Suddenly allergic to air conditioning?

[Iamnotarobot123]

I travel abroad frequently with work, and during my personal time. Last year, I seemed to develop an allergy to air conditioning. My eyes were so itchy and watery I ended up in a doctors clinic whilst away on holiday. They said it was just a general allergy, and gave me antihistamine and eye drops. Was fine as soon as I got home.

This year, I’ve travelled a couple of times and the hotel rooms have air con. Typically I only stay one night, and I’ve been absolutely fine. However, I’ve been away for three nights and my eyes are in bits again. I don’t even think to bring my eye drops as I’ve had no problems since a year ago.

Does anyone know of why I’m suddenly reacting to air conditioning units? And if I can be doing anything differently?

I’m guessing it’s something in the air - pollen at this time of year - rather than the air con itself. Or it could be the chemicals in the coolant. Are you usually bugged by hay fever?

No - hay fever isn’t really an issue for me. However, this year I have noticed being a bit scratchy at home but nothing significant.

Wondering if I need to start taking antihistamine when I travel. I could claw out my eyes!

possibly mold

im finding that it’s not tree pollen, grass or ragwort that is affecting me - but mold

i don’t meant as in mold bathroom

but I suspect due to the air conditioning- which makes the air moist, it might be mold spore are high

I get itchy eyes, ears and take antihistamines

I use accuweather for pollen

as you can see it is different in the two areas

dry eyes?
airconditioning sucks out moisture.
and yes to mold. a very common allergy.

All of the above- but do you get a reaction to cold water as well?

My DS suddenly developed a literal allergy to the cold- it's called cold urticaria. He was 12. All of a sudden cold water (we went swimming in the sea) brought him out in massive hives. Just walking in the chiller aisle at the supermarket would bring him out in hives and he would be all itchy, his eyes itchy. Rain drops falling on his skin the same. Air conditioning the same.

It's mostly subsided after a few years but we still take anti histamines wherever we go because he can have reactions unexpectedly and still the most prevalent one is in the chiller aisle.

Just suggesting it because it is a little-known allergy.