Allergy Rash from Christmas Tree: Causes and Remedies

Here is your annual reminder to protect your skin as you decorate this holiday season. My daughter called me out for not following my own advice after my arms got all scratched up handling our artificial tree!🎄

It's time to get the house looking festive for the holidays and lucky for me, I have plenty of helpers.😸 

That means putting lights and decorations not only on indoor Christmas trees, but on outside trees and bushes as well resulting in scratches and rashes on hands and arms in the process! 

It happens every time for me with both real and artificial trees. People can be allergic to the sap or rosin that evergreen trees produce causing painful, burning rashes on the skin. It can be similar to a poison ivy rash for some people. The pricks and scratches from the pine needles exacerbate the allergic reaction. 

The sap may not be the only allergen. Real Christmas trees can have pollen, mold and fungus on them which can cause skin rashes and other allergic reactions. There can be many different types of mold living on a tree. Researchers found more than 50 different molds on Christmas trees!!! That is super bad news for allergy sufferers.

Christmas trees can also be sprayed with chemicals to help preserve them. The many allergens that cause rashes can also cause serious breathing problems for those with asthma and allergies. I know this first hand because my daughter ended up in the ER with a serious asthma attack after babysitting a family with a real Christmas tree.

There are some things you can do to reduce the allergens on a real Christmas tree before bringing it into your house. 

I have includes my Amazon Affiliate links to help you find great deals on things I use. I earn a small amount from qualifying purchases at no cost to you. Thank you for using them! 💕

How to Clean a Real Christmas Tree to Remove Allergens

Gloves
Wear gloves and long sleeves when cleaning the tree. Even better, have a non allergic person clean the Christmas tree!!!

Shake it Off
Give the tree a good shaking and bang the trunk of the tree on the ground to remove loose allergens such as pollen. Some Christmas tree sellers have a machine that shakes the tree to remove the allergens plus the loose needles. You can also blow it off with a leaf blower.

Hose it Down
Give the tree a good hosing down outside. Let it drip dry, them move it to the garage to dry off for a couple days.

So how about an artificial Christmas tree? 
It will definitely reduce the possibility of allergic reactions. 

But, you may not be totally safe from allergies with an artificial Christmas tree either. 

People can be allergic to the dust and dust mites that cling to artificial trees. Mold can also be a problem if the artificial tree is stored in a damp basement. Allergic people get a easily rash on their hands and arms along with irritating scratches.

How to Clean An Artificial Christmas Tree

Gloves
Wear gloves and long sleeves when cleaning and assembling the tree. 

Unpack Outside
Open the box that stores your artificial tree outside.

Vacuum Away Dust 
Vacuum your artificial tree to remove dust. Use the brush attachment on your vacuum to gently go branch by branch from top to bottom if the tree is assembled. 

It is easier to vacuum before it is assembled. Do it outside if you can, otherwise put a plastic sheet to catch dust under the tree that you can dispose of after cleaning.

Blow Away Dust
You can blow the tree off outside with a leaf blower if you have a sturdy tree. A leaf blower is strong. It could damage a delicate artificial tree. I have used a blow dryer on the cool setting to blow dust off of my tree in the past.

Wipe Away Dust
Use a damp towel to wipe dust off of artificial trees from top to bottom. You can add a bit of dish washing liquid or vinegar to a bucket of water. Dip your cleaning rag in and squeeze it out really well. You should not saturate the tree. Do it outside if you can. Let it dry thoroughly before decorating it and plugging in lights. 

Store in Plastic
Store the artificial tree in plastic bags or plastic boxes instead of cardboard boxes to reduce dust mites.

Buy a New Tree
Or maybe it's time to ditch your old tree full of allergens and start fresh with a new tree. Especially with all the great cyber sales going on at Christmas time!

You can get all different sizes of Christmas trees including pencil trees at great prices on Amazon! 

