Advise Me

7 Winning Tips To Battle Dreaded Seasonal Allergies

Seasonal allergies. To those who have ever had to deal with them, they can be miserable. Spring rolls around, and the pollen starts to fly. Then, come the sniffling, sneezing and watery eyes.

You don’t want to miss out on the beauty of Spring. Surely, there is a way to avoid the misery of allergy season altogether, right? Well, the answer may not be as simple as you might think.

Allergist immunologist Tara Carr, MD, from Banner - University Medical Center Tucson explains the best way to minimize your seasonal allergy symptoms is to reduce your exposure to the allergen. But, that doesn’t mean missing out on Spring’s fun.

Dr. Carr outlined several simple solutions to help keep your seasonal allergies at bay:

  • Avoid the outdoors in the early morning; that’s when the pollen count is at its highest
  • Consider showering at night to remove the pollen from your hair and skin
  • Do your best to keep windows closed
  • Leave your shoes at the door to keep pollen out of your home
  • Make sure your air conditioning filters are clean, both in your house and in your car
  • Take over-the-counter antihistamines and nasal sprays (but talk with your doctor about possible side effects first)
  • Use neti pots and nasal irrigations after reading the directions carefully
  • If these steps don’t do the trick, Dr. Carr encourages you to see a specialist.

    "If you have an allergy, it's important to be evaluated and treated," she said. "Allergists can provide you information on avoidance and medical therapy and treatment options to try and reduce the allergy over time."

    To schedule an appointment with an allergist or find a doctor, visit bannerhealth.com.

    Allergy and Immunology