Winter can be a terrible time for skin. Cold, dry air and heated dry air can combine to leave your skin less than supple. Here are three easy things you can do to keep dry skin at bay this winter:

• Humidify - Forced air heating systems (the kind used in most homes) dries out the air. Adding moisture back into the air with a humidifier restores proper humidity levels, making your home feel warmer and keeping your skin happy.
• Moisturize at the right time - Slathering on lotion doesn't always make a difference. The priniciple behind moisturizing is that lotion will trap moisture near your skin. Hence, the best time to moisturize is after a shower when your skin is still slightly damp. Or, leave some lotion near your sink so you can rub it on after washing your hands. Be sure to use fragrance-free, hypoallergenic lotions such as Vanicream to avoid irritating sensitive skin.
• Drink lots of water - Restore your body's moisture levels from the inside out by staying hydrated. To help yourself keep track of your liquid intake, try associating drinking a glass of water with routine activities. For instance, take a glass back to your desk after every break and meal.

Taking care of your skin is especially important if you have sensitive skin or eczema, because dry skin is often the first step on the way to a problem. Adding these items to your winter routine, can go a long way in helping to keep your skin from becoming dry.

AchooAllergy.com is excited to announce that we are offering a great combination Thanksgiving Sale and Prize giveaway. When you place an order during the holiday weekend or even on Cyber Monday (specific times are available at the link below), you receive great savings and you will be automatically entered to win a new flat screen television set!

This week you can avoid the holiday shopping rush of Black Friday, save money on gas, spend more time with your family, and order from us from the comfort of your own home. For more information, check out these sale and contest details.

People living near small regional airports may be at risk for increased health problems due to airborne pollutants, ScienceDaily reports in an article titled, Hidden Threat: Elevated Pollution Levels Near Regional Airports.

Air pollution near major airports has been a well-known problem. But little has been studied about the effect of emissions on air quailty near smaller general aviation or regional airports, which are often located much closer to residential neighborhoods than major airports.

A new study conducted by Suzanne Paulson and colleagues measured a range of air pollutants near such an airport and found that emissions of ultrafine particles were significantly higher than background pollution levels. From the airport, pollution levels were up to 10 times higher at a downwind distance of one football field and up to 2.5 times higher six football field-lengths away. The scientists concluded that "current land-use practices of reduced buffer areas around local airports may be insufficient."

For individuals living in these types of areas, an air purifier fitted with chemical-removing components, such as an activated carbon filter, are essential, especially for those suffering from Multiple Chemical Sensitivity, allergies, or asthma, or those with infants.

CNN Health reports today on Procter & Gamble's recall of Vicks Sinex nasal spray in the United States, Britain, and Germany. The voluntary recall was announced after bacteria was found in some of the product made in Germany.

Although there haven't been any reports of illness from the contamination, the bacteria could potentially cause serious infections in people with lung conditions or weakened immune systems. There is not much risk to healthy individuals.

In the United States, the specific recalled product is Vicks Sinex Vapospray 12 Hour Decongestant Ultra Fine Mist with a lot number of 9239028831.

Nasal sprays are often used by individuals experiencing nasal symptoms due to allergies or colds. As an alternative to Vicks, try our natural sinus relief products, including Sinol Allergy and Sinus Relief Spray and Clear-Ease Natural Fruit Enzyme Lozenges.

For more information on sinus problems and possible treatments, read our article with Dr. Robert Ivker, "Love Your Nose" - A Holistic Approach to Sinusitis Treatment.

With the seasonal flu, the H1N1 flu, SARS, and even Avian flu still making news on a daily basis, people are trying to find any protection against becoming sick this fall. Most people cannot afford to miss time from work in our current economy. You can find hundreds and thousands of articles on the internet with all kinds of advice.

One measure that can help is wearing an allergy mask. For most people, there is still a stigma to wearing these very effective healthy masks. Somehow we need to help remove this stigma. I found this article from last month’s Baltimore Sun that addresses mask wearing and other flu prevention methods.

In the blog, “Would You Wear A Face Mask To Protect Yourself?” the author Kelly Brewington talks about the effects that wearing a mask had in China during the SARS outbreak of 2003. Over 75% of the population used a face mask during the outbreak and this helped reduce the spread of the illness.