Here's my handy Amazon link for Cyber Monday Deals!:

Shop for a new Christmas tree.

The rash from your Christmas tree, whether it's a real tree or  an artificial one, may not an allergy at all.  It can simply be irritation from the skin being pricked and scratched.

Like I said, I also get scratches and a rash from decorating the Christmas tree, especially when only half of the pre lit tree is lighting and I have to dig through the branches and find the bad bulb. Uggggh! 

You would think I would learn after all these years of decorating experience, but I just jump right into the decorating full of creative energy not worrying about the scratches, till later when they start stinging! 

Plus, this year I have another tree to decorate. I've added this cute pencil tree in my dining room that is so easy to put together and decorate. I love that it fits perfectly in the corner and takes up very little room.

There is a simple way to prevent the scratches and rashes...

Wear gloves and long sleeves when decorating trees. Long gardening gloves work great! Long sleeves tucked into the gloves will give you the best protection.

If you happened to get scratches and rashes, there are a few things you can do to help your skin heal.

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Natural Oil for Nails and Cuticles

I have recently blended my own natural nail oil specifically for a client who was not seeing any improvement from nail strengthening products. It is Emollient Nail and Cuticle Oil Blend. Cruelty free, of course! It's great to help your nails and cuticles survive the cold dry winter.

Emollient Nail and Cuticle Oil Blend Ingredients: Jojoba oil, myrrh essential oil, frankincense essential oil, lemon essential oil.

It has done amazing things for both her nails and the skin surrounding her nails!

You can find it on my Beach Ruffles Etsy Shop. There are two sizes available. The larger size is in a dropper bottle. The smaller size is in a convenient roller ball bottle.

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Remedies for an Allergic Rash from Christmas Tree

After Decorating:
Wash up
Remove the gloves and long sleeve shirt after the decorating and put them in the wash. Wash your hands and arms to remove any allergens.

Soothe the Allergic Reaction
Apply an anti histamine cream such as Benedryl cream, calamine lotion or hydrocortisone cream to soothe an allergic reaction rash. A severe poison ivy type reaction may require medical attention and oral anti histamines.

Or try our favorite all purpose remedy at the salon, YonKa Lotion. It seems to soothe and heal any sort of skin irritation with it's blend of essential oils! It's a more natural approach than hydrocortisone or Benedryl.

Treat the Scratches
Apply an antibiotic ointment to the scratches to prevent infection and help them heal a little quicker. 

The Take Away:

So always do this routine every Christmas tree decorating time to help prevent an allergy rash from a Christmas tree:

1. Clean your Christmas tree whether it real or artificial.

2. Wear long gloves and long sleeves while decorating your tree.

3. Treat any scratches and rashes you received from decorating the tree to speed up the healing of the skin.

I hope my remedies help you keep your skin looking healthy and beautiful all holiday season long!  

Have a Delightful, Blessed Holiday Season!

xo

Jill

Thanks for using my amazon links💋

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no cost to you. That keeps my blog running and supports the care of animals in need!😸

Fall Nail Colors: Zoya Classic Leathers Polish Swatches

Zoya has given us Part 2 of their fall nail polish colors for 2022, Classic Leathers, vegan leather of course!!! 

Click here to see Part 1: Café Creams & Metallic Dreams

The inspiration for this collection is the beautiful colors of the fall handbags we see on the runways. These colors are rich and bold just like the colors we see in nature in autumn.

There are six opaque creamy colors in this collection. I found most of them provide full coverage in two coats. I had a little trouble with one of the colors needing more coats to even it out.

I decided these bold colors are perfect toe colors so I used my toes for my polish swatches! I started with Zoya Get Even as my base coat to help smooth my toe nail ridges and finished with Zoya Ultra Glossy Seal as my top coat.

I also included handbag inspiration for each nail color. You can find these bags on Amazon for amazing prices. The links to the bags are my Amazon affiliate links. I earn from qualifying purchases at no cost to you when you use them. TY! 😘

See my Classic Leathers Swatch Youtube Video.

