to people who have never owned an animal themselves. Sensitisation can happen through indirect exposure, which is part of why animal allergy can be hard to trace without proper allergy testing.
“Hypoallergenic breeds are safe for allergy sufferers”
There are no truly hypoallergenic animals. Cat allergen comes primarily from skin glands and is present in all breeds. Dog allergen is mainly found in saliva. Even if a breed sheds less dander, allergen still becomes attached to surfaces throughout the home — walls, carpets, bedding, curtains — and can remain suspended in the air long after the animal has been removed from the room.
The amount of allergen an individual animal sheds can vary with factors like sex and coat length, but the allergen itself is consistent within a species.
“Cutting out wheat and dairy will help with asthma and hay fever”
Only if you have a confirmed allergy to those foods — and that requires proper diagnosis by an immunologist or GP allergist, not a process of elimination.
Unnecessarily removing wheat or dairy from your diet can affect nutrition and, in children, growth and development. Dietary changes for allergy should always be done under medical and dietitian supervision.
It’s also worth knowing that scientific evidence does not support the idea that milk increases mucus production or worsens asthma. People who notice symptoms after drinking cold milk are more likely reacting to inhaling cool, dry air while drinking — not to the milk itself.
“Colours and preservatives cause asthma”
Some preservatives — particularly sodium metabisulfite, found in wine, dried fruits, and vinegar — can worsen asthma in people who already have it, but they do not cause asthma. There’s an important difference.
Allergy testing is also not reliable for diagnosing sensitivity to colours and preservatives, so it is not a useful diagnostic tool for these substances.
“Alternative allergy tests are just as good as medical ones”
They are not, and some are potentially harmful in their consequences. Tests like kinesiology, hair analysis, vega testing, IgG food testing, bioresonance, and various others have no scientific validation for diagnosing allergy. Acting on their results can lead people to unnecessarily restrict diets, delay proper treatment, and miss genuine diagnoses.
Skin prick tests and blood-based allergen-specific IgE tests are the validated, Medicare-rebated allergy tests used by immunologists and GP allergists in Australia. Together with a medical history and clinical examination, they give a reliable picture of what is actually driving your symptoms.
If you’ve had allergy testing done outside of a medical setting and want clarity on what it means, we’re happy to help.
“Allergies and asthma can be cured”
There are currently no cures for either condition — but both can be very effectively managed. With the right diagnosis and treatment plan, most people can prevent or significantly reduce their symptoms.
The closest thing to a cure for allergy is allergen immunotherapy (desensitisation), which can produce long-lasting tolerance in some people, particularly for allergic rhinitis and insect sting allergy. You can read more about this on our Allergen Immunotherapy page.
“Allergy and asthma sprays are dangerous”
Inhaled corticosteroids for asthma, and intranasal corticosteroid sprays for hay fever, are among the most well-studied medications in use today. When used correctly under medical supervision, there is no evidence that long-term use is harmful. They are safe, effective, and for many people essential to day-to-day wellbeing.
“Antihistamines will make me drowsy”
Older antihistamines can cause drowsiness and should not be used when driving. However, modern non-sedating antihistamines are widely available from pharmacies, are proven safe for driving, and are typically taken just once a day. If you’ve avoided antihistamines because of concerns about drowsiness, it’s worth asking your pharmacist or doctor about the current options.
Still have questions?
Allergy is a complex field, and good information matters. If you’re unsure whether your symptoms might be allergy-related, or if you’ve had a diagnosis that doesn’t quite add up, our team of immunologists and GP allergists at Austral Allergy can help.
We see patients across our Canberra and Adelaide clinics. We welcome you to arrange an appointment https://canberraallergy.com.au/
Clinics will soon be coming to Melbourne and the Northern Rivers.