30 million people in Germany suffer from allergies. By 2050, that number could rise to half of Europe’s population. Why are allergies on the rise so dramatically? – Science journalist Lena Ganschow explores this question in the ARD documentary “What […]
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On 14 March 2025, this year’s ADF/ECARF Award was presented at the 51st meeting of the Arbeitsgemeinschaft Dermatologische Forschung (ADF). The winners received an award worth 5,000 euros for the discovery of a possible important function of an antimicrobial protein […]
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Remnants of laundry detergent ingredients are suspected to be in constant contact with the skin. Allergy sufferers need assurance that the chemicals in everyday products do not cause such disruption. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects […]
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It is not easy to find the right words for the feelings that have been dominating us for the past few days. We are saddened by the death of Professor Dr. Marcus Maurer, who left us far too soon. We […]
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With its exceptionally clean air, rich in iodine and aerosols, and low pollen count, Borkum offers its guests ideal conditions for a healthy and relaxing holiday. The best prerequisites, in other words, for Borkum to become the first allergy-friendly island […]
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The town of Schwangau has held the ECARF Seal of Quality for allergy-friendliness since 2017. Schwangau was successfully certified again this year. In the allergy-friendly municipality, the local government promotes measures to improve the tourist infrastructure for guests with allergies. […]
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The formation of mould in the home or at the workplace is the most important indoor pollutant problem affecting the population, judging by the number of enquiries received by health authorities and consumer centres nationwide. According to the WHO […]
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Allergens are proteins which most commonly originate from pollen in the air. But also in dust mites, their excrements or even in animal hair. So far, eight different allergens have been found in cats. Of these, Fel d 1 (Felis […]
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According to a standardised market research survey, there were over 15 million cats in Germany in 2021. As the number of cats in German households continues to rise, so does sensitisation to them – in both children and adults . […]
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Hay fever has become the most common form of allergy in Germany. There are several factors that impact this pollen allergy. For example, the amount of pollen in the air, the duration of the pollen season in general and also […]
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Vegan diets are currently attracting a great deal of attention. The decision to follow a vegan diet can have various reasons. However, avoiding animal-based foods restricts the diet and is associated with risks such as deficiencies of certain nutrients, especially […]
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In Germany, almost one in seven adults suffers from a medically diagnosed allergy, with pollen being one of the most common triggers. A simple but effective treatment for pollen allergies is to reduce or avoid allergen contact. The pollen forecast […]
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It has almost come to the point where the time when the first pollen of the new pollen season appears overlaps with the time when the last pollen of the previous pollen season disappears. On the one hand, climate change […]
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In the spring months, the pollen of hazel, alder and birch cause hay fever and pollen asthma and determine the severity of the allergic symptoms. Since 2018, hazelnut pollen has been appearing in rising concentrations throughout Germany – this was […]
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Allergies are constantly on the rise. In children and young adults, but also in the elderly. But when exactly do we consider something an allergic disease, what can we be allergic to and how do we recognise an allergy? Find […]
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DOES YOUR SKIN GET RED AND ITCHY WHEN YOU SCRATCH OR RUB? Dermographism is a temporary reaction of the skin that occurs when the skin is scratched or rubbed with a blunt object. Some people suffer from recurrent […]
read moreNot always easily legible: the small print on packaging. This can become a problem for people with food intolerances. Much has been achieved for them in recent years – after all, there are now 14 main allergens that must be […]
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Chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) affects more than 80 million people worldwide – and the trend is increasing. The level of suffering among patients is very high. With the new CRUSE control app, disease activity and control can be optimally monitored, […]
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The leading international guideline methodologist Prof. Jean Bousquet visits the ECARF Foundation for talks. In addition to asthma research, his research interests focus on the digital transformation of health and care, the mechanisms of allergies and the multimorbidity of allergic […]
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The ECARF Foundation, in cooperation with the Arbeitsgemeinschaft Dermatologischer Forschung (ADF), awards an annual prize for research in allergology. This year’s award-winning research provides new insights of great value to people with neurodermatitis and other skin conditions. The award goes […]
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A stormy low-pressure system is sweeping across Germany, what does this mean for people with allergies? We are currently experiencing an exceptionally warm February, clearly another sign of climate change. As the trees are already in full bloom, this means […]
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Gaming inside a digital immune system: The strategy game Inflammania helps people understand the workings of asthma and other inflammatory diseases.