Zoya classic LEATHERS Collection

Zoya Gidget

Zoya Gidget is a orange mustard cream. It looks amazing on those who have warm skin tones. Two coats covered just fine.

Vegan Leather Hobo Bag in Mustard $33.95

Zoya Ono

Zoya Ono is a dark berry magenta cream. I love it's brightness! Two coats covered just fine.

Vegan Leather Crossbody Bag $19.95

Zoya Dagmar

Zoya Dagmar is a deep plum cream with maroon undertones. I did have a bit of trouble getting even coverage in two coats with this color. A four coats were needed to smooth out thin spots and get solid coverage. It's a beauty once you smooth it out!

Vegan Leather Satchel Bag in Burgundy $44.99

Zoya Ryder

Zoya Ryder is a rich red brown cream. It looks especially beautiful on those who have warm skin tones. Two coats covered just fine.

Vegan Leather Bucket Bag in Reddish Brown $31.89

Zoya Althea

Zoya Althea is a dark mossy green cream. The perfect deep green for fall and winter! I didn't think two coats would provide full coverage with this one. The first coat went on very thin and streaky, but it was two coat coverage after all.

Calvin Klein Vegan Leather Reyna North/South Tote in Olive $89.00

Zoya Sylva

Zoya Sylva is a dark teal cream with cool blue undertones. My favorite in the bunch, of course! It was two coat coverage with a little finagling. It's very glossy.

Vegan Leather Satchel Handbag in Blue $39.99

Aren't they gorgeous colors? Both the polishes and the bags! I think they are perfect for fall! I hope you found a few that you love. Visit zoya.com to order this collection or individual colors from this collection. 

If you like gardeny things, here is a link to my new garden Youtube Channel:

Zoya professional nail lacquer wears quite well on natural nails and is free of the harmful ingredients formaldehyde, formaldehyde resin, dibutyl phthalate, toluene, camphor, TPHP, parabens, xylene, ethyl tosylamide and lead. 

You can find Zoya products at salons, spas, zoya.com and on Amazon. 

Here is my Amazon Zoya Link: Jill's Zoya Amazon Link

Want to see more fabulous Zoya nail colors?

Click here to View my Zoya Nail Polish List to See Tons of Beautiful Colors!

       Buy Cruelty Free & Have a Beautiful, Colorful Day!

xo

Jill

Licensed Cosmetologist, Esthetician, Makeup Artist

Thanks for using my amazon links💋

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no cost to you. That keeps my blog running and supports the care of animals in need!😸

Fall Nail Colors Swatches: Zoya Café Creams & Metallic Dreams

Time for new Zoya nail colors! I do apologize for the late posting. I had a major computer issue which delayed my post! 

Fall has arrived whether we like it or not. Personally, I never want summer to end! The long hours daylight, beach days, and laid back summer vibes are good for the soul.

There some good things about fall coming. We get new fashion trends, new fall nail colors, and pumpkin spice everything which always sparks joy, for most people. 😄

Zoya has created not one but two collections, so far, for us for fall 2022. These collections are Part 1 of their fall nail polish palette. 

The most recent release, The Classic Leathers Collection, is Part 2! 

Click here to see my Zoya Classic Leathers post

I've got a lot to show you in this post.

The Zoya Café Creams Collection is a coffee inspired collection. There are five yummy creams and one sheer sugary sparkle that makes a marvelous topper.

Then, there is the Metallic Dreams Collection. Three gorgeous glitzy colors to give you an autumn sparkle and shine!

Click here to see my swatch video on Youtube

Zoya has also created a marvelous new Matte Velvet Lacquer top coat that transforms a cream finish polish into a soft velvety matte finish. Wait till you see the trendy matte finish it created on my skittles swatches!

I will show you the Café Creams collection finished with 3 different top coats.

