The spring allergy season is in full force. The tree pollen counts last week were in the 3,000 range (low counts are under 50). The pollen has a devastating effect on the eyes. A new patient of mine, a young boy, was in the emergency room for five hours waiting to be treated for his […]
My Martha Stewart Experience: Dust Mites, Special Treats for Food Allergy Sufferers and Joan Rivers
Dr. Mitchell on Martha Stewart Two weeks ago I was in a whirlwind of activity. My office was moving to its new location on 57 West 57th street and I was contacted by The Martha Stewart Show to come and discuss the problem of indoor allergens. I was excited at the opportunity to be on […]
The Truth About Hypoallergenic Cats and Dogs
I just reviewed an interesting article in the Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology entitled Do hypoallergenic cats and dogs exist? I hear this question frequently in my New York allergy practice. I have patients that know they are allergic to these pets, but erroneously believe that the dog that doesn’t shed that much, or […]
Bio Identical Hormones and Cancer- Part 2
The first question most patients as-is: Do bioidentical hormones cause cancer? The answer is no. But many doctors and patients simply do not understand the difference between bioidentical and synthetic hormones. It is time they do. It is now known that synthetic estrogens like Premarin and progestins like Provera, increase the risk of breast cancer. […]
Bee or Wasp Stings: A NYC Allergist Tells You When to Seek Help
[updated August 2019] The summer is the best time in New York to be outside playing sports: softball, tennis, biking or even going on walks in the park. It’s even great for outdoor picnics if you can find a shady spot without too many annoying insects. I do see more insect stings to bees, wasps, […]
Chronic Rashes Need Allergy Detective Work
In my 20 year career as an NYC allergist, I am used to seeing difficult and frustrating rashes that drive patients to tears. Usually, my dermatology colleagues have seen these patients first and prescribe cortisone creams and antihistamines. When this doesn’t work, it’s off to see the allergist. Rashes fit into 2 broad categories: rashes […]
Forbidden Fruit in the Spring Allergy Season
I saw several youngsters this past week in my office, ages 5 to 13, really getting pounded with allergies. One boy’s face was swollen and his eyes were red and tearing. Another girl couldn’t stop sneezing and her nose was bleeding from constantly blowing “to get out the snot” as she put it. Another boy […]
Sunscreen Allergy and New FDA Labeling
A lot of attention has been focused over the past week on the new guidelines of sunscreen labeling. Current SPF ratings for sunscreens only reflect the protection against UVB light, which determines how long a person can be in the sun before burning. The higher the rating, the longer a person can stay in the […]
Winter Sinus Pain: Do’s and Don’ts for Sinus Relief!
CONNECT WITH US: [site-icons icon=facebook] [site-icons icon=twitter] [site-icons icon=instagram] [site-icons icon=linkedin] [site-icons icon=youtube] [updated January 2020 – this post contains affiliate links] It’s hard not to see a million television ads for sinus, cold, and flu relief on a daily basis. The winter seems to be a time when the nose takes the blows! The […]
Dangerous Sinus Infections You Need to Know About
[updated August 2019] The past month I have diagnosed two patients with sinus infections due to Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus. The medical lingo for these types of infections is MRSA (pronounced Mur-cer). In the past, physicians tended to only see MRSA in hospitalized patients because these bacteria were mainly carried by hospital personnel – doctors and […]