Spring Seasonal Allergies | Tips to Protect Yourself

This information was reviewed and approved by Carah Santos, MD (12/6/2022).

The biggest culprit of springtime allergies are tree pollens.

And, the important thing about spring allergies is avoidance measures. Try to avoid bringing the outdoors inside.

So, some tips for that include:

Avoid going outside when the tree pollen count is highest, which tends to be mid-morning through mid-afternoon.

Other tips to prevent the outdoors from coming indoors include:

Keeping your windows closed in your car and your home during the high pollen season.
Also, trying to take a shower, change out of your clothes and wash your hair immediately upon coming indoors from outdoors since so many pollens are invisible and microscopic, and may be trapped in your hair and on your clothing.
Also, trying to avoid using a ceiling fan as that may kick up the pollen that has fallen onto the ground of your home.
Using filters on your air conditioner.
Trying to avoid hanging your clothes outside on a clothesline, as that can trap pollens as well.
And, if you have furred animals such as cats and dogs who enjoy going outside, keep in mind that when they go outside, they may certainly bring in many of those pollens indoors. So, trying to wash your pets at least once a week can help wash off those pollens.

There are several medications that are often available over-the-counter that may help alleviate these springtime allergy symptoms. Over-the-counter, non-sedating antihistamines may work within a few hours, and may help with a lot of the itching, sneezing and dripping associated with springtime allergies.

Nasal steroid sprays are also very effective in alleviating those annoying nasal symptoms such as congestion and drainage. However, these medications take several days to weeks to become fully effective. So, if you're anticipating that your springtime allergies are about to start up soon, it's recommended that we start these medications a few weeks ahead of the pollen season.

Here are a few tips to help ease your symptoms so that you can better enjoy the spring season.

Avoid being outdoors on windy days, especially mid-morning to mid-afternoon, when pollen counts are often highest. If you must be out, cover your mouth with a scarf or an allergen mask.
Keep car and home windows and doors closed, and avoid using electric fans inside the home, which can kick up pollen into the air.
After returning from outdoors, shower, wash your hair and change your clothing.
When cleaning, use caution with household cleaning products. Make sure the area to be cleaned is well ventilated. Never mix cleansers such as bleaches, disinfectants and deodorizers with ammonia products, either in the bucket or on the surface to be cleaned.
It is best if non-allergic family members or others do the cleaning. Try to be out of the house during all cleaning, especially during carpet cleaning.
Avoid being outside when fertilizers and pesticides are applied to the lawns, trees or shrubs in your neighborhood. If you garden, arrange for someone else to remove the leaves and branches that may have collected in your yard or hedges. This type of garbage usually has mold and other particles that can trigger your asthma.

Your health care provider may recommend additional medications, therapies or other environmental controls.

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