Stressed About Allergy Season? Do This ASAP to Keep Symptoms in Check

As the peak of pollen season begins, your signs that spring is finally here might come in the form of a runny nose, itchy eyes, and persistent congestion. Trudging through seasonal allergy symptoms can be a real pain on those high-pollen count days, so you might be looking for some quick relief. But how do you get rid of allergies fast, especially if they've already started flaring up?

To start, most allergists would recommend daily nasal sprays like Flonase or Rhinocort for seasonal symptoms.¹ "That, taken daily, will have more long-term benefit because they can stop symptoms before they start," says Monica Kraft, MD, an allergist/immunologist at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center in Colombus, Ohio.

The only problem? Options like nasal sprays may take two to three weeks to take effect, which means you might need another remedy to tide you over in the meantime. Read on for some top tips on getting rid of allergy symptoms ASAP, so you can go about your daily sniffle-free.

4 tips to get rid of allergies ASAP

Springtime often means lots of time spent outdoors. But if you're allergic to the pollen from blooming plants (like grass, ragweed, or oak), and you notice your face gets watery and itchy every time you venture outside, you likely need a remedy that'll work fast.

Here are four expert-approved ways to reduce your worst allergy symptoms as quickly as possible.

1. Take your antihistamines

Oral antihistamines like Allegra (fexodenadine), Claritin (loratidine), or Zyrtec (ceterizine), block the effect of histamine in the body—aka the symptom-causing compound your body releases when you're exposed to an allergen. (Think congestion, sneezing, itching, watery eyes, and puffiness.)² Benadryl (diphenhydramine) is another option, but because it's an older class of antihistamines, it tends to cause more drowsiness.

Taking these over-the-counter (OTC) medications once daily "should start to give you some relief within 30 minutes," Dr. Kraft says. But you can also take these meds 10 to 15 minutes before you know you'll be exposed to pollen or other allergens to nip your symptoms in the bud, too, says Kanao Otsu, MD, MPH, an allergist and immunologist with National Jewish Health in Denver, Colorado.

There are also nasal sprays —like Astelin or Astepro (azelastine)—that work similarly to oral antihistamines but specifically target a stuffy or runny nose. "They're safe to take at the same time as an oral antihistamine," if your symptoms feel bad, says Dr. Kraft. Just double-check with your healthcare provider before taking multiple antihistamines at once, to see if it's a good fit.

2. Reduce allergen exposure

Breathing in all the pollen that's wafting through the air outside definitely makes your symptoms worse, since you're getting direct exposure to your allergen. So if you start to get uncomfortable, head indoors as soon as you can and keep the windows closed. If you can't get inside, consider putting on a face mask, which studies have found can make a significant positive impact on symptoms.³

3. Take a shower and change your clothes

If you do have to spend lots of time outside, try to change out of your "outdoor clothes" as soon as you get home, and jump into the shower to wash off your skin and hair. "After being outside, you have that fine dusting of pollen on you," says Dr. Kraft. "If you're bringing that into a room inside, you're continually breathing that stuff in." As an added bonus, you might get some congestion relief from the shower steam, too.

4. Use a sinus rinse

Dr. Kraft says using a sinus rinse—a simple solution of salt and water to flush pollen and mucus from your nasal passages—can help stop irritation. While you can purchase saline solution kits online or at your local pharmacy (we like NeilMed SInus Rinse or Vicks Sinex Saline Nasal Rinse, you can also make your own at home. Here's how, according to the American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI):

• Combine 3 teaspoons of iodide-free salt with 1 teaspoon of baking soda and store in an airtight container.
• When you're ready to rinse, mix 1 teaspoon of the salt mixture with 8 ounces of distilled or boiled water (let the boiled water cool before using it).
• Use a soft rubber bulb syringe to squirt the mixture into each nostril and let it run out.

Is it allergies or a cold?

Sometimes it's hard to tell if you're dealing with seasonal allergies or a cold—especially because both have similar symptoms like congestion, coughing, and fatigue. But thankfully there are some ways to tell the two conditions apart. For one, allergies don't typically cause a fever or body aches, while colds and the flu do, Dr. Otsu says. Plus, allergies make your skin, eyes, and nose itch, and make you sneeze a lot, which doesn't happen with colds and infections (save for the occasional sneeze), she adds.

How long your symptoms last is a big indicator, too. If you've been feeling icky for weeks on end, and feel particularly worse on high-pollen count days, you're probably in the throes of a rough allergy season. But if your runny nose or sore throat seems to ease up within a week, you are likely dealing with a cold.

When to see a healthcare provider

While over-the-counter (OTC) medicine and lifestyle changes can help some people with mild allergies keep their symptoms in check, it might not work as well if your allergies are becoming a consistent problem during peak season. Meaning, if they're affecting your quality of life, let your healthcare provider know, Dr. Kraft says.

Together, you and your provider can determine if taking a daily preventive medication like a nasal steroid spray would be right for you. You can also discuss long-term therapies like immunotherapy shots (i.e., prescription allergy shots) or drops, which gradually decrease your reactivity to allergens over time. "It's the one thing we have that can make you less allergic," Dr. Kraft says.