Spring allergies: Itchy skin causes and treatments

Do you often get a rash or itchy skin every year because of spring allergies? Are you looking for the best treatments and dermatology remedies for your symptoms? You're not alone! Each year, more than 50 million American adults suffer from spring allergies, and allergies are the 6th leading cause of chronic illnesses in the United States. When both parents suffer from spring allergies, their kids are 60% to 70% more likely to develop them too. Luckily, there are plenty of rash and itchy skin treatments to combat seasonal allergies. Keep reading to explore some of the most common allergy causes and the best treatments for remedying them!

What causes spring allergies?

There are many possible causes of seasonal allergies, from oak trees to Johnson grass. It's crucial to know and understand the many causes so that you can better remedy the symptoms from which you suffer. Spring allergies are the most common as spring is a key season for allergies. Plants release pollen during spring, and as a result, millions of people sneeze, sniffle, and itch as a result. While there isn't a cure for spring allergies, there are many steps one can take to curb the symptoms of pollen allergies. Grasses, weeds, and trees all release tiny grains into the air. Those grains fertilize other plants, but they also get into our noses. If someone is allergic, those grains can send the body's defenses through the roof. The body's immune system sees pollen as a danger, and as a result, releases antibodies to attack the allergens. This, in turn, leads to a release of chemicals into the blood called histamines. Histamines are what trigger itchy eyes, rashes, runny noses, and even itchy skin. Unfortunately, pollen can travel for miles, so spring allergies aren't limited to plants in your neighborhood.

Before we discuss treatments and remedies, let's take a look at the main sources of pollen and other allergens.

1. Trees

These are some of the many trees commonly associated with seasonal allergies:

• Boxelder

• Cedar

• Cottonwood

• Cypress

• Elm

• Alder

• Ash

• Aspen

• Beech

• Hickory

• Juniper

• Maple

• Mulberry

• Oak

• Olive

• Palm

• Pine

• Poplar

• Sycamore

• Willow

When the days are breezy, the pollen count tends to be particularly higher. The wind picks grains up and carries them for miles through the air. Luckily for people with allergies who live where there's a lot of rain, the rainwater washes allergens away.

2. Weeds and grasses

Weeds and grasses are also common culprits for causing those itchy symptoms. These are the grasses and weeds that commonly trigger pollen allergies:

• Orchard

• Perennial rye

• Redtop

• Saltgrass

• Bermuda

• Fescue

• Johnson

• June

• Sweet vernal

• Timothy

3. Mold

Mold prefers and thrives in damp outdoor and indoor environments. It can be found in rotten logs, leaf piles, basements, bathrooms, and anywhere else that's damp and humid. What most people don't know is that if you live somewhere with seasons, mold doesn't die with the first frost. Rather, it lays dormant and stops growing until the warm weather returns - spring! Mold can add insult to injury as spring allergies ramp up.

4. Dust mites

Dust mites and their waste account for one of the most common indoor allergen causes. From carpets to bedding and furniture to stuffed toys, dust mites and their waste can be found in a myriad of places indoors. It's possible that you've lived your whole life thinking that pollen is the cause of your spring allergies, but that, in actuality, it's the dust mites living in your bedding.

What are the symptoms of these common allergens?

If you suffer from seasonal and pollen allergies, some of the symptoms you might experience are:

• Watery eyes

• Runny nose

• Sneezing

• Coughing

• Dark circles under the eyes

• Itchy nose, eyes, and skin

• Swollen sinuses

• Itchy throat

Even though most people experience a red nose and watery eyes, a lot of people who suffer from pollen allergies are also plagued by a rash or itchy skin. Let's break down some of the ways to alleviate symptoms from spring allergies.

What treatments help alleviate spring allergies?

While there isn't a cure for seasonal allergies, there are ways to combat triggers and symptoms like itchy skin, rashes, and watery eyes.

1. Follow the pollen count

If you stay on top of the pollen count whenever you go anywhere, it'll allow you to be better prepared for the wicked spring allergies that come along with it.. You can opt to take your antihistamine or other allergy medicine beforehand so that you don't end up scratching and wheezing because of spring allergies.

2. Don't forget to spring clean

Spring cleaning (The history of National Spring Cleaining Week) is an essential yearly duty that no one should neglect. During the winter months, indoor allergens like mold, pet dander, and dust are typically left to fester. Give your home a deep clean from top to bottom before spring allergies hit to fight those triggers before they get you first.

3. Take something for your symptoms

No matter how much you clean or prepare, you can't get rid of allergens. Treat your symptoms in the best way that works for you. 

Home remedies you can try are:

• Steam inhalation

• Nasal saline rinse

• Spirulina

• Shrub butterbur

• Unprocessed, local honey and bee pollen

• Nettle leaf

• Acupuncture

• Vitamin C

• Take a hot shower

Over-the-counterr treatments can be very effective. Here are some you can try:

• Combination medicines

• Nasal spray

• Decongestants

• Oral antihistamines

• Eye drops

OTC creams can help alleviate itchy skin and clear up a rash. Just make sure that you look for and identify any additional triggers, such as certain foods, jewelry, old pillows, or stuffed animals that could be full of dust mites. Another way to combat spring allergies is to drink plenty of water and eat healthy as lacking in either way can make skin irritation worse. Take a look at your skincare routine to make sure that you're not worsening itchy skin with the products you're using.

Get rid of your rash or itchy skin caused by spring allergies

If you're feeling defeated by your spring allergies, don't give up. More often than not, the cause of an itchy rash or watery eyes isn't what you think it is. Plus, even if your spring allergy symptoms are caused by pollen allergies, it's possible that additional triggers are making things worse. Whether you talk with your doctor or get to the bottom of your spring allergies on your own, take the time to figure out what your triggers are. No matter how bad your allergy symptoms, there are plenty of remedies that can act as treatments for your symptoms. Do you want to know how to protect your skin all year, like during those dry winter months too? Check out these natural remedies for chapped winter skin!

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