Pollen Allergy - Allergens

This information was reviewed and approved by Carah Santos, MD (12/5/2022).

Pollen from trees, grasses and weeds can be inhaled and cause allergy and asthma symptoms. Pollen may travel many miles in the wind, so trees, grasses and weeds beyond your immediate area can cause allergy and asthma symptoms. Pollen allergies are often seasonal, and allergy and asthma symptoms occur when the amount of pollen in the air is high. Examples of allergy symptoms include itchy eyes, runny nose and sneezing. Examples of asthma symptoms can be coughing, wheezing and difficulty breathing. These symptoms may vary, depending on weather conditions and where you live.

Once an allergy has been identified, your health care provider may recommend medications or therapies to control symptoms. The next step is to decrease or eliminate exposure to the allergen. This is called environmental control. Evidence shows that allergy and asthma symptoms may improve over time if the recommended environmental control changes are made.

Pollen allergies are a response from an allergic individual against pollen. In terms of the pollen that cause pollen allergies, it's generally the wind-pollinated plants. Trees will pollinate in the spring, grasses will pollinate in the summer, weeds will pollinate in the fall, and when the pollen is blowing around, that's when it can land an individual's noses and eyes and cause problems.

What are the main symptoms of pollen allergies? The main symptoms of pollen allergies are going to be nasal symptoms and ocular symptoms. So in terms of the nose, pollen can cause nasal itchiness, sneezing, runny nose, post-nasal drip, and nasal congestion. And then in terms of the eyes, it will cause generally watery, itchy, and or red eyes. In somebody with asthma, allergies can trigger asthma, and so pollen, when inhaled, can actually trigger an asthma flare. And similarly, in somebody who's very allergic, if they're rolling around in the grass, and they're grass allergic, they can develop hives on their skin.

What is the importance of testing for pollen allergies? So important in the testing for pollen allergies is a clinical history. So we will take a clinical history from patients finding out exactly when they have their symptoms, and that can give us a big clue, at least in terms of the different seasons that plants pollinate. We have skin prick testing, where a drop of a specific allergen is placed on the skin and then poked through, and we look for a response locally on the skin to suggest that a patient might be allergic. Similarly, we can do specific IgE testing, which is a blood test looking for presence of the allergic antibody.

Treatment for pollen allergies generally starts with avoidance, and so we don't tell patients to avoid an entire season outdoors, but we will tell them to look at pollen counts and maybe avoid the high pollen count days in terms of going out for their picnic in the park. Also, when they get back home from those picnics, if they can't avoid the pollen, then really taking a shower, changing clothes, irrigating out the nose, and getting the pollen out of there. Similarly, in terms of medications, we have medications for the nose, so nasal sprays, some of which are over the counter, some of which are found by prescription only, and similarly with oral medications as well. And then, of course, there's allergy shots, which is the closest thing we can do to make you unallergic to pollen.

Reducing Pollen Exposure

Pollen is produced by trees, grasses and weeds, and it floats in the air. The key to eliminating or reducing exposure to pollen is to keep outside air out, or filter it before it comes inside. The normal filters on an air conditioning unit are quite adequate for this.

Here are a few other ways to reduce pollen exposure.

If possible, keep windows and outside doors shut during pollen season, especially during the daytime.
If you have central or room air conditioning, use it so you can keep windows and outside doors shut.
Use of swamp coolers is discouraged because of the increased potential for dust mite and mold growth, which both thrive in humidity.
Consider pollen counts when planning outdoor activities. It may help to limit your outdoor activities during the times of highest pollen and mold counts.
Outdoor activities may be better tolerated after a gentle, sustained rain.
Encourage hand washing after outdoor play to avoid transferring pollen from the hands to the eyes and nose.
If you are outdoors during high pollen counts, take a shower and wash your hair when you come inside.
If you are outdoors during high pollen counts, change your clothes (not in your bedroom) when you come indoors, and leave these clothes in the laundry room.
Dry laundry in a dryer only; avoid hanging clothes outside to dry.
Drive with your windows closed. If it is hot, use your air conditioner.
Keep pets that spend time outdoors out of the bedroom. In addition to animal dander allergens, they may carry and deposit pollen stuck to their fur.

Reducing Pollen Exposure

Clinical Trials