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Your nose is stuffy, your eyes are itchy, and you can’t stop sneezing.

If you have these symptoms every spring or fall, you probably have seasonal allergies, also known as “hay fever” or seasonal allergic rhinitis.

Read on for information about what causes seasonal allergies, how to cope with them, and when to see a doctor.

What Causes Seasonal Allergies?

Seasonal allergies happen during certain times of the year when pollen and molds get released into the air.

Pollen

Pollen refers to the tiny grains that plants produce to fertilize other plants. Some species rely on the wind to transport pollen. Breathing in the powdery substance can trigger allergic reactions in some people.

Plants with colorful flowers, like roses, tulips, and hydrangea, usually don’t cause allergies. That’s because those plants rely on bees and other insects to move the pollen from plant to plant.

Molds

Molds live in soil, plants, and rotting wood. They’re fungi that reproduce through tiny cells called spores. Like pollen, mold spores float through the air.

Symptoms of Seasonal Allergies

If you’re allergic to certain molds or pollens, your immune system mistakes the particles for harmful invaders. Your body releases histamine and other chemicals into the bloodstream to fight against them. These chemicals cause your body to react with allergy symptoms.

“While new allergies can develop at any age, they are less likely to occur as you age,” says Nathaniel Hare, MD, allergy and immunologist, UPMC Allergy and Immunology. New allergy symptoms often develop when you move to a different climate.

Symptoms of seasonal allergies include:

• Clear mucus from a runny nose.
• Itchy throat, ears, mouth, or nose.
• Nasal congestion.
• Postnasal drip.
• Red, watery eyes.
• Shortness of breath, coughing, or wheezing.
• Sneezing.
• Swelling around the eyes.

Sometimes, it’s hard to tell whether you have a cold or a seasonal allergy. But if you develop symptoms at the same time every year, they’re likely due to seasonal allergies.

What’s the Difference Between Perennial and Seasonal Allergies?

Perennial allergies are those that affect you year-round. Seasonal allergies happen only at certain times of the year. Symptoms of both kinds of allergies include nasal congestion, sneezing, and itching.

Seasonal allergies come from outdoor allergens, while perennial allergies typically come from exposure to indoor allergens.

Common perennial allergens include:

• Cockroaches
• Dust mites
• Mold
• Pet dander

Common Seasonal Allergies

Seasonal allergies are very common. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 60 million people in the U.S. have seasonal allergies.

Dr. Hare notes the timing and type of specific allergens can vary depending on where you live. Wind, rain, and fluctuating temperatures can all affect pollen levels. But in general, you can expect the following annual patterns for seasonal allergies.

Early spring: Tree pollen

Tree pollen can trigger allergies as early as February and last into early summer. Trees that produce pollen include:

• Ash
• Beech
• Birch
• Cedar
• Elm
• Hickory
• Juniper
• Maple
• Mulberry
• Oak
• Pecan
• Poplar
• Walnut
• Willow

Late spring, early summer: Grass pollen

Grass pollen triggers allergies later in the year than tree pollen — from April through early June in most parts of the country. Grass pollen is light, so the wind easily carries it.

Not all types of grass cause allergies. Grasses that cause allergic reactions include:

• Bahia
• Bermuda
• Fescue
• Johnson
• Kentucky blue
• Orchard
• Rye
• Sweet vernal
• Timothy

Late summer and fall: Weed pollen

Weed pollen is common from August to the first hard frost.

Ragweed is the most common cause of fall allergies. It has fern-like leaves and small green flowers. It grows wild throughout the U.S. but is especially prevalent in the Midwest and on the East Coast.

Ragweed blooms from August to November. In many parts of the U.S., ragweed pollen levels reach their peak in early to mid-September. Other plants that spread pollen by wind and cause fall allergies include:

• Burning bush
• Cocklebur
• Eupatorium
• Groundsel bush
• Lamb’s quarter
• Mugwort
• Pigweed
• Rabbitbrush
• Russian thistle
• Sagebrush
• Tumbleweed

How to Treat Seasonal Allergies at Home

There are many ways to cope with seasonal allergies, especially if they’re mild or only affect you for a few weeks. The most important factor is limiting your exposure to pollen. You can reduce your symptoms if you:

• Add an air purifier to your home.
• Change your clothes right away after you’ve been working outdoors.
• Dry your clothes in a clothes dryer, not on an outdoor clothesline.
• Keep your windows shut during allergy season. If possible, keep an air conditioner running instead.
• Leave your shoes outside.
• Monitor pollen and mold counts. These are available via newspapers, radio, and television. Most weather apps also list daily pollen counts.
• Take a shower and wash your hair after spending time outdoors. Pollen and mold spores can cling to your hair and skin, even if you can’t see them.
• Take over-the-counter (OTC) allergy medication. If you have a history of seasonal allergies, doctors recommend that you start taking medication two weeks before your symptoms typically start.
• Wear a mask when you mow the lawn or work outdoors. An N95 filter mask provides the best protection, but any mask is better than none.
• Wipe off pets when they come inside.

Dr. Hare also says, “if an air conditioner isn’t an option, and you’re using a window AC unit, try to use a high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter for another layer of protection.”

Some people think moving to another part of the country will help with seasonal allergies. But because allergen-producing plants grow in every state, this isn’t a good solution.

When to See a Doctor for Seasonal Allergies

If you feel like you always have congestion or a cold, you should see an allergist. You may have year-round allergies in addition to seasonal allergies.

You should also see an allergist if your seasonal allergies interfere with your daily activities.

An allergist may use blood tests to diagnose allergies. Or, they may use a skin prick test, in which they expose skin to a small sample of an allergen and observe the results.

Your doctor can recommend OTC or prescription medications to calm seasonal allergy symptoms. Options include antihistamines, decongestants, and nasal corticosteroids.

An allergist may also recommend immunotherapy, or allergy shots. This treatment exposes your body to small amounts of an allergen over time. Your body learns to tolerate the allergen rather than having an allergic reaction.

With proper treatment, you can minimize your seasonal allergy symptoms and enjoy all four seasons.