With the constant reporting on H1N1 and vaccinations, we have noticed a steadily increasing volume of customer questions about allergy masks and what each mask will protect against. In response, this month we are updating all of our mask information on the website to help answer any questions that you might have.

Few pet-owner relationships are as heartwarming as those between a seeing eye dog and his master. Recently, the Today Show on NBC reported the same kind of dog-helping-human companionship for food allergic children.

Peanut-sniffing dogs are trained to sniff for peanuts and other food allergens in much the same way that bomb or drug-sniffing dogs search for those items. If they find the offending allergen, they signal their owners by a change in behavior like excessive sniffing or tail-wagging.

Peanut-sniffing dogs have the same privileges as seeing eye dogs, and may be taken into restaurants, malls, schools, and the like. For families of children who have life-threatening food allergies, these dogs offer a chance at a more normal life.

Sherry Mers founded the Angel Service Dog Network after a peanut-sniffing dog changed the life of her peanut allergic daughter. Riley, Ms. Mers’s daughter, says that with her dog she now feels safer and knows where she can and can’t go. The Angel Service Dog Network trains and places allergy-sniffing dogs with families. Four of the dogs which typically cost about $10,000 have been placed so far.

One of these dogs is Roxy, an Australian Labradoodle, who now helps Logan, a peanut allergic child know what is safe and what’s not. Logan is so allergic to peanuts that the smell of peanuts on a teacher’s breath once sent him to the emergency room. Residents in Logan’s small town raised $20,000 for his chance at a normal childhood. His parents say that Roxy makes the idea of a normal life not far-fetched.

Many families hope for the same for their children. There have been over 2,000 inquiries regarding these life-saving pets. Ms. Mers describes the process of obtaining one, including doctor’s proof of anaphylactic allergy and proof that having the animal will not cause additional health problems, such as allergies to pet dander or asthma.

The journey of making life with allergies as smooth as possible continues, and we’re happy to see that man’s best friend has joined the quest.

TRUSTe, the leading online privacy seal and trust assurance service, recently announced in a press release that AchooAllergy.com, one of the most visited websites for allergy relief products and allergy relief information, is using TRUSTe's newly-launched small business services to enhance online consumer trust and increase sales conversions.

We have seen a positive impact from our recent collaboration. As a result of displaying the TRUSTe Trustmark, we achieved a $10 increase in its average order value.

"The increase in consumer trust in our site and the increase in average order volume can be directly attributed to our adding the TRUSTe seal to the order section of our Web site," said Cade McDonald, CEO of AchooAllergy.com. "The company's online sales continue to grow and customers are confident that AchooAllergy.com will safeguard their personal and financial information."

The company's original Web site launched in 2000. As part of a site rebranding and test program, AchooAllergy.com displayed the TRUSTe seal in the header of every page of its site and conducted an A/B test using TRUSTe's free trial program. TRUSTe's testing partner, Amadesa, measured the results. Amadesa's testing allows merchants to:

• Measure the dollar increase in sales and average order value from sites displaying the TRUSTe seal
• Confirm that increases in visitor purchasing are statistically relevant

"Our Trusted Site Services are showing incredible conversion rates for small business retailers," said Fran Maier, CEO of TRUSTe. "Over the past decade, consumers have come to know and trust the TRUSTe seal on large merchant Web sites, and this new data proves that small businesses are seeing the same success and enhanced consumer trust."

A new study has found that infants exposed to higher levels of air pollution are at greater risk for bronchiolitis, reports Science Daily.

Catherine Karr, M.D. PhD, assistant professor of pediatrics at the University of Washington and the study's lead author, points out, "There has been very little study of the consequences of early life exposure to air pollution." She goes on to explain, "This study is unique in that we were able to look at multiple sources including wood smoke in a region with relatively low concentrations of ambient air pollution overall."

Over 12,000 diagnoses of infant bronchiolitis were analyzed with respect to the subject's ambient pollution exposure. Levels of nitric oxide, nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, and sulfur dioxide were monitored, as well as particulate matter from monitoring stations within 10 km of the infants' homes. Land-regression maps were also used to ascertain concentrations of ambient pollution in relation to traffic and wood smoke.