But wait there is more!!!

Zoya has 3 Autumn inspired Hot Lips Lip Glosses to color and condition your lips with a yummy scent. I'll show you those swatches too.

I have included my Amazon Affiliate links in this post to help you find products I love. I earn a small amount from qualifying purchases at no cost to you. TY for your support!

So without further adieu...here are my Zoya fall nail color swatches.

The Zoya Café Creams Collection

Zoya Bonnie

Bonnie is a warm, sheer luminous rose gold topper that can be worn over any color or alone for a sparkling wash of color. The gold glitter particles vary in size creating depth and glitz .

Zoya Biscuit

Biscuit is a warm peachy tan. Creamy and delicious! It gives you full coverage in two coats.

Zoya Kahula

Kahula is a medium warm creamy brown with a hint of red. It goes on smooth and easy with two coat coverage. So beautiful!

Zoya Remington

Remington is a rich warm rose brown with two coat coverage. It's one of the favorites at the salon.

Zoya Constance

Constance is a rich, cool plum with a very glossy finish. Two coats give you full coverage. I love this one for the toes!

Zoya Ophelia

Ophelia is a cool blackened brown cream with full coverage in two coats. Another amazing color, especially for the toes. Look at that mirror like finish!!!

The Zoya Metallic Dreams Collection

Zoya Matilda

Matilda is a warm glitzy pink with a fine gold shimmer. Get ever so slightly sheer coverage in two coats, full coverage for sure with three coats. This may be my Jamaica nail color. It's gorgeous!

Zoya Moki

Moki is a warm glitzy olive gold with golden micro glitter.  Two coats give full coverage. This will be a beautiful color for the holiday season.

Zoya Amara

Amara is a warm chocolatey brown with shimmering copper undertones. It also has two coat full coverage. Love it!

Both of these collections have been a huge hit at the salon.

Top Them Off

Now let me show you the 3 different ways you can finish the 5 creamy colors in the Café Creams collection.

 Glitter Topper Zoya Bonnie

Zoya Matte Velvet Lacquer Top Coat

Zoya Ultra Glossy Seal

Now if you are the type who likes to coordinate your lip color to your nail color, Zoya has the perfect Hot Lips Glosses to complement their latest fall nail polish colors!

Zoya Hot Lips Glossy Lip Balm 

Zoya's Hot Lips Glossy Lip Balm is a combination lip therapy and lip color product in one. They currently have 24 colors to choose from. These glosses give you a sheer wash of color that can be worn alone or over a lipstick for beautiful shine. They have a nice sweet scent and feel smooth on the lips

All of the colors are available on the Zoya website. Most of them are prices at $8.00. Some are available on Amazon for $6.00. Here are my swatches for three fall inspired shades.

 

Hocus Pocus is a sparkling boysenberry.

 Luck is a metallic rose gold.

Charmed is a shimmering copper.

Shop for Hot Lips Glossy Lip Balm on Amazon 

Shop for Hot Lips Glossy Lip Balm on zoya.com 

I hope you have enjoyed this Zoya fall nail colors swatch post and have found a new color that you love to brighten up your day.

Zoya professional nail lacquer wears quite well on natural nails and is free of the harmful ingredients formaldehyde, formaldehyde resin, dibutyl phthalate, toluene, camphor, TPHP, parabens, xylene, ethyl tosylamide and lead. 

You can find Zoya products at salons, spas, zoya.com and on Amazon. 

Here is my Amazon Zoya Link: Jill's Zoya Amazon Link

Want to see more fabulous Zoya nail colors?

Click here to View my Zoya Nail Polish List to See Tons of Beautiful Colors!

       Buy Cruelty Free & Have a Beautiful, Colorful Day!

xo

Jill

Licensed Cosmetologist, Esthetician, Makeup Artist

Thanks for using my amazon links💋

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no cost to you. That keeps my blog running and supports the care of animals in need!😸