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You made it through cedar season, stocked up on antihistamines, and welcomed the warmth of summer with open arms—so why are your allergies in Austin still out of control?

At Greater Austin Allergy, we hear this all the time: “I made it through cedar season—so why am I still sneezing?” If you live in Central Texas, you’re no stranger to the city’s long allergy season. But many people are surprised to find that their allergy symptoms don’t fade with the spring blooms. In fact, for some, summer can feel just as miserable—if not worse. The sneezing, congestion, itchy eyes, and fatigue persist, leaving many wondering: what’s going on?

Let’s take a closer look at what’s behind Austin’s summer allergy triggers, and what you can do to finally find some relief.

Introduction to Allergies

Allergies are a common and often debilitating condition that affects millions of people worldwide. In Austin, Texas, allergies are a significant concern due to the city’s unique climate and geography. Understanding the basics of allergies is essential for managing and treating them effectively.

Understanding the Basics of Allergies

Allergies occur when the body’s immune system overreacts to a harmless substance, such as pollen, dust, or mold. This overreaction triggers the release of chemical mediators, which cause a range of symptoms, including sneezing, runny nose, nasal congestion, and itchy eyes. In Central Texas, seasonal allergies are a major concern, with ragweed pollen being a significant allergen. The warm, humid climate of Austin creates an ideal environment for various allergens to thrive, making it crucial for residents to be aware of what triggers their symptoms.

How Allergies Affect Your Body

Allergies can affect various parts of the body, including the nose, eyes, throat, and lungs. When an allergen enters the body, it triggers an allergic reaction, which can range from mild to severe. Common symptoms include sneezing, itchy eyes, and nasal congestion. In some cases, allergies can also trigger asthma symptoms, such as wheezing, coughing, and shortness of breath. Understanding how allergies affect the body is crucial for developing effective treatment strategies. By recognizing the signs of an allergic reaction, you can take steps to manage your symptoms and prevent them from escalating.

The Usual Suspects: Common Summer Allergy Triggers in Austin

Summer allergies are often caused by a different set of culprits than springtime ones. While you might associate allergies with spring pollen, Austin’s hot, humid climate creates a perfect storm for other allergens that peak mid-year.

In addition to these summer allergens, many residents also suffer from cedar fever during the winter months, which can exacerbate symptoms year-round.

Grass Pollen

Grass pollen is one of the most common summer allergens, and in Austin, it can wreak havoc from early summer through early fall.

Warm-season grasses like Bermuda, Bahia, and Timothy thrive in Central Texas. Their tiny pollen grains are carried through the air and easily inhaled, leading to symptoms like sneezing, nasal congestion, coughing, and itchy eyes. Grass pollen counts tend to peak in the morning and on windy days, making outdoor activities a challenge if you’re sensitive.

Mold Spores

Summer heat and frequent rain showers are a perfect breeding ground for mold. Mold thrives in damp, shaded areas like compost piles, rotting leaves, under decks, and even inside bathrooms or kitchens, especially when humidity levels are high.

Unlike pollen, mold spores are present almost year-round in Austin, but their concentration spikes during humid summer months. These microscopic spores can trigger symptoms like nasal congestion, headaches, itchy eyes, and in more severe cases, asthma flare-ups.

Weeds and Late Bloomers

You might think ragweed season starts in the fall—but it actually begins ramping up in late summer and continues until the first frost. Weeds like ragweed, pigweed, and carelessweed begin releasing pollen in July or August, especially during hot, dry stretches.

For those sensitive to multiple plant allergens, these late bloomers mean no real break between spring and fall allergy seasons.

Air Pollution and Ozone

In a city like Austin, known for its rapid growth and traffic, warm temperatures lead to increased ground-level ozone—a component of smog.

Ozone isn’t an allergen, but it can irritate your respiratory tract and make your body more reactive to allergens. This means even a small amount of pollen or mold can feel like a major onslaught when combined with poor air quality.

These allergens are common throughout the region, but at Greater Austin Allergy, we help patients pinpoint exactly which ones are affecting them so they can breathe easier year-round.