The researchers accounted for variables such as sex, gestational age, maternal smoking habits, and breastfeeding, and found that bronchiolitis was indeed significantly linked to increased lifetime exposure to particular pollutants. For instance, infants living within 50 meters of a highway had an increased risk of six percent and those who experienced greater exposure to wood smoke had an eight percent higher risk of developing bronchiolitis.

Dr. Karr summarizes, "In general, we found that traffic-derived air pollutants were associated with infant bronchiolitis as well as wood smoke and industrial emissions."

Michael Brauer, professor at the School of Environmental Health at the University of British Colombia and another lead investigator in the study, adds, "This study adds to a growing body of research showing a link between neighborhood air pollution hotspots and pediatric respiratory disease. We were specifically interested in bronchiolitis, the main reason for children to be hospitalized in their first year, as it is an important and costly childhood illness." He concludes, "Reducing exposure to air pollution may be one approach to decrease bronchiolitis occurrence."

Parents should avoid the use of wood burning appliances and, if possible, live as far away from highways as possible. Care should also be taken that places where children spend a lot of time, such as daycares or schools, be a good distance from major highways.

In addition to steering clear of pollutants as much as possible, parents should take precaution against the pollution it's impossible to avoid, particularly if there are young infants in the home. Air purifiers suitable for those with Multiple Chemical Sensitivity filter volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from the air, trapping toxic gases and particles that a regular air purifier misses.

As allergy sufferers gear up for the winter, they must take extra thought regarding the fact that they will inevitably spend more time indoors. Since indoor air can be as much as 12 times more polluted than outdoor air, individuals with asthma and allergies need to guard against the harmful effects of breathing polluted indoor air.

One of the best ways to do this is to try to keep pollutants from entering the home environment in the first place. For instance, taking off shoes at the door can stop many toxins from coming in, as discussed in our article Major Source of Indoor Dust: Outdoors.

Additionally, sensitive individuals should avoid burning candles in the home, using home fragrances, and traditional cleaning products. Instead, whenever possible, natural items such as the AllerAir Tub O' Carbon Odor Buster or EcoDiscoveries Natural Cleaning Products should be used.

No matter how many precautions you take, however, there are still pollutants in your home's air. Off-gassing from furniture, paint, varnish, and dry-cleaned clothing, to name a few, all contribute to toxic elements in indoor air. To minimize exposure to these, the pollutants must be taken out of the air.

While air purifiers, especially those fitted with carbon filtration, like our Austin Air units, are the most reliable way to reduce both allergens and pollutants in the home, Science Daily reports on new research that points to houseplants' ability to help eliminate indoor air pollution.

Stanley J. Kays, of the Department of Horticulture at the University of Georgia, led a study in which ornamental household plants were tested for their ability to remove harmful volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from indoor air. "The VOCs tested in this study can adversely affect indoor air quality and have a potential to seriously compromise the health of exposed individuals," Kays explained.

In the study, 28 common indoor plants were tested for their ability to remove VOCs from the air, called "phytoremediation." Plants were grown in shade houses and then placed in gas-tight glass jars and exposed to several VOCs. Based on their phytoremediation rates, they were classified as superior, intermediate, or poor in removing VOCs from the indoor environment.

Purple waffle plants, English ivy, the variegated wax plant, and Asparagus ferns had the highest removal rates for all the VOCs introduced. Purple heart plants were rated superior for its ability to remove four of the VOCs tested for.

The study concluded that "simply introducing common ornamental plants into indoor spaces has the potential to significantly improve the quality of indoor air."

The source of dust was the subject of a recent study by Arizona scientists. Surprisingly, Science Daily reports that most of our indoor dust comes from outdoors.

Household dust is made up of a conglomeration of dead skin cells and fibers from carpets and upholstery (inside sources) as well as tracked in soil and airborne particles blown in from outdoors (outdoor sources). In fact, using a computer model that tracks distribution of outdoor contaminants into residences, the scientists found that over 60 percent of house dust originates outdoors.

What's most disconcerting is that much of the particulate matter brought into the home from outside is dangerous, including lead, arsenic, and other substances that make their way inside from outdoor air and soil. This is especially concerning if there are young children in the home, who may ingest these substances by putting dust-contaminated toys in their mouths.