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Outdoor Allergens

An allergen is something in your space that can trigger your immune system and cause allergy symptoms. Outdoor allergens show up in certain times of the year. Warm, dry, and windy days can make allergy symptoms worse. Wind carries pollen and mold spores over long distances, so taking out plants or trees in your yard will not help with symptoms.

Symptoms

Allergen symptoms include:

  • Sneezing

  • Itchy watery red eyes

  • Runny nose

  • Stuffy nose

Wisconsin Outdoor Allergy Season

  • Tree pollen (April to early June): Peak pollen levels happen on warm, dry, and windy days.

  • Grass pollen (mid May to late June): Pollen levels rise fast after mowing or during dry weather.

  • Ragweed pollen (mid August to late October): Pollen levels peak when school starts in fall and drops after the first hard frost.

  • Weed pollen (late summer to late fall): Pollen levels rise as grasses fade for the season.

  • Mold spores (early spring to early October): Spores stay in the air until full snow cover.

  • Highest pollen counts (5 am to 10 am): These rise early when plants release pollen for the day.

Wisconsin Allergy Graph

These steps help improve how much pollen and mold you breathe in each day.

  • Keep windows closed and use air conditioning.

  • Stay indoors when the pollen or mold counts are high.

  • Wear a pollen (n-95) mask if you cannot avoid going outdoors or if you are doing yard work.

  • Avoid mowing lawns or raking leaves. These chores will stir up pollen and mold.

  • Avoid hanging laundry outside to dry. Pollen and molds can cling to laundry and be brought indoors.

  • Shower and change clothes after you have been outdoors for a long time. Pollen and mold can be carried indoors on clothes and hair.

Bathe your pets more often during pollen seasons as they can also carry pollen inside.

Treatment

Medicines can help with allergy symptoms. Take your allergy medicine as prescribed. These medicines can include:

  • Antihistamines: These help with a runny or itchy nose/eyes, and sneezing

  • Steroid and antihistamine nasal sprays: These help with nasal stuffiness

  • Eye drops: These help with itchy eyes

Immunotherapy or allergy “shots” may be used if you still have symptoms even while taking allergy medicines. For grass and ragweed, there are prescription tablets that can be placed under the tongue to decrease allergy symptoms over time.

Resources

You can find out more about outdoor allergens through the National Allergy Bureau (NAB) at: https://www.aaaai.org.