Many people associate allergies with the springtime, but they can creep up in any season, including summer. If spring has passed, but you’re still dealing with symptoms like itchy, watery eyes, or sneezing, allergies may be the culprit. Different allergies emerge in summer, so it’s important to see an allergy doctor in Las Vegas for a diagnosis and treatment plan.

Common Summer Allergens
There are a number of allergens that can trigger allergy symptoms in summer, including:

• Ragweed
• Pigweed
• Russian thistle
• Sagebrush
• Tumbleweed

Grasses such as orchard grass, timothy, Bermuda, and blue grasses can cause allergic reactions. Pollen, a major cause of springtime allergies, persists into summer and can produce allergies.

While its severity can vary on the daily, weekly, and monthly basis, smog is a potential summer time irritant. While other allergens tend to impact the eyes and upper respiratory system, ozone can trigger symptoms in the lungs and lower respiratory tract. Ozone is caused by a combination of sunlight and chemicals that enter the air from vehicle exhaust and other manmade sources. The summer’s strong sunlight and wind can affect the amount of ozone around cities and urban areas.

Insects
Insects, especially those that sting, are more prevalent in summer. This includes fire ants, yellow jackets, hornets, bees, and several other insects. If you think you might have an insect allergy, it’s essential to visit a Las Vegas allergist for a diagnosis. Insect allergies can be severe, so it’s a good idea to have an insect allergy diagnosed and properly managed. Allergy symptoms that appear from an insect sting are generally severe and tend to appear suddenly. Some people end up with mild symptoms, such as swelling and itching in the affected area. However, more severe symptoms may develop as well. If you feel like you’re having trouble breathing, if you are dizzy, or if you feel that your tongue is swelling, you’ll need to get medical help right away.

Symptoms of Summer Allergies

Summer allergies can produce a range of symptoms depending on the allergen and the severity of your reactions. A runny nose, sneezing, coughing, watery eyes, itchy eyes, and itchy nose, and dark circles under the eyes are some of the most common symptoms of summer allergies. Proper allergy testing performed by an allergy doctor in Las Vegas is necessary to determine what you are allergic to and provide relief as soon as possible.

How are Summer Allergies Diagnosed?
Allergies are diagnosed in several ways. The most common form of allergy testing is a skin test. In this test, an allergist will prick a tiny spot on your arm with a tiny bit of the suspected allergen. If you develop a reaction to the allergen, a tiny red bump will appear on your arm. If your doctor decides you are not a good candidate for a skin test, they may order a blood test as an alternative. A blood test is also an effective method of diagnosing an allergy. Along with performing an allergy test, your Las Vegas allergist will ask about your personal allergy history and history of allergies in your family.

Treatment Options for Allergies
Allergies can be treated with several over-the-counter medications. Some commonly used medications to treat allergies include decongestants, antihistamines, corticosteroid nasal sprays, nasal irrigation, eye drops, and nasal spray decongestants. Nasal spray decongestants should not be used for more than three days in a row. An allergy doctor in Las Vegas will help you decide what treatment option is best for your allergies based on your personal preferences.

Reducing Allergy Exposure

Although summer is a time that people generally like to be outside and enjoy the nice weather, spending time outside can also make your allergy symptoms worse. Pollen, mold, and other plant-based allergies are some of the most common summer allergies. However, it’s relatively easy to reduce exposure to these allergens. If you have a garden, you can simply substitute plants that produce allergies with those that do not. Good pollen-free alternatives for a garden are daisies, irises, and geraniums. Pollen is also prevalent in the grass. Pollen gets dispersed in the air when the lawn is mowed, so you may want to take precautions, such as wearing a mask when you mow the grass. Alternatively, you can also hire someone to cut your grass.

Planning your outdoor time around local pollen counts can also affect your exposure to allergies and the severity of the symptoms that you experience. Environmental conditions can also affect pollen counts. Pollen counts are generally lower in the morning and evening than in the afternoon. Windier days tend to disperse more pollen. Pollen is also more prevalent on days with cooler temperatures and damper conditions.

Another thing to remember is that different kinds of trees and plants produce peak pollen counts at different times. Limiting your time outside during this time can significantly reduce your pollen exposure, making you feel better.

Along with choosing pollen-free plants for your garden, you can take other precautionary measures to limit pollen exposure when you are outside. Wearing the proper clothing, including long-sleeve shirts and long pants, is also important. Clothing that protects your skin but allows the skin to breathe is also an option. Even if you’re not out fishing, some clothing for fishers is made to be comfortable, lightweight, and breathable. It is worth exploring for those who suffer from summer allergies. If you tend to have eye problems from summer allergies, sunglasses can help reduce your allergy exposure.

Keep Your Indoor Air Clean

Allergies often appear in outside environments in the summer, but keeping your home’s interior clean can also prevent allergens from entering the home and help eliminate allergens that do appear. Running the air conditioning in your house and vehicle, rather than opening the windows, can reduce the volume of allergens you are exposed to. Keeping your house clean by vacuuming will also lower the number of allergens inside. Vacuuming your floor frequently will help keep the house clean. Look for a vacuum that has HEPA filters to keep the floor clean. Vacuums with a HEPA filter are also typically efficient and portable.

If you spend any amount of time outside, you may be unable to escape allergies entirely. Allergens can attach themselves to your skin, hair, and clothing when you are outside. Taking a shower and changing out of clothing that has been exposed to allergens can help reduce your exposure and the likelihood of developing symptoms.

Dealing with allergies in the warm summer months is no fun. If you think that you may have allergies, with symptoms ranging from mild to severe, be sure to visit an allergy doctor for a diagnosis and allergy testing. If you’re wondering, “Where is the best allergy doctor near me?”, be sure to contact Dr. Tottori. It’s easy to set up an appointment to diagnose your allergy and asthma symptoms by calling (702) 240 4233 or visiting our website.