As the seasons shift and we transition from winter to spring, many things change, including allergies. Does your nose feel itchy when the weather changes? Maybe you sneeze a lot, your eyes water or you have a slight cough. If so, you might have seasonal allergies.
Spring allergies tend to happen as plants release pollen. In some people, antibodies in the immune system sees pollen as a danger and trigger the activation of immune cells called mast cells. Histamines are then released, causing allergy symptoms to begin.
Mark Kaplan, PhD, professor and chair of the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at the Indiana University School of Medicine, further explains just how allergies, pollen and the springtime are all connected.
Question: Why do people with allergies get flare ups in the spring?
Mark Kaplan: People develop allergies to specific pollens, grasses and trees and those allergens only appear when plants pollinate (spread their seeds). In the winter, allergens in grass, trees, and pollens are not released. But in Spring, when everything starts growing again, and those allergens are released, people that are sensitized to allergens begin to react.
What makes some people allergic to pollen when others aren't affected?
Kaplan: There are several reasons that fall into two broad categories- genetics and environmental. Many people have genes, from their parents, that predispose them towards developing allergies. Environmental factors include the exposure to the allergen that sensitizes them to the allergen and other factors, like pollution or the bacteria people are exposed to, that can shift the balance of the sensitivity to more or less severe reactions.
Many people won’t be allergic to pollen and then they move, getting exposed to new pollen, and this causes new allergies to develop.
Mark Kaplan, PhD | Photo courtesy of Mark Kaplan
Kaplan: Limiting exposure is the best way. Spend less time outside. If you can’t avoid the outdoors, wash your hands, face and hair, and change clothes to minimize pollen exposure. To keep from breathing allergens, masks are very effective. If symptoms are severe including difficulty breathing, consult a physician.
Are there over-the-counter medications to help improve allergy symptoms?
Kaplan: Long-acting antihistamines can be very effective, though effectiveness can vary with patients. If nasal allergies (rhinitis) are an issue, there are inhaled steroids that are now available over the counter. Again, if symptoms are severe, see an allergist who can perform immunotherapy to build tolerance to allergens in the patient, or can prescribe injectable drugs that can limit allergic reactions.
What about non-seasonal allergens like dust?
Kaplan: House dust mites are the most common allergen associated with asthma and allergies. Dust mites are microscopic spider-like pests that feed off shed skin. The allergens are parts of the mites but also in the microscopic mite feces, so when people say they are allergic to dust, it is usually the mite allergens they are reacting to. As with other allergies, reactivity to house dust mites develops because of genetics, environment and sometimes what other components are present in the dust.
To avoid these allergens, dust your house often, use a HEPA filter in the heating, ventilation and air conditioning system, vacuum carpets frequently, wash clothes and bed linen in hot water. If you can’t avoid exposure (or when you’re dusting your house), wear a mask.