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People with pollen allergies should begin allergen-specific immunotherapy in autumn – even at the end of autumn is not too late. This gives the body time to build up its defences for pollen season.
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Climate change and the temperature changes that go with it are causing health problems, especially in people with respiratory diseases.
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Once the heating season begins, the symptoms of people with house dust mite allergies become more severe. Drugs can help manage these symptoms – and so does keeping dust in the home to a minimum.
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Allergies and anaphylactic reactions to the COVID-19 vaccine in children and adolescents are extremely rare. From a paediatric allergy point of view, there are no concerns about vaccinating children and adolescents against SARS-CoV-2 according to the recommendations.
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Immune cells in the blood of children with allergic asthma are composed differently to those in healthy children. Individual characteristics of the immune cells can be measured in the blood. Presumably, this will make it possible to assess allergic asthma […]
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When pregnant women use skin creams and lotions containing parabens, their babies are at greater risk of developing atopic dermatitis. Pregnant women should avoid cosmetics with parabens.
read moreWhen people with a cat hair allergy receive an injection of special antibodies, they develop a tolerance to the cat hair allergen. But the treatment is not yet approved. Studies are still needed in order to determine how long the
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Is hay fever over after the summer? Unfortunately not. Late flowering plants such as ragweed can still cause hay fever symptoms well into October.
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Sunlight is probably more effective in preventing allergies in infants than vitamin D supplements.
read moreConventional drugs are not always sufficient for treating moderate and severe atopic dermatitis. But there are newer treatments available, such as specific antibodies and small molecule drugs. They are effective and well tolerated.
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There is an association between hard water and atopic dermatitis in infants. Water softeners are probably not a suitable measure to alleviate atopic dermatitis.
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Smoke from forest fires damages not only the lungs and respiratory tract, but also the skin. As a result, atopic dermatitis and itching disorders are on the rise.
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The processing of a food product has an impact on the allergenicity of its ingredients. A sophisticated food analysis will enable allergenicity to be more precisely determined in future. This will allow people to estimate their individual reaction to a
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Many plants contain substances that, when activated by the UV light of the summer sun, can cause severe skin irritation. The best-known example is giant hogweed, but other acanthus species have a similar effect.
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More and more people are suffering from hay fever. A recent study revealed a 19 per cent increase since 2010. The incidence of disease is highest in large cities.
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A skin reaction after sunbathing? It must be a sun allergy! Although a lot of people believe this, they are not always right. An allergic reaction to sunscreen could also be causing the symptoms.
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People with allergies have an increased psychiatric reaction to COVID-19 compared to people without allergies. In particular, there is a higher incidence of depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. These findings were revealed in a Mexican study.
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Glucocorticoids – also called cortisone – are often prescribed in Germany as an inhaler for treating asthma. When used correctly, there are few side effects.
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Cow’s milk can cause allergies, but raw milk protects against allergies. Why is that? People, animals, plants and the environment usually all come into play when an allergy develops. Allergology is teaming up with many other sciences to investigate these
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People with a visible skin disease may suffer from exclusion and stigmatisation – especially children and adolescents. Modern therapies can relieve symptoms and increase quality of life.
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Particulates can damage the lungs even more than previously thought. Particulate limits may not have been strict enough until now.
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People with an insect allergy also have an increased risk of having too many mastocytes in the body. These are cells that cause an allergic reaction. As a result, such people also have an increased risk of developing a severe
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It is with great sadness that we have received the news that our ECARF ambassador for Poland and esteemed friend, Professor Marek Kowalski (1952-2021), has passed away. Marek has been head of the Department of Immunology and Allergy at […]
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An apps helps people with pollen allergy with their individual therapy.
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With a free app from the University of Eichstätt, anyone can report where and when plants with allergenic pollen are flowering. A risk map is then generated for people suffering from hay fever.
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The pollen season starts earlier and lasts longer. Pollen loads increase even before local plants start to flower. This is because wind currents can carry lightweight pollen across hundreds of kilometres.
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Pets, especially dogs and cats, can cause allergies. But clearly no one is allergic to the entire dog – just to tiny molecules, for example, on the dog’s hair – and not always the hair of one’s own dog. So
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The number of deaths from a severe allergic reaction has halved in the last 20 years in the UK. With one exception: cow’s milk allergies in children.
