This article explains symptoms, causes, and treatment options for fall allergies.
Symptoms
Fall allergy symptoms occur when your body produces excessive histamine, a chemical that protects your body from foreign substances. With allergies, the immune system misinterprets allergens as harmful and attacks them.
This immune reaction results in many symptoms that can range from mild to severe, including:
Congestion Runny nose Sneezing Cough Rashes Fatigue Headache Wheezing or shortness of breath
Causes
Fall allergies may be caused by both indoor and outdoor allergens.
Dust
Dust allergies result from an allergy to dust mites, microscopic organisms that live in bedding, upholstery, carpeting, and other soft surfaces. Since dust mites thrive indoors, dust mite allergies occur year-round.
While you can’t eliminate dust mites, you can reduce your exposure to them by:
Reducing indoor humidity to less than 50%Covering mattresses and pillowcases with allergy coversWashing bedding regularly in hot waterDusting regularlyReplacing carpets with hard floors
Pets
Pet dander is a common source of year-round allergies for many people. Dander isn’t an allergy to pet hair, as some mistakenly believe, but rather a pet’s skin. However, pet allergies may be exacerbated by shedding breeds because pet hair can carry the dander.
To reduce your pet allergy symptoms, try the following:
Keep your pet out of your bedroomUse an air purifier with a HEPA filterChange clothes and wash hands frequentlyKeep your pet bathed and well-groomed
Mold
Mold is an indoor and outdoor allergen. Indoors, it grows in moist places where water gathers or condenses, like kitchens, bathrooms, and basements. Outdoors, you’ll find it in leaf piles, rotting logs, and compost piles.
You can reduce your exposure to mold by:
Limiting time outside when mold counts are highWear a mask when mowing the lawn or working in the gardenKeeping indoor humidity below 50%Reduce moisture in bathrooms, kitchen, and laundry areasUse a dehumidifier
Pollen
Pollen is responsible for many seasonal allergies during the spring, summer, and fall months. Depending on the season, different pollens may be culprits for your allergy symptoms. For example, the most common culprit in the spring is trees, late spring to mid-summer is grass pollen, and in the late summer, it’s weed pollen.
In the fall, the most common pollen allergy is ragweed.
Pollen allergies are also known as outdoor allergies, environmental allergies, and hay fever. These allergies can be frustrating because it’s challenging to mitigate exposure without staying exclusively indoors. However, there are some things you can try, including:
Keep windows closedCheck pollen counts and avoid outdoor activity when they are highShower and wash your clothing after being outdoorsDo not hang clothes outside to dryWear glasses or sunglasses to avoid pollen getting in your eyes
COVID vs. Allergies
COVID-19 and allergies share many symptoms, including nasal congestion, runny nose, cough, sore throat, headache, and fatigue. However, there are some ways to tell them apart.
When in doubt, it doesn’t hurt to take a COVID-19 test to be sure.
Treatment
While there is no cure for allergies, there are many ways to manage symptoms.
Nasal Spray
Nasal sprays are the most effective line of treatment for nasal allergies. Steroid nasal sprays work by reducing inflammation in your sinuses. Common steroid nasal sprays include Nasonex (prescription) and Flonase (available over-the-counter).
In addition, saline nasal sprays are a saltwater solution that can help relieve dryness and congestion.
Antihistamines
Antihistamines are medications that block histamine, the chemical responsible for your allergy symptoms. Antihistamines effectively treat allergy symptoms, including itchy and watery eyes, and sneezing.
These drugs are available over-the-counter (OTC) and by prescription. A common side effect of older antihistamines (known as first-generation medications) was sleepiness and sedation. Benadryl (diphenhydramine) is an example of a first-generation drug that causes drowsiness.
However, second-generation medications, like Claritin (loratadine) and Zyrtec (cetirizine), do not carry this same side effect. As a result, many people prefer them for this reason.
Decongestants
Decongestants work by shrinking your blood vessels to help ease congestion. Sudafed and Afrin are examples of OTC decongestants.
While they are effective, they are intended for short-term use because longer-term use can result in dependence and rebound congestion (nasal congestion that worsens from dependence on decongestant medication).
Home Remedies
People often use a combination of medication and home remedies to treat their allergy symptoms. However, limiting exposure to allergens is the best way to manage allergies.
Use a Dehumidifier
Keeping indoor humidity low can reduce allergens like dust mites and mold. Try keeping a dehumidifier in damp areas, like the basement, for the best effect.
Clean Your Vents
The vents in your home are an often overlooked spot that can harbor lots of dust. Consider having your ducts cleaned on a consistent schedule. In addition, remember to replace your furnace filter every few months.
Stay Inside at Peak Times
If you have pollen allergies, keep an eye on pollen counts and stay indoors during peak pollen times. If this isn’t feasible, mitigate in other ways like keeping windows closed and showering and washing your clothes after you’ve been outside.
Summary
Fall allergies occur in September through December. Allergy symptoms include sneezing, coughing, congestion, a runny nose, and more. Fall allergens include dust, mold, pet dander, and pollen. Antihistamines and nasal sprays are some of the over-the-counter medications that are used to treat fall allergies, along with home remedies, such as using a dehumidifier and regularly cleaning out vents at home.
A Word From Verywell
If you have fall allergies, you may benefit from a layered mitigation strategy that includes limiting exposure to allergens, medication, and at-home remedies. In addition, allergy testing can help you pinpoint your allergens, which can help you know which things to avoid.
