Facts, Prevention and Relief for Texas Allergies in 2024
Beat your allergies forever.
Get Started With WyndlyTexas may be a huge state, but there’s no escaping allergens there. The relatively mild climate of Texas allows grass, weed, and tree pollen to trigger allergies throughout the year. As with most regions in the United States, Texas allergies vary by season.
Becoming familiar with the most common allergens in Texas and learning the seasonal allergens can help you manage and treat your allergies more easily. With that in mind, we’ve laid out everything you need to know about Texas allergies.
Wyndly can also help you find long-term relief from allergies. Get a personalized treatment plan now or read on to learn about Texas and its allergy seasons.
When is Texas Allergy Season?
Texas doesn’t let up when it comes to allergy season. Winter, spring, summer, and fall all have their allergen culprits, contributing to the airborne pollen that causes so many people issues. Let’s break down each season and its common allergens.
Allergens by Season
Each season in Texas has allergens. Let’s take a look at each.
Summer
Summer is grass allergy season for Texans. Common grasses like bermuda, timothy, sweet vernal, and more will cause allergies to flare up.
Fall
As with most states, ragweed is the dominant allergen in fall. Ragweed produces large amounts of light pollen, spreading all over the state.
Winter
Normally, winter is the season when people expect to find relief from allergies. In Texas, winter is the worst season for allergies. This is when the cedar tree pollinates in Texas, sometimes causing severe enough reactions that convince Texans they have the flu.
Spring
Spring allergies are just as bad in Texas as they are in the rest of the country. Oak, elm, ash, pecan, and cottonwood trees all contribute to this allergy season.
Common Allergens
Overall, ragweed, cedar trees, and grass are the most common allergens in Texas. Mold, pollution, and dust also contribute to allergies regardless of the season.
Common Symptoms
If you’re a resident or visitor to Texas and have allergies, here are some symptoms you might expect to appear:
- Runny nose
- Coughing
- Congestion
- Sneezing
- Headaches
- Scratchy throat
- Itchy eyes
- Watery eyes
- Shortness of breath
- Wheezing
Seasonal allergies may cause you to experience one or more of these symptoms.
Allergens Around the State
There are virtually no areas of Texas free from allergens, however, each state will have different allergen levels and different pollens to consider. As mentioned, ragweed, cedar, and grass allergies are bound to be found in nearly every Texas locale. Here are some more specific breakdowns based on the city.
Houston
Grass and ragweed allergies in the Houston area are as prominent as anywhere in Texas. For tree allergies, juniper, box elder, and oak trees tend to cause the most problems.
San Antonio/Austin
The San Antonio and Austin areas can’t avoid ragweed and grass allergies either. There are also high counts of the infamous cedar pollen in the area. Other trees to watch out for include hackberry, ash, and willows.
Dallas/Fort Worth
The Dallas/Fort Worth area has especially high counts of ragweed and a longer ragweed season than many other areas of the US. Cedar, elm, oak, hickory, and poplar trees all contribute to tree pollen counts.
El Paso
As expected, El Paso also has ragweed and grass pollen issues. El Paso tree allergen culprits include cypress, oak, mesquite, cottonwood, and wattle trees.
Lubbock/Amarillo/Guadalupe Mountains/Big Bend National Park
Needless to say, ragweed and grass are an issue for the Lubbock/Amarillo/Guadalupe Mountains/Big Bend National Park areas as well. Common tree allergies include juniper, elm, and cedar.
Testing and Diagnosis
When you’re experiencing allergy symptoms in Texas, it’s always a good idea to get an allergy test to determine the root causes. When you know your allergy triggers, it’s easier to avoid them and manage or treat your symptoms. There are a couple of testing methods you can try, but we recommend getting started with an at-home allergy test first!
Here’s How It Works:
Old Fashioned Method: Skin Prick Test at Your Doctor’s Office
The old-fashioned version of an allergy test is called a skin prick test. It’s an uncomfortable, sometimes painful test that requires a visit to the doctor. The doctor or nurse will scratch your skin with a needle tipped with different allergens to induce a reaction. This will cause itchy bumps to pop up in reaction to your primary allergens. If you’d prefer to avoid an inconvenient doctor’s visit and an uncomfortable process, we recommend an at-home test with Wyndly. Here’s how that works.
Modern and Efficient Method Taken At-Home:
- Get Wyndly’s at-home allergy test. We ship our CLIA-certified test straight to your door, no doctor visit is required.
- Take the allergy test and return it via mail. You take an easy finger-prick test and return your sample in the provided envelope.
- Receive your personal allergy profile. Our doctors interpret your allergy profile for you and create a personalized treatment plan based on your triggers.
Treatment and Remedies
If you’re looking for ways to relieve your allergies, you have options. There are even options for long-term relief. The following are some of the things you can do to take care of your allergy symptoms:
- Wet vacuum carpet or remove it entirely: Carpet traps pollen and makes it more difficult to remove from your home
- Vacuum and dust often: If you do have carpet, make sure to vacuum often. You should also clean any floors you have and dust. A vacuum with a HEPA filter will work best
- Monitor pollen levels: if you see pollen count is going to be high for the day, you should try to stay indoors as much as possible
- Wash hair often: If you’ve been outside when the pollen levels are high, you’ll want to wash your hair to remove pollen. Clean your skin as well, since pollen can be sticky.
- Use air-conditioning: Use your A/C and keep windows closed. A HEPA filter also helps to prevent pollen from getting into your home
Medications
If prevention isn’t enough, you may want to use over-the-counter medications to help temporarily manage symptoms. Antihistamines, nasal sprays, and eye drops are all good options. Try to avoid prescription options unless you need them.
Sublingual Immunotherapy Allergy Drops
If you’re sick of just managing your symptoms instead of treating them, sublingual immunotherapy might be the route you want to go. Sublingual immunotherapy, also known as allergy drops, introduces small, gradually increasing amounts of your allergen to your immune system. This teaches your immune system not to overreact to the substance, greatly reducing symptoms for lifelong relief.
Get Long-term Relief with Wyndly
Wyndly is the most convenient and effective way to find long-term relief from your allergy symptoms.
Using Wyndly’s at-home test, you can identify your allergens from the comfort of your home. Once our doctors have your allergy profile, they can create a personalized treatment plan using sublingual immunotherapy to help you find complete relief. Unlike allergy shots, allergy drops are painless and don’t require a visit to the doctor. We can send allergy drops right to your door.
Get a personalized treatment plan from Wyndly today to start living better and allergy-free.
Texas Allergy FAQs
If you still have questions about Texas allergies, we can help. Here are some frequently asked questions:
How long is Texas’s allergy season?
Unfortunately for Texans, allergies last all year. Of course, the allergens will vary by season.
Why is allergy season so bad in Texas?
Texas has a warm climate for the most part, which leads to longer, more intense allergy seasons.
Is Texas a good state if you have allergies?
Texas is frequently ranked as one of the worst states for allergies, so those with intense allergies may want to look elsewhere.
What is cedar fever?
Cedar tree allergies are especially bad in Texas, causing a response known as cedar fever. Cedar fever is common in winter, which is why the unusual symptoms of cedar fever can lead people to believe they have the flu instead of allergies.
What are the worst months?
Surprisingly, winter is one of the worst seasons for allergies in Texas, due to the cedar pollen. However, the worst month for your own allergies depends on your personal allergy triggers.