It’s Not Just Outside: Indoor Allergy Culprits

When the heat becomes unbearable, most of us head inside and crank up the AC. But indoor spaces can harbor allergens too—especially during summer.

To minimize indoor allergens, it’s important to keep windows closed and use air conditioning to filter out pollen and other airborne particles.

Mold Indoors

Bathrooms, kitchens, basements, and laundry rooms are all prone to moisture build-up, especially in summer. Poor ventilation, steam, and condensation can lead to mold growth inside your home.

Even your HVAC system can become a breeding ground for mold if it hasn’t been properly maintained. Using nasal irrigation can help remove mold spores from your nasal passages, providing relief from congestion and other symptoms.

Dust Mites

These microscopic critters thrive in humid environments. During Austin’s summer months, they flourish in bedding, upholstered furniture, carpets, and curtains—triggering sneezing, itchy eyes, and nasal congestion.

Additionally, exposure to cold air can worsen asthma symptoms and overall allergy reactions, making it important to maintain a stable indoor environment.

Pet Dander

With pets spending more time indoors to escape the heat, you may notice an uptick in dander and fur. While you might not be allergic to your pet year-round, increased exposure during summer can tip the scales if you’re already reacting to pollen or mold. Identifying specific triggers, such as pet dander, through comprehensive testing can help develop personalized treatment plans.

Why Symptoms Feel Worse: Weather, Exposure, and Sensitivity

So what makes summer allergies feel worse for some people than in the spring?

For many, these symptoms are indicative of allergic rhinitis, a condition that can significantly impact quality of life.

The Heat Factor

High temperatures and warm temperatures cause the blood vessels in your nose to dilate, increasing swelling and mucus production. Add pollen and mold spores to the mix, and you’ve got a recipe for nonstop congestion.

More Time Indoors

During hot Austin summers, we spend more time inside, often in closed, recirculated air. That means longer exposure to indoor allergens like mold, pet dander, and dust mites—especially if you don’t have an air purifier or haven’t cleaned your filters recently. Keeping windows closed and using air conditioning can help reduce exposure to indoor allergens.

Cumulative Exposure

If you suffer from year-round allergies, your body may never get a full “reset.” By summer, your immune system is already sensitized by spring allergens. Even a moderate amount of grass or mold pollen can trigger a stronger response in allergy sufferers.

Reducing Exposure to Allergens

Reducing exposure to allergens is a critical step in managing allergies. By minimizing contact with allergens, individuals can reduce their symptoms and improve their quality of life. This is especially important in a city like Austin, where high pollen counts and other environmental factors can make allergy season particularly challenging.

Practical Steps to Minimize Allergen Contact

There are several practical steps that individuals can take to minimize allergen contact. These include:

• Staying indoors during peak pollen hours: Pollen counts tend to be highest in the early morning and late afternoon. Limiting outdoor activities during these times can help reduce exposure.
• Keeping windows and doors closed: This prevents outdoor allergens from entering your home. Use air conditioning to cool your home and filter out airborne allergens.
• Using air conditioning: Air conditioning can help filter out pollen and other airborne allergens, improving indoor air quality.
• Avoiding outdoor activities during high pollen counts: Check local pollen counts and plan your activities accordingly. On days with high pollen levels, try to stay indoors as much as possible.
• Washing bedding and clothing regularly: This helps remove allergens that may have settled on fabrics. Use hot water to kill dust mites and other allergens.
• Using nasal spray and saline irrigation: These can help remove allergens from your nasal passages, providing relief from congestion and other symptoms.
• Avoiding contact with pets that trigger allergies: If you’re allergic to pet dander, try to minimize contact with pets and keep them out of your bedroom.
• Using dust-mite-proof bedding and mattress covers: These can reduce exposure to dust mites, a common indoor allergen.

By following these steps, individuals can reduce their exposure to allergens and alleviate their symptoms. Additionally, understanding the pollen count and pollen levels in the Austin area can help individuals plan their activities and take necessary precautions to minimize allergen contact. Staying informed and prepared can make a significant difference in managing your allergies effectively.

