Allergens come in a wide variety. You can be allergic to airborne substances, foods or chemicals in our environment, including insect stings or medicines. While it is possible to be allergic to virtually anything, some things do seem more inherently allergenic than others. When it comes to allergies, the worst offenders are the things we can breathe in.

Above and beyond all other allergens, the airborne allergens account for the vast majority of allergic reactions. Research indicates that as much as 90% of allergies can be attributed to pollens, dust mites and animal dander.

• Dust Mites

Dust mites are the microscopic insects that like to live in our homes where they can feed on our dead skin cells. That’s right: we are the primary food source for dust mites! In return, they leave their ‘droppings’ around our home and that’s what we develop the allergy to. You’ll find these tiny insects in your bedding, upholstery, carpeting and other ‘soft’ household surfaces.

• Pollen

If you have any kind of seasonal allergy, you know the challenges of this allergen.  While you can avoid airborne allergens (12 Tips for Managing Seasonal Allergies), pollen does pose some unique problems for the allergy sufferer. You could start with allergy symptoms first thing in the spring with tree pollination, suffer in the early summer with grass pollination, or sneeze through the late summer and early fall with ragweed pollen (which is commonly known as hay fever), depending on which type of pollen affects you.

• Pets

Everyone knows someone who is allergic to one or another type of pet. There is a common misconception that we are allergic to the pet’s fur or feathers. In fact, people actually become allergic to the animal’s saliva, which is deposited on its fur or feathers in the act of self-grooming. Of all animals, cats are perhaps the most allergenic because they groom more than other animals, and their saliva particles are extremely tiny.

Another serious allergen as well as overall health risk are molds. Molds are more common in our environment than you would think. It’s not just the moldy bread that sat on the counter too long.

• Mold

In your home, you might find mold in damp places including bathrooms and basements. One of the best ways to help reduce your home’s incidence of mold is to always use your exhaust fan in your bathroom and kitchen! Both personal care and cooking release a lot of moisture into your home’s air. Also keep in mind that any damp place that has a musty smell could mean mold. Your basement is another likely location. Outside, you’ll find molds in places where a lot of moisture is present, such as piles of rotting leaves or compost.