When Is Allergy Season & How To Combat Symptoms

Have you ever wondered why allergies in Texas are so difficult? Depending on your allergies, you can deal with symptoms all year round. 

Thankfully, there are ways to combat your allergy symptoms both at home and with a professional ENT specialist. Discover more about Texas allergies below.

When Is Allergy Season in Texas?

Allergy season is all year in Texas, unfortunately. Depending on where you live in Texas, your allergy flares may last months due to overlapping rises in allergens.

Texas Allergies by Seasons

To make things easier, we’ve separated the allergies in Texas by specific seasons and areas affected. 

Spring

The spring brings allergens such as oak, mesquite, and pecan pollen, along with wildflower pollen and mold. Pollen is a particularly difficult allergen since it’s so lightweight and can travel miles with the breeze. 

Often, people in East and West Texas experience symptoms from the end of winter (March) through May due to the allergens mentioned above. 

Summer

This season is when grass pollen levels rise to their peak. Grasses such as Johnson, Bermuda, and Timothy, which are everywhere, produce pollen that activates Texans’ allergies. The heat and humidity don’t make it easier for those whose symptoms cause breathing issues. 

Those in East Texas often experience the worst of these grass pollen issues and don’t find relief until the fall.

Autumn

Pollen levels are the highest in the fall in Texas. Weeds such as sagebrush, goldenrod, and ragweed release their pollen and can be found everywhere. They reach their peak from August through October in West Texas. 

Autumn also brings the rise of indoor allergens such as dust, mold, and pet dander, since people tend to spend more time indoors.

Recommended: Fall Allergies in Austin: What to Know This Season

Winter

Indoor allergens dominate this season with the usual mold, dust, and pet dander. This is due to increased time indoors. Additionally, heating systems can dry out the air, making symptoms worse. 

However, there are some outdoor allergens to worry about. Cedar trees produce pollen from December through February, which affects Central and Northern Texans.

Why Are Allergies So Bad in Texas?

Texas allergies are intense for many reasons, ranging from the natural plant life to the weather. 

Texas Climate

Texas is one of the warmest states in the country, with average humidity around 65%, and you know what loves sunlight, humidity, and heat—plants. 

What do plants produce? Lots and lots of pollen. 

The combination of heat, humidity, and sunlight leads to year-round allergies. 

Long Growing Seasons

With a lack of consistent frost, plants have a longer lifespan, which then leads to longer pollination periods. 

High Pollen Diversity

There are many sources of pollen in Texas: weeds, grass, trees, and flowers. Having such a wide variety of sources means there is always an active pollen source year-round. 

The fact that these sources are abundant in the state doesn’t help allergy sufferers. 

Wind and Weather Patterns

We’ve already mentioned how pollen can travel a great distance with a single breeze, so it’s easy to understand why that can make allergies more intense, but what other allergens?

When you mix humidity, heat, and rain, mold can easily develop. This can be an issue both indoors and outdoors, so it can feel like you can never escape mold irritations. 

A Home’s Level of Cleanliness 

This isn’t a judgment on your home’s state, but acknowledging that to minimize the effects of indoor allergens, you need to be constantly cleaning.

Additionally, bits of mold particles can come in from the outside, and you might not realize it. 

Common Allergy Symptoms Texans Experience

Here are the most common allergy symptoms Texans have throughout the year.

• Sneezing and nasal congestion
• Runny or stuffy nose
• Itchy, watery eyes
• Postnasal drip
• Sinus pressure or headaches
• Fatigue or brain fog
• Coughing or throat irritation

How to Combat Allergy Symptoms in Texas

Breathe easier all year round with these easy tips for battling Texas allergies. Also, if you need extra help during the school year, make sure to read our guide. 

At-Home Allergy Remedies

There are a few treatments you can do at home without medications:

• Rinsing out your sinuses: Also known as nasal irrigation, you use a medical mixture to flush mucus and allergens from your nose. You tilt your head to the side (over a sink) and pour the mixture into one side of your nose. Everything will come out the other side. 
• Acupuncture: Some people have found that acupuncture can help ease allergy symptoms such as nasal inflammation and mucus overproduction.
• Probiotics: Probiotics can help strengthen your immune system, which can ease the severity of allergy symptoms. 
• Local honey: There’s no proof of this, but some people believe that eating local honey can help build a tolerance to local pollen. However, honey can soothe irritated throats, so it can be helpful.

