Are California Seasonal Allergies Real?

Warmer weather is on the way as spring approaches, but so are other environmental changes. Trees begin producing pollen in the early spring. Pollen is a plant’s only means of reproduction and is abundant. It travels through the air and can land in the eyes, nose, lungs, and on skin.

While common allergy triggers can cause a reaction all year, many children also experience seasonal triggers. Pollen, grass, and mold are the most common causes of seasonal allergies.

Grass pollen causes allergies to start in early summer, ragweed pollen causes allergies to start in August, and molds cause allergies to worsen in the winter.

However, because California has very mild seasons, all of those triggers may vary depending on humidity, significant weather changes, or long periods of drought. Many common seasonal allergy triggers are not applicable in Southern California.

While most people know common seasonal allergy triggers, some lesser-known factors can cause an allergic reaction as habits to change, particularly in California, where there are more months with warmer weather. Here are some examples:

• Smoke (campfires in summer fireplace in winter, fire season California) (campfires in summer, fireplaces in winter, fire season in California)
• Insect stings and bites (usually in spring and summer)
• Chlorine in swimming pools, both indoor and outdoor

What Are Allergies, Exactly?

Allergies develop when the immune system misidentifies a harmless airborne substance as dangerous. The immune system then produces antibodies to this harmless substance, which are substances that normally protect the body from things that make children sick.

These immune system chemicals trigger a chain reaction that results in symptoms such as:

• Watery, itchy eyes
• Breathing difficulty
• Wheezing
• Nose congestion or runny nose
• Sinus enlargement
• Sneezing

Seasonal Allergies vs. Year-Round Allergies

More than two-thirds of spring allergy sufferers have year-round symptoms, according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology. Dust mites, pet hair or dander, and cockroaches are all common allergens that can affect children all year.

Allergy testing performed under the supervision of a pediatric allergist can determine what your child is allergic to and whether they have seasonal or year-round allergies.

After your child has been tested, the next step is determining which treatments will be most effective for them. Your child’s pediatric allergist may advise you on how to reduce common triggers in your home, or they may prescribe medication.

Children with life-threatening allergies may benefit from immunotherapy, a cutting-edge treatment. Immunotherapy entails gradually increasing doses of the allergen to which the individual is allergic. Increases in the allergen cause the immune system to become less sensitive to the substance, reducing allergy symptoms when the substance is encountered in the future.

Expert Diagnosis

A variety of substances can cause allergic reactions. When your immune system misidentifies a harmless substance as a threat, it goes into overdrive, producing antibodies that travel throughout the body and cause symptoms in the nose, lungs, throat, sinuses, ears, stomach lining, and/or skin.

Our expert allergists can identify your allergic triggers and diagnose your condition by taking a detailed case history of your symptoms and performing various allergy tests as needed.

Ready To Take Control Of Your Allergies?

Depending on the nature of your allergies, your treatment options may differ. In most cases, you can manage your symptoms with medication and/or by limiting or eliminating your exposure to the allergen. In other cases, immunotherapy can alleviate your allergy symptoms.

Call 805-658-9500 to speak to one of the expert allergists at Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology Medical Group and take the first step toward taking control of your allergies.