How to detect and help relieve symptoms of pollen allergies

Many people enjoy going outside and exploring nature, especially in the spring, summer and fall. For some, though, spending time outdoors during these seasons can cause pollen allergies to flare and lead to itching eyes or sneezing.

While a pollen allergy may be uncomfortable, there are ways to help alleviate your symptoms. Here’s what to know about the symptoms and types of pollen allergies — and how you can start to breathe a little easier.

In this article:

What is pollen?

To people who have seasonal allergies, pollen is a source of frustration and discomfort. Pollen is a byproduct of the reproductive process of many plants and is often found in the form of a powder-like dust.

Once pollen forms on trees, grass, or weeds, it is spread around by water, insects and wind. You may be familiar with the sight of a yellowish layer of dust on your car in the springtime or a powder released from flowering plants when the wind is strong. These are usually telltale signs that there is pollen in the air.

What is a pollen allergy?

One way to help avoid symptoms caused by allergies is to avoid the trigger substance altogether. However, if you have a pollen allergy, this is harder to do. After all, you can’t control what’s present in the air.

An allergy to pollen, also called allergic rhinitis or “hay fever,” causes confusion in your immune system and leads it to believe that the allergen — pollen — is a harmful and unwelcome visitor. Once your body detects the presence of pollen, the allergic reaction begins. Your immune system starts to fight off the allergen using a chemical called histamine, which then brings about symptoms mainly in your mouth, nose, eyes and throat.

Symptoms of pollen allergies

If you find that pollen causes a reaction in your body, you’re not alone. In fact, millions of Americans are affected by pollen-related allergies every year. The more abundant the trees, weeds and grass are around you, the more opportunity there is for pollen to impact your immune system.

The following are a few common pollen allergy symptoms:

• Runny nose
• Congestion
• Allergy-induced red eyes
• Sneezing
• Itchy throat
• Wheezing
• Itchy eyes
• Fullness or itching in the ears

Possible symptoms are not limited to this list, and people who have asthma may find that symptoms related to their condition get worse during pollen exposure, such as coughing and difficulty breathing.

Types of pollen allergies

The three types of pollen allergies to know are tree pollen, grass pollen, and weed pollen. You may be surprised to learn that you could be allergic to one source of pollen but not another. Some people experience symptoms related to all three types of pollen — it all depends on your body’s response to exposure.

Tree pollen

The three types of pollen most present in the U.S. typically occur at different times of year, with tree pollen spreading toward the earlier months. Tree pollen is a very common cause of pollen allergies, with a typical season ranging from February to May. In warmer regions, tree pollen season can even overlap with other types of pollen present in the spring and summer. A few tree types that most often cause pollen allergy symptoms include maple, birch, cedar, ash, and oak trees, but tree pollen allergies can range widely depending on where you live.

Grass pollen

Allergies to grass pollen are the most common form worldwide. The severity and length of time you may deal with grass pollen allergies depends on the location and climate in which you live, but research shows that you’re not suffering alone: the level at which people across the globe are sensitive to grass pollen has shown to be as high as 30%. Some forms of grass allergens are pollen from timothy, orchard, bermuda, johnson and fescue grass types. Their typical flowering season occurs in the summer, from April to June.

Weed pollen

A reaction to pollen from weeds across the U.S. is quite common. Ragweed, especially, is present in 49 states across the U.S. and accounts for 15% of weed pollen allergies. Unfortunately, ragweed pollen can be transported across very far distances in the air, sometimes even several hundred miles. Other weeds that commonly cause allergy symptoms are burning bush, sagebrush, cocklebur,  mugwort, pigweed and Russian thistle. These weeds flower in the fall, with ragweed blooming and releasing pollen from August to November.

Pollen allergy diagnosis

If you’re tired of sneezing, wheezing or wiping off your runny nose, it may be time to see a medical care provider. During your appointment, your health care provider may administer an allergy test to see how your body responds to the various types of pollen.

One common pollen allergy test is a skin prick test; a health care provider will apply the allergen on your skin and use a small, sharp tool to prick the applied spot so it goes into your skin.

