Fall Allergies

Fall Allergies Overview

You would be well aware of the irritating allergy symptoms most allergy sufferers challenge almost all year round. The seasonal allergy or hay fever may cause eye irritation, nasal irritation, respiratory irritation, skin irritation, or digestive irritation not just in the spring but also when the leaves fall.

Fall allergies can especially be difficult for people who are sensitive to mold or ragweed pollen. Apart from these seasonal elements, other triggers may cause the symptoms of fall allergy that are discussed further:

Hay Fever

Despite its name, hay fever has nothing to do with hay and doesn’t cause a fever. It’s another name for allergic rhinitis, most often used for seasonal reactions to pollen such as ragweed (ACAAI).

In the fall, the most common triggers are ragweed and other weed pollens and outdoor mold (ACAAI). Ragweed usually starts releasing pollen in late summer and continues until the first frost, and its pollen is carried far by the wind.

Pollen levels during ragweed season are highest in the morning (FDA), so plan outdoor activities for later in the day when you can.

Fall Allergies and Hay Fever Prevention

Most TV channels or local newspapers publish a daily report of the pollen count in your area. Try to stay indoors, especially during the hours the pollen count is high. If you have to move out, wear a mask to filter pollen from entering the nasal passage.

Keep your car and home windows closed, and take off your outer garments when entering the home to prevent pollens from following you. Keep your carpets and floorings clean on a regular basis. Don’t dry your clothes outdoor. Change your clothes and take a bath daily.

Mold and Mildew

Mold produces spores that are like pollens and mature both indoors and outdoors. They are easily spread by wind or air indoors. These fungi tend to grow all over the year. In fall, the most common places they may reproduce are damp fallen leaves and compost piles. Indoors, they thrive in humid areas like bathrooms, kitchens, and basements.

Mold and mildew, unlike pollen, are not destroyed by the first frost, but they do go dormant in the winter.

Prevention

Keep your backyard from fallen leaves and from blocking the gutters. Don’t pile up leaves and keep them away from your house. Wear a protective mask while raking leaves and cleaning compost bins.

It is recommended to use a high-quality air filter or dehumidifier in the house, especially in the basement and humid areas. Bathrooms and kitchens should be cleaned regularly using vinegar or anti-mildew agents to avoid the abundance of mold growth.

Dust Mites

Dust mites are present year-round and cause dust allergies. They thrive in warm, humid conditions. You may not be able to eliminate them completely, but you can greatly reduce them.

Prevention

Clean heating vents before turning on the heat for the first time. Use “mite-proof” covers on pillows and mattresses, wash bedding frequently in hot water (at least 130°F), and keep indoor humidity between 30% and 50% (ACAAI). Clean floors with a damp mop rather than dry-dusting, and consider hard flooring instead of carpet.

Pet Dander and Fur

Pets can trigger fur allergy symptoms. The allergens come from dander (dead skin flakes), saliva and urine, not the hair itself.

Any furry pet can trigger symptoms, and how strongly a person reacts varies.

Prevention

Wash your hands after petting animals, keep pets out of the bedroom, and have a nonallergic person groom them, preferably outdoors (ACAAI). Keep pet bedding and litter boxes away from heating and cooling vents.

Symptoms of Fall Allergies

• Irritation in eyes, nose, ears, and mouth
• Sneezing and nose irritation
• Runny nose
• Stuffy nose due to congestion
• Post-nasal drip, a sensation of mucus dripping at the back of the throat
• Red, itchy and watery eyes
• Puffy eyes
• Skin irritation/allergy
• Some may get hives
• Coughing, wheezing, or difficulty breathing in severe symptoms

Treatment of Fall Allergies

Even after your best preventive measures, you may still catch some allergy triggers that may cause allergy symptoms. Fall allergies can be treated the same as other seasonal allergies are treated.

Medication

Antihistamines: These are used to relieve symptoms such as itchy and watery eyes and nose, runny nose, and sneezing. These may be available in the form of tablets, nasal sprays, or liquid.

Corticosteroids: Intranasal corticosteroid sprays are the single most effective drug class for allergic rhinitis, easing congestion, sneezing, itching and runny nose (ACAAI). Many brands are sold without a prescription (MedlinePlus).

Decongestants: These relieve stuffiness by shrinking swollen nasal tissue. Don’t use decongestant nasal sprays for more than 3 days, because longer use can cause rebound congestion (MedlinePlus). The FDA has proposed removing oral phenylephrine as an OTC decongestant because it doesn’t work when taken by mouth; as of October 2026 that proposal is not yet final (FDA).

Leukotriene inhibitors: These prescription tablets (such as montelukast) block leukotrienes, chemicals that drive allergy symptoms. They can cause side effects such as anxiety or depression in some people, so tell your doctor about any mental health history first (MedlinePlus).

Eye drops: Eye drops may be used for treating eye allergies due to ragweed pollen and molds. They can provide temporary relief from redness, itchiness, and swelling in the eyes.

Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy is the one treatment that can change how your immune system reacts to allergens over time. Doctors often recommend it for people who don’t get enough relief from medicines, have side effects from them, or can’t avoid their triggers.

Allergy shots and sublingual (under-the-tongue) tablets are the two forms of immunotherapy. A course of allergy shots typically lasts three to five years. Sublingual tablets, approved by the FDA in 2014, cover only a few allergens (certain grass and ragweed pollens and dust mites) (ACAAI).

Home Remedies

Natural or home remedies may bring comfort to people suffering from fall allergies. These remedies may include:

Steam inhalation

Breathing warm, moist air, such as steam from a hot shower, may temporarily ease a stuffy nose. Don’t lean over a pot of boiling water, which can cause serious burns, especially in children.

Saline solution

A saline rinse or spray clears mucus and washes allergens out of the nose and sinuses, and can be used as often as needed (ACAAI). If you mix your own rinse, use distilled or boiled-then-cooled water (MedlinePlus).

Conclusion

Symptoms can be managed for fall allergies by considering preventive measures. Proper medications should be followed if the symptoms get severe. If you have a pollen allergy during the fall, it is easy to know your culprit. Get rid of ragweeds as much as possible.

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Written by: Madiha Ather Hashmi (April 19, 2021)

This article is for general education and is not medical advice. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist about your symptoms and before starting, stopping, or combining any medicine.

What actually helps

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HEPA air purifier & filters

A portable HEPA purifier sized to the room can lower airborne particles such as pollen and dust; it only works if you replace filters on schedule. (EPA: Guide to Air Cleaners in the Home)

See the Levoit Core 300 on Amazon

Saline nasal rinse kit

Rinsing with saline can clear pollen from the nose; use distilled, sterile or boiled-then-cooled water, never plain tap water. (FDA: Is rinsing your sinuses with neti pots safe?)

See the NeilMed Sinus Rinse kit on Amazon

Dust-mite pillow & mattress covers

Allergists recommend zippered, allergen-proof encasings for pillows, mattresses and box springs, plus hot-water washing of bedding. (ACAAI: Dust Allergy)

See Hospitology zippered pillow encasements on Amazon

Fall Allergy FAQs

What causes fall allergies?

Mainly ragweed and other weed pollens and outdoor mold (ACAAI).

When is ragweed pollen highest?

In the morning during late summer and early fall (FDA).

Does the first frost end fall allergies?

Frost usually ends ragweed season, but mold and indoor allergens like dust mites can continue.

What is the best treatment for fall allergies?

Nasal steroid sprays are the most effective drug class; antihistamines help with sneezing and itching (ACAAI).

Sources

Looking for more allergy types? Find a full list of other allergy types here.

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