A monthly walkthrough of allergens throughout the seasons

By: Gabbi Di Marino - content manager and fellow allergy sufferer

If you’re like me, then, unfortunately, there are no off-periods for allergies. No matter the weather, from blistering cold and snowing to sunny and humid, I tend to experience bothersome symptoms at all times of the year. Yeah, it’s a lot to deal with. 

Luckily, not everyone has that problem. If you’ve ever wondered why your allergies seem to give you a break during certain months, this post will help you get a better understanding of why that happens and what kind of pollen your nose may be sensitive to! 

January 

While pollen might not be the biggest agitator during this time of year, cranking up the heat can cause an increase in dust, another common allergen, in your house. If you have an allergy to dust or notice allergy-like symptoms during this winter month, try keeping the humidity at your house below 55 and vacuum frequently with a HEPA filter! 

February 

February is when pollen starts to rear its pesky little head, even in areas like the Northeast! This is when tree pollen season begins. The most common trees that cause pollen allergies are catalpa, elm, hickory, olive, pecan, sycamore, and walnut, so if you’re starting to develop symptoms this early in the year, you can probably blame one of these guys! 

March 

March is when things get even trickier. As spring is finally beginning and the weather is warming up, trees continue to bloom, which can be a nightmare for people like us with seasonal allergies. It’s definitely a good time to start monitoring pollen levels to see when they’re at their highest, so you can avoid outdoor time on these days, which isn’t ideal, but hey, whatever helps your allergies, right? 

April 

Depending on where you live, you may start to see grass pollen as early as April, but this period also means that flowers are blooming, so naturally, there is a huge influx of pollen in the air around now. Symptoms (if they haven’t begun to already) may start to get pretty bothersome and constant. 

May

Tree pollen is still going strong through May and may even combine with pesky grass pollen to make an itchy, sneezy combo. If you have spring allergies, this period can be especially difficult for you, so make sure you’re monitoring pollen levels and doing whatever you can to help tackle your symptoms!

June

This is grass pollen’s favorite time of year, and if you haven’t already had your symptoms triggered by tree pollen, then grass pollen might just be the culprit of your spring/early summer misery. 

July 

This can be a time of respite for those with grass or tree pollen allergies, as pollination for these plants slows way down. However, this is also when fungus spores and seeds start to come out, so if you’re allergic to them (like I am), then your symptoms will probably continue into the later summer months. Watch out for mold growth on fallen leaves, compost piles, grasses, and grains! 

August 

August, unfortunately, is mold spores' ideal time to shine, as the hot and humid weather makes a perfect condition for their spawning. Running your AC with a HEPA filter can help keep these allergens from bothering you in your home, but make sure you’re still checking the air quality around you to know what days you should avoid going outside! 

Depending on where you live, August can also mark the beginning of ragweed season. 

September 

When September rolls around, Ragweed season is officially in full swing. It’s the most common aggravator of fall allergies and the more wet and humid the weather, the more you can expect your symptoms to give you trouble. 

October

Ragweed, unfortunately, still hangs around in October, but that’s not the only bad guy responsible for fall allergies. There’s also the problem of mold and fungi spores, who love the seasonal rain and wind that’s typical for this month. 

November 

Time to celebrate - Ragweed season is typically over by November, giving allergy sufferers a time of respite to finally enjoy the outdoors and cool fall weather. 

December 

Indoor allergies like dust are usually the main culprits of late-winter allergy misery, but there may be another cause hiding in plain sight - your Christmas tree! The branches tend to hold in a lot of microscopic spores that can mean bad news for your nose, so try to opt for fake trees instead! 

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If you found this post interesting, check out this previous post we did on the history of hay fever!