Facts, Prevention and Relief for Colorado Allergies in 2024
Beat your allergies forever.
Get Started With WyndlyNot only is Colorado a beautiful state, but it’s also a pretty good place to live for people with allergies. The frequent cold weather makes for longer periods with low levels of pollen in the air. With that being said, Colorado is far from allergy-free. There are still seasons in Colorado, which means there are still seasonal allergies.
But what allergens are most common in Colorado and what can you do to avoid them? Better yet, how can you get rid of your allergies for good?
Wyndly can help you find lifelong relief with a personalized allergy plan for your Colorado allergies. Get a personalized treatment plan today or read on to find out more about Colorado allergy seasons.
When is Colorado Allergy Season?
Allergy season tends to start up at the end of February in Colorado. It will usually go until the first winter freeze. Depending on your immune system, you could experience allergies during certain seasons or you could experience them up until wintertime. Let’s take a look at Colorado’s allergy seasons.
Allergens by Season
Colorado’s allergens vary based on the time of year. Let’s break down each season.
Summer
Grass allergies tend to cause the most issues in summer. Tumbleweed and sagebrush season can also be a problem in summer.
Fall
Weed allergies are most prominent in the fall, with ragweed being the primary offender. In Colorado, fall allergies don’t tend to last as long, due to the colder weather.
Winter
Once winter hits in Colorado, you can usually expect allergies to taper off. Colorado residents should still be prepared for indoor allergens like mold, pet dander, and dust during this time.
Spring
Spring is typically the worst season for Colorado allergies. The tree pollen allergies will kick off in March and often go into early summer. The trees that cause allergies in Colorado include elm, cottonwood, aspen, juniper, cedar, oak, and maple.
Common Allergens
Grass allergens can certainly do damage in summer, and weeds have a brief, but intense prominence in fall. But, spring tends to be the longest allergy season in Colorado, meaning tree allergens are especially common.
Common Symptoms
If you’re experiencing seasonal allergies in Colorado, here are some of the symptoms that may appear:
- Runny nose
- Coughing
- Congestion
- Sneezing
- Headaches
- Scratchy throat
- Itchy eyes
- Watery eyes
- Hives
- Dry skin
- Fatigue
- Asthma symptoms
Allergy symptoms are fairly common regardless of where you live. They can also range from mild to severe, depending on the person. Allergies can also worsen asthma symptoms.
Allergens Around the State
The varied climates, elevations, and biomes in Colorado cause a variety of different allergen concentrations based on location. There are also certain allergies, like ragweed and grass, that can cause issues statewide. Let’s look at a few region-specific allergens in Colorado.
Denver/Colorado Springs
Cottonwood and cedar trees can cause bad allergies for residents of Denver and Colorado Springs. Elm, oak, and maple trees are also common culprits. For summer and fall, ragweed, tumbleweed, and sagebrush can cause issues.
Vail/Aspen
Residents of the Vail/Aspen area have several allergens to watch out for, including alder, aspen, maple, and pine trees. There are also various grass allergies from orchard and redtop grass and weed allergies from sorrel and sagebrush.
Grand Junction
Grand Junction residents have a number of tree allergies to worry about, such as alder, birch, aspen, poplar, maple, elm, and juniper. For grass, bermuda, rye, and brome are frequent initiators. Pigweed, ragweed, and sagebrush account for the majority of weed allergies.
Sterling/Lamar
The Sterling/Lamar area doesn’t have quite as many tree allergens as other cities, with the main culprits being cottonwood, poplar, elm, juniper, and pine. Rye and wheatgrass are responsible for most of the grass allergies while pigweed and ragweed make up the weed allergens.
Testing and Diagnosis
When you’re suffering from allergies, it can be tough to find which specific allergens are causing your symptoms. Allergy seasons often overlap, and a variety of pollen types can be in the air at any given time. With an allergy test, you can find your allergy profile and avoid or treat your symptoms without all the guesswork. Order your at-home allergy test today to get started!
Here’s how it works:
Old Fashioned Method: Skin Prick Test at Your Doctor’s Office
The typical method for allergy testing is called a skin prick test. It’s painful, uncomfortable, and requires a time-consuming visit to your doctor’s office. If you want to avoid going through this process, you can just get an at-home test instead.
Modern and Efficient Method Taken At-Home:
An at-home test is convenient and pain-free. Here’s how it works when you order from Wyndly:
- Get an at-home allergy test from Wyndly. We send our CLIA-certified test right to your door, no doctor visit is required.
- Take the allergy test and send it back. Take a painless finger-prick test and return your sample in the provided envelope.
- Receive your personal allergy profile. Our doctors interpret your results and provide an allergy profile for you along with a customized treatment plan.
Treatment and Remedies
There are various methods to find temporary relief from allergy symptoms. Here are some things you can do:
Lifestyle modifications
Making changes at home can help reduce your allergen exposure. Changes such as:
- Monitor pollen count: Try staying inside on days with a higher pollen or mold count. This can help you avoid unnecessary exposure to your triggers.
- Wipe pets clean: When pets come inside, make sure to wipe them off with a towel to remove any pollen.
- Vacuum often: Using a vacuum with a HEPA filter can reduce pollen in your home
- Use a HEPA Filter: A HEPA filter can reduce the amount of pollen that can get into your home through your A/C
- Keep windows closed: Open windows make it easy for pollen to blow in
- Wash yourself and your clothes: Pollen can stick to hair, skin, and clothes. Make sure to do laundry often and shower after being outdoors.
- Take off shoes and socks: Take your shoes and socks off when you come inside to avoid tracking in more pollen.
Medications
Medicine can provide you temporary relief from your symptoms. There are many over-the-counter options like antihistamines, nasal corticosteroids, eye drops, and more.
Sublingual Immunotherapy Allergy Drops
Temporary relief may be fine for some, but those who want long-term relief should consider sublingual immunotherapy. Using allergy drops, you can train your immune system to respond properly to harmless allergens, instead of inducing symptoms.
Get Long-term Relief with Wyndly
When you’re ready to find long-term relief for your allergies, Wyndly can help. Using allergy drops, or sublingual immunotherapy, your body will be exposed to small, gradually increasing doses of your allergen. This greatly reduces symptoms over time, sometimes for good. And unlike allergy shots, you don’t need needles or a visit to the doctor. We can send allergy drops right to your door.
Get a personalized treatment plan today to start living allergy-free.
Colorado Allergy FAQs
Still have questions? Here are some frequently asked questions about Colorado allergies for your convenience:
How long is Colorado’s allergy season?
The Colorado allergy season starts near the end of February and ends at first frost.
What is the best Colorado city for allergies?
Denver was ranked 91 on the Allergy and Asthma Foundation of America’s ranking of allergy capitals, making it one of the least challenging cities for people with allergies.
Is Colorado a good state if you have allergies?
Colorado has long, cold winters making allergy season a little shorter.
How is Colorado for non-seasonal allergies?
Living in the city will still subject you to common allergens like pollution, dust, and mold. If you live in less populated areas, the air can be very clean in Colorado. Colorado is also known for having relatively clean urban air quality.
What are the worst months?
The worst months will depend on your specific allergies, but spring tends to be the worst for most people.
