Seasonal Allergies

The Facts

Seasonal allergies impact those who are susceptible only during certain months of the year. Most sufferers of seasonal allergies typically have their strongest allergic reactions during the spring and fall months. However, depending on a person's allergy sensitivity, he or she may feel symptoms year-round.

Those who suffer seasonal allergies tend to react to the following:

Spring: tree pollen
Summer: grass pollen
Fall: ragweed and other flower pollens
Winter: tree pollen

When these plants cease pollination, those who are allergic will no longer feel their effects.

Seasonal Allergies - How They Differ From Perennial

Unlike perennial, or year-round allergies, seasonal allergies are caused only by plant life that releases substances such as pollen into the air during certain months of the year.
Allergens found inside the home, such as dust mites, animal hair, and mold are the chief causes of perennial allergies. Since allergic people are exposed to these substances on a daily basis, their condition lasts all year, not just certain months.
Unlike seasonal allergens, many of the perennial allergens can be removed from the home by vacuuming, cleaning, and using protective covers for upholstery and bedding.
Seasonal allergies can only be controlled, not avoided or eliminated.
Although seasonal allergies only impact those susceptible for certain months of the year, the degree to which people suffer from seasonal allergies is typically greater. In other words, those who have perennial allergy symptoms generally exhibit milder symptoms than those who deal with seasonal allergies.

Some people suffer from both seasonal and perennial allergies. Most of these people exhibit intense allergy symptoms during the spring, summer, and fall months. The symptoms of both seasonal and perennial allergies are basically the same. In regard to vision and the eyes, both types cause the person to have itchy, red, watery eyes and often very swollen eyelids.

Seasonal Allergies - What to Avoid

Those who suffer from seasonal allergies should attempt to avoid the following allergens:

Trees - ash, birch, elm, hickory, maple, oak, poplar, sycamore, and walnut
Grasses - bermuda, orchard, red top, sweet vernal, and timothy
Weeds - pigweed, ragweed, Russian thistle, sagebrush, and tumbleweed
Molds - alternaria, aspergillus, and cladosporium

By avoiding these types of plant life during allergy season, allergy sufferers can help manage the severity of their allergy symptoms.

However, if one is outdoors at all during the allergy season, avoidance of pollen is often impossible or impractical. You may wish to speak with your healthcare provider about allergy eye treatments, such as PATADAY^™ solution, which can provide quick relief from itchy allergy eyes with convenient once-a-day dosing.