Spring Allergies

Flat illustration of spring trees, grass and pollen

Spring Allergies Overview

Spring is a lovely time of the year, but not for everyone, especially people with spring allergies. Blooming trees and grasses release pollen that makes millions of people with seasonal allergies sniff and sneeze. In the most recent national CDC survey, about one in four U.S. adults (25.7%) reported a diagnosed seasonal allergy (CDC, NCHS Data Brief 460). Seasonal allergies, or hay fever, may cause eye irritation, nasal irritation, respiratory irritation, skin irritation or digestive irritation. Depending on where you live, tree pollen can start as early as late winter, with grass pollen following in late spring and early summer (ACAAI).

Causes of Spring Allergies

The main cause for spring allergy is pollen. Trees, grasses and weeds release these tiny substances into the air for pollination. When this pollen gets in contact with people who are sensitive to them, they may have attacks of pollen allergy.

Pollens are recognized as a dangerous sign (allergens) for people allergic to them, and their immune system starts releasing antibodies. These antibodies will cause histamines to be released from mast cells into the bloodstream and start to show various allergic symptoms.

Pollens from trees, grasses and weeds travel far distances and can reach you even if you don’t have such plants in your backyard. Some common spring allergy plants are:

Trees

  • Alder
  • Ash
  • Aspen
  • Beech
  • Boxelder
  • Cedar
  • Cottonwood
  • Cypress
  • Elm
  • Hickory
  • Juniper
  • Maple
  • Mulberry
  • Oak
  • Olive
  • Palm
  • Pine
  • Poplar
  • Sycamore
  • Willow

Grasses and weeds:

  • Bermuda
  • Fescue
  • Johnson
  • June
  • Orchard
  • Perennial rye
  • Redtop
  • Saltgrass
  • Sweet vernal
  • Timothy

If you are sensitive to pollen, you will usually notice symptoms more on warm, dry, windy days, when more pollen is in the air. Cool, rainy days tend to bring relief because rain washes much of the pollen to the ground (MedlinePlus).

Mold

Mold, which triggers a year-round allergy, will wreak havoc in the springtime. This is particularly true when moist and rainy weather is followed by warmer weather, resulting in a high mold concentration.

Spores from mold, such as yeast and mildew, are also carried by the wind. During the spring season, they increase in the outside air and cause the worst symptoms in patients allergic to them.

Some from many outdoor molds are:

  • Alternaria
  • Cladosporium
  • Hormodendrum

Some indoor molds can also trigger you at home, such as:

  • Aspergillus
  • Penicillium

They show the same symptoms as other spring allergens do.

Symptoms of Spring Allergies

Some of the most familiar spring allergy symptoms are:

  • Red, itchy and watery eyes
  • Sneezing and nose irritation
  • runny nose
  • irritation in eyes, nose, ears, and mouth
  • stuffy nose due to congestion
  • skin irritation/allergy
  • puffy eyes
  • post-nasal drip, a sensation of mucus dripping at the back of the throat
  • some may get hives
  • coughing, wheezing, or difficulty breathing in severe symptoms

Preventing Spring Allergies

To prevent triggering spring allergy, one should prevent exposure to the causes of spring allergies, i.e. pollen and mold.

  • If pollen levels are high outside, try to remain indoors. Check your local pollen forecast each morning, and plan outdoor time for when counts are lower
  • Keep your garden grass as short as possible during the springs
  • If you need to go outside, use a dust mask. Also, use a mask while mowing the lawn or gardening
  • Keep windows closed during high pollen periods and use air conditioning with a clean, allergy-friendly filter at home and in the car
  • Keep your yard clean from dead and rotting logs
  • When exposed to the outer air, wash your hair and bathe to remove pollen
  • Change and wash bed linen once a week or more often
  • Dry your clothes indoors or in a dryer instead of outdoors
  • Remove your shoes before getting into the house
  • Use hats and sunglasses to limit pollen entering your eyes and getting in your hair
  • Vacuum carpets and floors once a week or more

Spring Allergy Treatments

Spring allergy treatment includes medications as well as some home remedies. Let us have a look into these:

Medication

There are various over the counter or prescribed medications available to treat spring allergy symptoms.

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 now sold without a prescription (MedlinePlus). Steroids also come as inhalers or pills for other conditions, but nasal sprays are the usual choice for hay fever.

Decongestants: These relieve stuffiness by shrinking swollen nasal tissue, and come as pills, liquids and nasal sprays. Don’t use decongestant nasal sprays for more than 3 days, because longer use can cause rebound congestion (MedlinePlus). Note that in November 2024 the FDA proposed removing oral phenylephrine as an OTC decongestant ingredient because data show it doesn’t work when taken by mouth; as of October 2026 that proposal is not yet final (FDA). Ask a pharmacist about alternatives.

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 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); you start them several months before the season and take one daily (ACAAI).

Home Remedies

Natural or home remedies may bring comfort to people suffering from spring 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 pollen out of the nose and sinuses. Unlike decongestant sprays, saline can be used as often as needed (ACAAI). If you mix your own rinse, use distilled or boiled-then-cooled water (MedlinePlus).

Conclusion

Spring allergies can make the season miserable, but limiting pollen exposure and starting treatment early can keep symptoms under control. If over-the-counter options aren’t enough, see your doctor or an allergist. Wondering if it’s allergies or a virus? Read our guide to allergies vs. COVID, colds and flu, and see how the season continues in summer allergies.

Written by: Madiha Ather Hashmi (April 01, 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

Spring Allergy FAQs

When does spring allergy season start?

Tree pollen can begin in late winter in warmer regions, and grass pollen usually follows in late spring and early summer. Timing varies by region and plant (ACAAI).

Do spring allergies cause a fever?

No. Despite the name “hay fever,” allergic rhinitis does not cause a fever. A fever points to an infection such as a cold, flu or COVID-19 (ACAAI).

What is the most effective spring allergy medicine?

Intranasal corticosteroid sprays are the single most effective drug class for allergic rhinitis; antihistamines help most with sneezing and itching (ACAAI).

Can allergy shots cure spring allergies?

Immunotherapy can reduce symptoms for the long term after a three-to-five-year course, but it is not a guaranteed cure (ACAAI).

Sources

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

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