It might surprise you to know that the weather can have an impact on your allergies.
Allergy symptoms can be similar to symptoms from other conditions, such as the common cold.
These symptoms are often worse if you also haveasthma.
Verywell / Brianna Gilmartin
If youve ever woken up to find yellow dust covering your car, you know what pollen looks like.
This fine, dust-like substance helps fertilize plants.
The allergen is then in the air you breathe, in very large amounts.
Humid, Rainy Days
Allergy symptoms can also be worse on humid, rainy days.
Humid, rainy days can sometimes be beneficial for people with pollen allergies.
However, rain can sometimes have the opposite effect on pollen.
Because of this risk, an epinephrine auto-injector can be prescribed for treatment.
Symptoms can include:
Cold urticaria can be outgrown, or it could last a lifetime.
Symptoms resolve within five years for about 50% of people who get this condition.
Cold urticaria can often be treated with medications calledantihistamines, which block allergy symptoms.
In more severe cases, you might need prescription medication.
This is due to plant pollination cycles.
Summer
Pollen season for grass and trees continues into the summer.
Pollen levels are highest in the evenings in the beginning of summer.
Mold can also be present in damp areas, such as near piles of dead leaves.
Winter
Other than cold urticaria, most weather-related allergies do not occur in very cold temperatures.
Many plants are dead, and outdoor mold is dormant until spring weather hits.
If you have allergy symptoms in the winter, they are less likely to be due to weather.
You might be allergic to indoor allergens such as dust, indoor mold, or pet dander.
Whenever possible, avoid exposure to your allergens.
Check your local news for daily pollen counts, and schedule outdoor activities when levels are lower.
Monitor the weather to keep track of triggers, such as rain or wind.
Wear a mask when working outdoors, and wash your clothes once you get back inside.
Antihistamines block the chemicals in your immune system that are causing an allergic reaction.
Decongestants decrease swelling in your nose and sinuses to make breathing easier.
Nasal sprays are also very effective for treating runny, itchy nose symptoms.
Skin creams can temporarily reduce itching and pain from allergy-relatedrashes.
However, prescription medications such as topical or oral steroids might be required to treat more severe allergies.
In some cases, immunotherapy can be used to treat allergies.
Over time, your body learns not to overreact to the substance that is causing your symptoms.
A Word From Verywell
While weather-related allergy symptoms can be annoying, they arent usually life-threatening.
Frequently Asked Questions
Watching the weather forecast can help you plan outdoor activities to minimize your symptoms.
The length of symptoms for seasonal allergies depends on your specific allergen.
Allergy symptoms often fluctuate with changes in season.
The best location for you to live with allergies depends on your allergens.
American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology.Pollen allergies.
American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology.Pollen defined.
Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.Mold allergy.
Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.Climate change and health.
American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology.Common seasonal allergy triggers.
Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.Allergy treatments.
