How to Avoid Allergies this Spring Season
Updated: Jan 20
Springtime brings beautiful new growth. Unfortunately, spring often brings seasonal allergies, and they can really ruin a great day. Knowing how to avoid allergies in spring will help you have an even happier, healthier season, indoors and out.
Tips for Avoiding Springtime Allergies
Most allergies are the result of breathing in pollen that plants produce in the springtime. When pollen counts are high, stay indoors if possible. This is arguably the most effective way to avoid pesky springtime allergies. Staying inside on peak days will limit your exposure to allergens.
If you’ve already been exposed to pollen, you can use over-the-counter medicine to help control your springtime allergies.
Over-the-counter remedies for springtime allergies
Staying inside isn’t always possible. The dog needs exercise, chores need to get done, adventures need to be found—outside life is calling. So, what are the options when we just need to deal with our springtime allergies?
There are a variety of nonprescription options available for handling your symptoms. Choosing the right one will depend on your needs and symptoms.
Antihistamines
Antihistamines inhibit X-allergen, and can help prevent allergy symptoms before they start, which is fabulous prep for planned outside time this spring.
Antihistamines relieve watery eyes, sneezing, itching, and runny nose.
Decongestants
Decongestants cause your blood vessels to constrict. The congestion you're experiencing is a result of your springtime allergies, causing the blood vessels in your nose to dilate. A decongestant will help relieve irritation by telling them to constrict instead.
Nasal Sprays
Use a nasal spray during pollen season to treat allergic symptoms like sneezing, mucus running down throat, itching, stuffy nose, and runny nose.
Do not overuse, as this could complicate your allergic reactions.
How to Avoid Springtime Allergy Reactions after Outside Time
We don’t always have to go out and mow the lawn, weed the beds, and trim the hedges. We could delegate those responsibilities and avoid our spring allergies by staying inside. But, what if we want to get a little dirty, planting flowers or spreading mulch? Here are a few tips to help you keep the allergens outside:
Wear specific clothes to garden in, and remove them when you come inside.
Pollen-masks can be worn to help keep irritants out
Wash your hands after spending time outside in the garden, even if you were wearing gardening gloves
Springtime allergies and pets
Pets often carry allergens on their fur, so brush your dog after a walk. You can use a dry shampoo to clean pollen off your dog, if a simple brush doesn’t help. A dry shampoo will also help prevent your dog’s skin and hair from drying out, which means less dander around the house.
Other Springtime Allergies
If you’re staying inside but are still experiencing allergy symptoms, your problem might be indoors, not out. You could be experiencing mold allergies. Some of the symptoms of mold allergies are the same as springtime allergies. You want to reduce your mold allergy reactions just like you want to reduce your springtime allergy reactions. Maybe even more!
Contact our trained mold specialists and schedule an inspection. If there is mold, we will find it!
My Pure Environment now operates out of Spokane, Washington, and Coeur d'Alene, Idaho in addition to our many California locations. If you have allergy symptoms that just won’t go away, you should get your indoor air quality checked by a professional remediator. Call us today to schedule your free inspection!
Image used under creative commons license - commercial use (5/28/2021) Christina Rumpf (Unsplash)