Christmas trees could be cause of itchy and painful skin condition, warns expert
Real Christmas trees could cause a painful skin condition(Image: Richard Drury via Getty Images)As Christmas trees are put up all over Ireland, a skincare specialist on Fresha, the beauty and wellness booking platform, is issuing a warning about an often-overlooked festive trigger: real Christmas trees.She warns that seasonal skin reactions can be triggered by pine resin, mould spores and abrupt shifts in indoor humidity levels. Danielle Louise reports that December is the sole month when she regularly encounters clients displaying the same irritation pattern, with many failing to link it to their Christmas tree, reports RSVP Live."Every year in early December, I see an identical wave of clients with red, itchy or inflamed skin - especially around the neck, jawline and hairline. Most blame winter dryness, but once we talk about when their symptoms started, it almost always coincides with the day the tree went up."According to Danielle, pine resin can provoke reactions in winter-sensitised skin. "Pine oils naturally contain terpenes, which can aggravate compromised or dry skin. When the tree warms indoors, these oils become more airborne and settle on the skin and scalp."Mould spores from external storage can also spread throughout the home. "Real trees often carry microscopic spores. In heated rooms with low humidity, these particles become airborne and can trigger irritation in people who are already reactive during winter," Danielle says."December creates a perfect storm for flare-ups. Cold air weakens the skin barrier, indoor heating dries it further, and then we add a large sap-producing tree into the mix. Even people who rarely react to anything can suddenly see irritation."Typical symptoms include itchy red patches along the neck, jawline or chest, scalp irritation or flaking, eye-area redness or puffiness and small bumps resembling contact dermatitis. Danielle recommends positioning the tree at least 1–2 metres away from where you sit or sleep, which will limit your exposure to airborne pine oils."Shake or rinse the tree outdoors before decorating This helps remove mould spores, dust and loose sap. Add moisture back into the air with a humidifier. A stronger skin barrier means reduced reactivity."Wear gloves when handling or decorating the tree. This prevents direct contact with sap. Switch to gentle, barrier-focused skincare for the first week This helps the skin cope with any new irritants in the home."Join our Dublin Live breaking news service on WhatsApp. Click this link to receive your daily dose of Dublin Live content.We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice .For all the latest news from Dublin and surrounding areas visit our homepage.
