Have any allergy sufferers experienced an exacerbation in their allergies since coming to live in Switzerland? I suppose it's due to the increase in foliage as compared to my former place of residence.

i think it depends pn the allergy. i am not allergic to pollen but to dustmites and cold/damp weather so for me basel is perfect

As far as eczema is concerned, I think it got better compared to my previous residence abroad ( Tropical Brisbane ). Also, due the decrease in seafood intake here in CH might have helped it.

If you have problems in the fall it could be allergy to Altenaria you have.

yes.... my eczema went out of control because water is much harder here. I had to change my body hydrant, my shampoo when I got here. Allergies were better - it seems that I my allergenes are not to be find in this part of the world.

I've actually found I am less congested here than in Toronto, although that could be the significant decrease in air pollution. However, I have developed a dry skin problem since arriving, perhaps due to the lack of humidity?

Yep i have to use moisturizing cream and chapstick

I'd suggest it's the dry air...

Also, it's well-worth trying to work out what your triggers are - I lived the first 20 years of my life sneezing every day until I moved out of 'home' - I was allergic to dust mite, cleaning chemicals and perfumes.

My new apartment had hard carpet which was easy to vacuum, and I didn't use any cleaning chemicals or perfumes. I was even allergic to my deoderant and switched to a perfume-free product, and it was bliss

For eczema, my daughter has food allergies - tomato, strawberry, stone fruits. If she avoids these, she doesn't have any flare-ups...

I'm also sensitive to cigarette smoke (more common here than where I come from) and mould.

Thanks for the responses. I see that a few of you have experienced a worsening in your skin allergies.

Eczema
Personally, my eczema has seriously flared out of control since coming to live here . I've noticed I only get an attack around the time when seasons change. Can any of you suggest any body hydrants, shampoos, soap, dietary changes etc which I can try out? I am drinking Migros bottled water instead of tap water. For soap I use the green Pruri-Med. For shampoo I use Elvive anti-dandruff. And I've always used eco-friendly washing liquid for my clothes. No softener since this contains enzymes. To treat the ezcema I've been using Optiderm, Tacrolimus/Protopic & Parfenac. Not very effective. I recently bought an air purifier/ioniser. Am thinking to buy a humidifier to tackle the dry air problem

Hay Fever
I was told that I am allergic to tree pollen which explains why my attacks occur in March/April and it always comes with a vengeange . Third generation antihistamines barely contain my symptoms but I've managed to struggle through so far.

Asthma
I'm happy to say that my asthma severity has not changed as compared to London

Yes, my first year was hell. Acupuncture helped me tremendously. I am not sure if it is placebo or not, but who cares.

Hi there my son has Eczema which is was all over his body until I changed the washing powder we use to "Ecover" from the Muller Reformhaus (they are scattered all over Zürich so probably best to look on the internet to see your closest one) since then he now only gets it on his "creases" ie ankles, back of the knees and crease of his arms. I still did notice it getting worse and better and worse and better in these areas - what I think it is is that we use a communal washing machine as do most people in Zürich so if other people use strong washing powder or bleach in the machine there can be traces left over so now I was the whole families clothes in "Ecover" and wash my sons clothes last so hopefully most of the traces of other peoples wash powder are gone - so now with regular application of thick moisteriser his Eczema is really improved - and I only use Weleda products on his skin and in the bath - so give those a go - and even better use their baby range of products because they are even more gentle than the adult range of products - good luck! Ps my husband uses a Spagyrik spray under his tongue from the pharmacy which is all natural - he uses the one for allergic reactions - he's a carpenter so enhales a lot of wood dust and sneezes and has a running nose - but he says the spray really really helps.

Eczema - soap changed to Lubex here - much better than ordinary soaps.

I have hay fever and allergic asthma here in Switzerland, where I grew up. I don't have any such problem in Michigan, USA or in Greece. On the other hand, my American Better Half (ABH) has all sorts of allergies (mould, possibly dust mites, maybe wood preservatives in her house), which disappear within weeks as soon as she comes to Switzerland. Even her frequent rashes are no issue here.

There is one strange phenomenon, though: Whenever she comes to Switzerland, she has pretty bad water retention (ankles, wrists etc.). Granted, she is overweight, but here she feels really bloated. First we thought it's caused by the lack of physical movement during the long flight, but it doesn't go aways even after three months. Then she flies back, and it's gone after a week or two.

No, it's not psychological, I mean just because she sees far fewer people of her size here compared with the USA. Granted, that might make her feel fatter. But the swelling is clearly visible. So far, no doctor has been able to explain this.

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I have a strong skin reaction to something here I have not figured out yet. It came up just before christmas when we first got here a couple of years ago and about 3 times since. No idea what it is, but I come up in red itchy blisters and the first one actually scarred my chin. My hayfever is so much better here and my allergies to grevilleas (Australian Natives) are great

I use a few different washing powders/liquids, mostly cheap brands or whatever is on special. I use much less than recommended. If I use too much the kids sometimes get a rash.

Interesting comments about Asthma, I was talking to a Mum here in Basel with a child who was hospitalised in London, 3 times in the 12 months previous to coming here. Since being here, his asthma has improved to the point of no meds for the last year or two. His doctor said he was the third child from London he had seen whose asthma had disappeared completely.

I think you will have to use trial and error to find what works for you. Compare your diet and environment with your previous one. Our diet has changed but not significantly but the environment is totally alien, different soil, different plants, humidity water quality.

Hope you find some relief!

my son had both, and asthma for a time, and i found that changing his diet helped immensely. in terms of products, i think you are doing well using natural products but my naturopath has always said that these things are usually coming from the inside of the body and showing themselves through the skin- so maybe check if there has been any changes in what you've been eating, i.e, more bread, dairy products, etc. also, the water in switzerland is quite hard and much different so that may take some time getting used to.

if you are open to seeing a naturopath it may be worth it- between homeopathic things and change in the diet, my son has been without asthma for years and his allergies are pretty much gone- except for the initial change in climate curse- for this i like to give him plenty of local fresh veggies and local honey- they say this acclimates the body to the area and possible allergens much faster.

good luck!

Thanks Amaraya, that reminds me about the honey theory which an ex-colleague told me about. She said that the honey had to be produced by wild bees. This is more of a prevention than a treatment and I believe you have to start eating the honey on a regular basis about 6 months before the expected hay fever attack. The objective being that the body's immune system develops an insensitivity towards pollen. However, I would assume that since bees take their pollen from flowers only, then this solution would not apply to people who are sensitive to tree pollen

Regarding the hayfever you mention MarkL2005, I am allergic to tree pollens too, and I found that when living here (just outside of Zurich) the hayfever was much worse than ever before (I previously lived in London/Surrey). It lasted for longer, again, probably due to the much greener surroundings. So start eating that honey!

Hi Clare2009, are you sure that honey works for us lot who are sensitive to tree pollen? (as per my deduced reasoning above). If you can swear by it, please tell me which brand of honey you depend on. I really want to avoid being drugged upto my skull with antihistamines next year

I used manuka honey myself in Oz .. works like a charm.

Have to correct my own advice after searching through Google. The honey has to be produced by a local hive. Wild or not wild bees do not matter.


I also see that Hydrogen Peroxide is the key antibacterial compound in Manuka honey. Unfortunately I can not take this as I suffer from another skin condition which is made worse by H2O2. I guess I either have to brave the acupuncture or face another 2-3 months of antihistamine addiction