Spring Allergy Symptoms – 10 Signs of Seasonal Allergies in Spring – Prevention.com

Talk to your doctor about the best strategy for treating your specific symptoms. Options include oral antihistamines such as Zyrtec to relieve sneezing and itching, eye drops like Zaditor to relieve redness and itching, nasal steroid sprays such as Flonase to reduce inflammation and congestion, and hydrocortisone creams such as Cortizone-10 for eczema.

People with known allergies should be proactive and start taking their medications before the symptoms hit. That means if trees start pollinating in your area the second week of March, start taking your meds at the end of February, per your allergists recommendations. (Check out pollen counts in your area here.)

Focus on your main symptoms (you may just need eye drops rather than an oral antihistamine, for example), and do your best to keep allergens out of your home by closing windows and changing out of pollen-laden clothing as soon as you walk in the door.

For long-term relief, immunotherapyotherwise known as allergy shotsis the gold-standard. It makes you less allergic over time rather than just suppressing your symptoms that season, says Dr. Parikh.

It does take commitment, though. You will likely have to go to the doctors office once a week for six months, and then once a month for three to five years. Its like going to the gymfrequency and consistency will train your system to be less allergic, Dr. Parikh says.

For those who cant stand the thought of needles, the Food and Drug Administration has approved four types of sublingual immunotherapy, which involves a tablet that dissolves under your tongue, but each only works for a specific allergen, including ragweed, dust mites, and specific northern grasses. Shots are still the best option, Dr. Parikh explains, because you can treat multiple allergies at once.

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Spring Allergy Symptoms - 10 Signs of Seasonal Allergies in Spring - Prevention.com