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When children with a hereditary risk of asthma eat fish or take fish oil, asthma is less likely to occur in adolescence.
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People with asthma are currently receiving vouchers for FFP2 masks. But from a medical perspective, they are not part of the group of people at high risk from COVID-19.
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Anaphylactic reactions have occurred in certain individuals in the UK and the US after receiving the coronavirus vaccine. Overall, the coronavirus vaccine is well tolerated by people with allergies.
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Weight gain, thinning skin and diabetes are all side effects of cortisone. Could it be possible for the drug to produce fewer side effects? Researchers in Munich are looking for alternatives.
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Asthma alone does not increase the risk of severe COVID-19. Several pulmonology associations are now announcing this finding.
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Seeing the colour red makes itching worse, while blue and green make it better. The colour of the surroundings could therefore help treat itching.
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Einkorn, emmer and spelt. People with wheat intolerance are often recommended to eat these three ancient wheat varieties. But einkorn has one advantage.
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In 2018, atopic dermatitis was diagnosed in 5.54 percent of the population of Saxony, followed by Thuringia, Saxony-Anhalt and Brandenburg. The lowest rates were in Bavaria and Schleswig-Holstein. This was the outcome of an analysis conducted by Barmer.
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Allergies to raw carrots are common. But cooked carrots can also trigger allergies, as researchers in Bayreuth have recently discovered. People who are allergic to carrots should therefore avoid carrots altogether.
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‘Maskne’ – a combination of the words mask and acne – is one of the new buzzwords emerging from COVID-19 times. But acne is rarely the reason behind the itching and rashes that occur underneath masks.
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When hiking in the forest during the summer, areas with any remaining nests of the oak processionary moth should be avoided. The irritating hairs of the caterpillars can cause itching, papules and even allergies well into the autumn.
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How expensive is emergency treatment in other EU countries? National contact centres provide answers.
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A healthy diet can help prevent allergies. But there is still no clear evidence that probiotics can be used to prevent or treat allergies.
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Germany and the EU countries can be visited again despite Corona. The following tips will help you enjoy a relaxing holiday – even with allergies.
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Probiotic food supplements can improve hay fever symptoms. This was revealed in a new study by the Allergy Centre Charité Berlin.
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Researchers in Munich, Germany were able to predict the severity of symptoms in allergy sufferers even before the start of the pollen season. They did this by taking a swab from the nose.
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Eating more fat than carbohydrates appears to curb inflammation in the lungs. This was the result of an animal study conducted by the University of Bonn.
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Chemicals in cleaning products irritate the airways. A recent Canadian study demonstrates the effects of this on young children
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Atopic dermatitis does not affect only the skin. The disease can also cause itching and burning in the eyes. Allergy medications can relieve the symptoms.
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People can also have allergic reactions in the absence of grass or birch pollen. Researchers in Tübingen, Germany discovered that sleep plays an important role in this phenomenon.
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People with asthma who use corticosteroid inhalers should continue to do so. This is the advice of three major German medical societies for respiratory diseases.
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Pollution causes disease. High levels of pollution may also be one of the reasons why more people are dying from the novel coronavirus in certain regions. A geoscientist from Halle has made this discovery.
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Handwashing, social distancing and mask wearing are the key measures people can take to protect themselves against the coronavirus. But people with allergies have other factors to consider.
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The incidence of pollen allergy in the elderly is increasing dramatically. Climate change and air pollution are cited as the causes.
read moreThis year’s ADF/ECARF Award has been granted to two teams studying the interactions that occur within inflammatory skin diseases.
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Kortney has suffered from numerous food allergies since she was a child. Her last allergy test was more than twenty years ago. Are the recommendations she received back then still valid? A test will provide new answers. ECARF accompanied the
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We participated in the European Rhinology Research Forum in Brussels from 9 – 10 November.
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2016 was an exciting year for ECARF. For our new website, we did a lot of research, worked on a new design and spoke with many people. For our retirement home project, we toured Berlin and gathered information from caregivers
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Children with allergies quickly come up against unforeseen, invisible barriers imposed by their own bodies. These barriers cannot be perceived by others. Many people feel as if they are at the whim of their bodies, misunderstood and sometimes alone. Children
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