Over-the-Counter Allergy Medications

There are plenty of over-the-counter (OTC) allergy medicines you can use. Whether you use antihistamines or nasal sprays, they can ease your symptoms or help you sleep throughout the night. 

Just make sure to separate non-drowsy medications from nighttime medications. 

Lifestyle Adjustments

There are lifestyle changes you can make that will make daily living easier for you.

• Wear a mask: During the toughest allergy season, wearing a mask will prevent you from inhaling allergens, which reduces your symptoms. 
• Wear sunglasses: Similarly, wearing sunglasses will prevent allergens from affecting your eyes as much.
• Use air purifiers: Air purifiers in your home reduce the amount of allergens floating around, relieving your symptoms.
• Clean your home more often: As we’ve already discussed, indoor allergens can build up quickly, so during the toughest seasons, try to clean more than usual to reduce exposure. 
• Shower after being outside: Pollen can stay on your clothes, hair, and skin—even if it’s not obvious. This means you can be inside, polluting your safe space with allergens. Showering and changing your clothes solves this problem.  

Seeing an ENT specialist

An ENT (ear, nose, throat) specialist can help you when your allergy symptoms become too severe for daily living. They can make general recommendations and prescribe higher-grade medication if that’s the right solution for you.

When to See an ENT or Allergy Specialist

So when is it time to see an ENT specialist? If anything on the following list sounds like you, then it’s probably time to see one:

• Persistent or worsening allergy symptoms
• Harsh side effects from medications
• OTC medications stop working
• Frequent sinus infections
• Trouble sleeping or concentrating
• You’re unsure what’s triggering your allergies
• You need long-term relief
• Your symptoms interfere with work, school, or daily life
• You’re experiencing consistent facial pain

How ENT Specialists Treat Allergies

ENT specialists have numerous techniques to treat your allergies.

Allergy Testing

First and foremost, they can find out what specific allergies you have. This can help you better prepare for your allergies.

An ENT can determine your allergies through:

• Skin prick test: A small amount of specific allergens is pricked into your skin to see if you react negatively. 
• Blood test: Blood is taken, and certain antibodies are looked for. If found, it means your body is producing an allergic reaction. 
• Patch test: This is similar to the skin prick test, but focused on finding delayed allergic reactions. 

Medication

ENTs can prescribe more powerful allergy medication if the over-the-counter ones are no longer working for you. 

Such medication can include allergy shots. Allergy shots, also known as immunotherapy, essentially give your body a small amount of the allergen so you can build a tolerance to it—kind of like a flu shot. 

Surgery

While this is an extreme situation, an ENT can perform surgery if allergies turn into chronic sinus issues. Surgeries can include turbinate reduction, which reduces parts of the inside of your nose to improve airflow, and balloon sinuplasty, which widens blocked sinus pathways. 

Find Long-Term Relief from Texas Allergies

Don’t suffer through allergies; contact The Centers for Advanced ENT Care. We can determine what’s causing your symptoms and the best way to minimize them. 

Our comprehensive, patient-first methodology ensures that you’ll get the best care possible.

Schedule an appointment today.

Frequently Asked Questions About Allergies in Texas

Can allergies cause sinus infections or headaches?

Yes, allergies can cause sinus infections and headaches. The constant mucus production, blocked sinuses, and sinus pressure can all lead to a headache or sinus infection.

Are Texas allergies worse than in other states?

Yes, Texas allergies can be worse compared to other states due to the state’s climate, long growing seasons, and overlapping allergy seasons. 

Do allergy shots really help in Texas?

Yes, allergy shots can help with your Texas allergies. It’s a process that takes time, but they can help you build a tolerance to specific allergens. 

What are the worst months for allergies in Texas?

The worst months for allergies in Texas are the spring and autumn months, due to the wide variety of pollen floating around.