What You Can Do About It

The good news? You don’t have to suffer all summer long. There are simple, effective ways to manage your symptoms and protect yourself from Austin’s summer allergy triggers.

Tips for Managing Summer Allergies:

• Check the forecast. Pay attention to pollen and mold counts and avoid outdoor activity during peak hours (usually early morning or just after rain).
• Shower after spending time outdoors. This helps remove pollen and mold spores from your hair and skin before they settle in your home.
• Keep windows and doors closed. Use air conditioning to cool your home and maintain air quality with a HEPA filter.
• Clean your indoor air. Consider using a dehumidifier to reduce moisture and limit mold growth. Replace HVAC filters regularly.
• Bathe pets more often. Wipe down your pets after they’ve been outside to minimize dander and pollen tracked indoors.
• Choose your outdoor time wisely. Early evening hours tend to have lower pollen levels. After a heavy rain can also be a good time to get outside.

Over-the-counter medications like antihistamines and decongestants can provide relief from allergy symptoms.

If your symptoms persist, it’s time to go beyond home remedies. Greater Austin Allergy provides evidence-based care and a personalized approach to help you manage your allergies effectively.

When It’s Time to See an Allergy Specialist

If you’ve tried all the usual tricks—avoiding pollen, using air filters, staying indoors—and your symptoms still won’t quit, it’s time to consult a doctor and consider seeing an allergy specialist.

At Greater Austin Allergy, we specialize in helping patients get to the root cause of their symptoms. The first step? Identifying your unique allergy triggers through comprehensive testing.

We offer a full range of advanced diagnostic tools, including:

• Skin prick testing – Quick and minimally invasive, used for identifying common environmental and food allergens
• Intradermal testing – Helpful for detecting more subtle allergic reactions
• Blood testing – Useful when skin tests aren’t an option or when broader allergen sensitivity needs to be assessed
• Environmental and food allergy testing – Focused panels to pinpoint reactions to pollen, mold, pet dander, or specific foods
• Patch testing for contact dermatitis – Designed to uncover delayed allergic reactions from skin contact with substances like metals, fragrances, or latex

Not sure what to expect from testing? Check out our Preparing for Allergy Testing: What to Expect and How to Get Accurate Results guide on how to prepare and get accurate results.

Once we understand what’s triggering your symptoms, our providers create a personalized treatment plan that may include:

• Prescription medications for more effective symptom control
• Allergy immunotherapy, such as allergy shots or sublingual drops, to desensitize your immune system over time
• Targeted lifestyle recommendations tailored to your needs—and Austin’s unique environmental conditions

Allergy care isn’t one-size-fits-all. The longer you go without clear answers, the more your symptoms can interfere with your daily life. Our team at Greater Austin Allergy is here to guide you every step of the way, so you can finally breathe easier and enjoy your summer in Central Texas.

You’re Not Alone in This: Find Relief with Greater Austin Allergy

Living in Austin means dealing with a wide variety of allergens throughout the year, but allergy sufferers don’t have to live in discomfort.

If your allergy symptoms are hanging on longer than expected this summer, it may not be your imagination. Grass pollen, mold, weeds, and indoor triggers all play a role in keeping your immune system on high alert. Add in summer heat and air pollution, and it’s no wonder you’re still sneezing.

The good news is, there’s help available. At Greater Austin Allergy, we specialize in uncovering what’s really causing your symptoms—and treating them at the source. Whether you’re managing seasonal allergies, year-round symptoms, or asthma, our providers are here to guide you every step of the way.

Getting Answers, Finding Relief: Let’s Take the Next Step Together

Don’t let summer allergies keep you indoors or on edge. Let’s work together to uncover your triggers, manage your symptoms, and get you back to enjoying the season—without the sniffles. Identifying specific triggers through comprehensive testing can help develop personalized treatment plans.

Ready to schedule your allergy test or consultation? Contact Greater Austin Allergy today and take the first step toward lasting relief.