“Allergy skin prick testing (SPT), or percutaneous testing, is the gold standard recommendation for diagnosis of environmental allergies according to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology Practice Parameters. This skin prick test helps to identify most pollen allergies and can take about 20-40 minutes to perform,” says double board-certified allergist and immunologist Sairaman Nagarajan, MD, MPH.

“If skin prick testing is negative or partially positive, an intradermal test (IDT) is the commonly recommended next step to confirm allergies. Intradermal allergy tests can help diagnose pollen allergies and detect a variety of allergies, including tree pollens, grass, and weed, among others,” according to Nagarajan.

Another option is a blood test. “Historically the RAST technique was used to identify allergies on blood testing, with poor sensitivity and specificity. Nowadays, an ImmunoCAP technique is commonplace and approaches allergy skin testing in sensitivity and specificity,” says Nagarajan. “Your doctor may order blood testing in case allergy testing may aggravate symptoms, or for those who are needle-phobic.”

Managing symptoms of pollen allergies

Although pollen allergies can make anyone feel miserable, there is good news: Plenty of care options exist to help provide relief for any number of pollen allergy symptoms. Some can be obtained over the counter and used at home, and others are prescribed and administered by a medical provider. No matter what route you and your care team choose, rest assured that your symptoms can be almost always managed with the proper resources.

Over-the-counter medication

There are many allergy relief support products that can be purchased over the counter (OTC). Nagarajan shares that most immunologists recommend second- and third-generation antihistamines to treat pollen allergies. “Many of these are available OTC. Allergists prefer these because of the longer (up to 24 hour) duration of effect and minimal sedation and/or side effects.”

For example, consider allergy relief medications such as Zyrtec 24HR Allergy Relief Tablets, Claritin 24HR Non Drowsy Allergy Relief Tablets, Xyzal Allergy 24HR Allergy Relief and Allegra Allergy 24HR Non Drowsy Antihistamine Tablets.

Another popular at-home option for OTC allergy medicine is steroid nasal spray. Follow the instructions on the product package on how and when to use these.

For example, Flonase Non-Drowsy 24HR Allergy Relief Spray and Nasacort 24HR Non-Drowsy Multi-Symptom Allergy Nasal Spray are over-the-counter nasal spray products. Follow the instructions on the product package on how and when to use these.

Feeling stuffed up? A decongestant may help. These medications work by shrinking blood vessels in the nose and drying up your nasal passages. Nagarajan notes that decongestants, with or without antihistamines, can only be used for a maximum of 3-5 days, after which you are likely to experience rebound congestion. So, it’s wise to stick to these as a short-term solution.

Consider combination decongestant products such as Zyrtec-D 12 Hour Allergy Medicine & Nasal Decongestant Tablets and Allegra-D Non- Drowsy 12HR Allergy Relief & Decongestant Extended Release Tablets.

Avoiding allergy triggers

Though pollen allergies occur naturally and can’t be completely avoided, there is plenty of ongoing research and work done to educate people on ways to help manage their pollen allergies, including reduction of exposure. For quick on-the-go reference, access your local pollen count (the level of airborne pollen present in your area) by visiting the National Allergy Bureau website.

Allergy shots

Once you’ve tried over-the-counter allergy medications — or if your pollen allergy symptoms start out at a severity that causes concern — it may be time to consult or re-engage your medical provider to get further treatment.

Allergy shots are a possible option for people suffering from notably severe reactions or year-round allergies. However, your symptoms may only improve long-term if you stay consistent with a shot schedule, should your healthcare provider prescribe one.

Allergy shots aren’t a permanent cure for pollen allergies and may not be feasible for those taking certain medications or with specific medical conditions. However, they are a great option for receiving more impactful treatment when your symptoms call for it.

“Allergy shots, also called immunotherapy, are the only FDA-approved, long-term therapy for allergies,” Nagarajan says. “Such treatment is ~70% effective and is based on re-educating the body's immune system by promoting tolerance to pollen, dust, pets, etc. By giving gradually increasing doses of weekly and later monthly injections following well-established dosing guidelines, people can become desensitized to their allergies over time.”

This content is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice. Consult your health care provider before taking any vitamins or supplements and prior to beginning or changing any health care practices.