How to manage your seasonal allergies
You can't go outside without sneezing, your nose won't stop running, and you have this urge to keep itching your eyes.
These are the symptoms of seasonal allergies, otherwise known as hay fever. Most likely, yours are caused by pollen from certain types of trees, grasses, or weeds.
Unfortunately, there's not much you can do to avoid pollen triggers. But there are a wide range of home remedies, medications, and long-term treatments that can help relieve your symptoms.
Here's what you need to know to get your seasonal allergies under control.
What is hay fever?
Hay fever is an allergic reaction to substances like pollen, dust, or mold. Medically, this condition is called allergic rhinitis.
There are two types of allergic rhinitis:
- Seasonal. These allergies are typically caused by pollen, and shift from season to season — you might feel them heavily in the spring, but not as much in the fall.
- Perennial. These allergies are often caused by dust, mold, or animal dander. While they occur year-round, you may also experience them differently as seasons change.
Seasonal allergy symptoms
The main symptoms of seasonal allergies are:
- Sneezing
- Runny nose
- Stuffy or congested nose
- Shortness of breath, or wheezing
- Itchy or watery eyes
- Scratchy throat
If you're not sure whether your symptoms are from seasonal allergies, or other illnesses like the common cold, flu, or coronavirus, this chart can help give you guidance:
When is allergy season?
In every season, there are different environmental factors that can trigger your allergies.
Most commonly, seasonal allergies are caused by pollen from trees, grasses, or weeds.
That's why allergy season is most severe in the spring and fall, when levels of pollen exposure are highest.
Some places in the US have more severe allergy seasons, according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. This map shows the cities that are most and least challenging to live in with spring and fall allergies to pollen:
The first step in reducing any symptoms is to avoid your allergens. Here's a further breakdown of the common allergy triggers for each season:
Spring allergens
For many, seasonal allergies are the worst part of spring, peaking around the first week of May. That's because both tree and grass pollination occur in the spring.
For example, these common types of trees release high pollen counts during the spring:
- Oak
- Maple
- Hickory
- Ash
- Aspen
- Cedar
- Elm
Summer allergens
Summer allergies are not typically as severe as spring or fall, because tree pollination has largely stopped.
However, grass pollination continues, and certain weeds — especially ragweed — start releasing pollen.
In addition, there are more insects outside, and if you're allergic to bee or insect stings, you're at a higher risk. In some cities, smog is also worse in the summer, and this air pollution can trigger allergy symptoms, too.
Fall allergens
Fall allergies are the second most severe allergy season after spring, and these allergy symptoms are mostly caused by pollen from weeds.
Along with ragweed, these commonly include:
- Pigweed
- Sagebrush
- Tumbleweed
- Russian thistle
- Cocklebur
Winter allergens
Pollen doesn't cause winter allergies. Instead, indoor allergy triggers are more likely to give you trouble in the winter.
Dust and mold are the two most common culprits, and it's important to frequently clean your living space to avoid these triggers.
Because allergies share some symptoms with winter illnesses like the common cold, it's important to recognize the difference between a cold or allergies.
Seasonal allergies treatment
It's not always possible to fully get rid of your allergies — but there are many ways you can relieve or manage your symptoms.
If you're looking to relieve your symptoms fast, Insider Reviews has a buying guide for the best allergy medicine and home remedies, including:
- Antihistamines, like Claritin or Zyrtec
- Nasal sprays, like Flonase
- Sinus rinse kits
- Home air purifiers
- Facial tissues with lotion
The type of medicine or remedies you'll need will depend on your symptoms. Here's how to know when you should use each type of treatment.
Types of allergy medicine
Over-the-counter allergy medicine is one of the most common and effective treatments for seasonal allergies.
These are the main differences between each type of allergy medicine:
Antihistamine
Antihistamines are the first-line defense for seasonal allergies. When you have an allergic reaction, your body releases histamines, which cause the main allergy symptoms.
Antihistamines counteract these histamines — hence the name antihistamine — and can help you stop sneezing, or get rid of a runny nose. These oral antihistamine medications are widely available over-the-counter:
Decongestant
If you want to clear a stuffy nose with allergies, you might want to try a decongestant.
Decongestants can help clear nasal congestion by shrinking the blood vessels in your nose, allowing you to breathe more easily. They are widely available over-the-counter, and common examples include Mucinex or Sudafed.
In fact, some allergy medications offer both antihistamine and decongestant, all-in-one. These combination medicines often have a 'D' at the end — like Claritin-D or Allegra-D.
Other home remedies, like a neti pot, can also clear your sinuses and reduce nasal congestion.
Nasal spray
Nasal sprays can reduce nasal congestion, and may be used to relieve a stuffy nose, runny nose, or sneezing.
There are many different types of nasal sprays. For allergies, you should consider:
- Nasal saline rinses, made of water and salt, are available over the counter and can be used to immediately clear stuffiness.
- Corticosteroids, like Flonase, are available over the counter or as a prescription, and need to be used for 10 to 14 days to effectively resolve congestion.
- Antihistamine nasal sprays, like Astepro, are available over the counter and will start working in about 30 minutes, but doctors sometimes recommend daily use.
To use your nasal spray correctly, you should follow the label's instructions for use and put the tip of the nozzle in your nose, pointing slightly toward the back of your head and outside of your nostril.
There is no need to pinch your nose — and try not to blow your nose for at least 15 minutes after use.
Eye drops
Eye drops may be necessary if your allergies especially affect your eyes. This is called allergic conjunctivitis, and its symptoms include:
- Itchiness in the white of the eye, the inner corner of the eyes, or along the eyelids
- Redness in the white of the eye
- Watery discharge from the eyes
- Itchiness and swelling on the skin around the eyes
If you suffer from allergic conjunctivitis, you should talk with your doctor about choosing the right eye drops for your allergies. There are a number of options, including:
- Antihistamine eye drops
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory eye drops
- Mast cell stabilizers
- Combination eye drops, which can include two of these medications
There are a few different ways to put in eye drops correctly, and it can be easier said than done.
Make sure you read the label instructions to determine how often you'll need to use them, and then use the most comfortable method to properly get the drop in your eye. And don't use expired eye drops — it may only worsen your eye irritation.
Choosing the right allergy medicine
Sometimes, you may need a combination of these medications to resolve all your allergy symptoms, but you should check in with your doctor first.
If over-the-counter medication doesn't resolve your allergy symptoms, your doctor may also recommend a stronger version of these drugs, which may require a prescription.
Make sure that you're following all the label instructions before taking any medication. While allergy medicine does expire, you may be able to use oral tablets well after the expiration date.
Allergy shots
If none of these treatment methods work, you may want to consider allergy shots.
Allergy shots, also called immunotherapy, are a series of low-dose allergen injections that can decrease your sensitivity to allergies and reduce your symptoms over time.
Immunotherapy is a long-term commitment — you'll typically receive shots over a period of three to five years — but they can be very effective at managing seasonal allergy symptoms when they flare up.
If your allergy symptoms are severely impacting your life, and you can't control them with home remedies or medication, allergy shots may be worth it. Talk to your doctor to see if immunotherapy is right for you.