Summer Grass Allergies

Would you love to take a long walk at a large, outdoor park, but your sneezing would be relentless and cause people to stare? Do your kids want to play outside, but as soon as they come back inside they're rubbing at itchy, red eyes and coughing? Does your front yard look like a tall-grass prairie, but you know that just one pass on the mower would mean hours of sinus pain and pressure? If any of this sounds too familiar, take heart. We can help.


For many people, summer is when allergies strike the hardest. It's the season when lush, green grasses pollinate, and as that pollen travels through the air by wind or by lawn mower, we become exposed. We breathe it in, our skin and hair get covered in it, our pets and children play in it, and our allergy symptoms are triggered by it.


Common grass allergy symptoms include:

 

  • Itchy, runny or stuffy nose
  • Itchy throat, mouth or skin
  • Itchy, teary or puffy eyes
  • Skin rashes
  • Headaches
  • Sneezing

 

Across the southern U.S., we have lots of grasses responsible for summer allergies: 

 

  • Bermuda
  • Johnson
  • Kentucky
  • Orchard
  • Rye
  • Sweet Vernal
  • Timothy

 

Johnson grass
Timothy grass
Sweet vernal grass
Orchard grass


While allergy symptoms may have you seriously considering a rock garden or cement slab in place of your lawn, let us recommend some simpler solutions.


Avoiding Grass Pollen:

  • Watch your local pollen count and limit your time outside when it’s high. The Allergy, Asthma & Sinus Center offers pollen counts for Knoxville/East Tennessee and Middle Tennessee each day on our Facebook pages. For pollen counts in other communities, visit pollen. com and enter your specific zip.
  • Wear a mask when you mow.
  • Keep your lawn short.
  • Keep your windows closed and use central A/C when possible.
  • Shower and launder clothes after being outside.
  • Wash bedding in hot water once a week.
  • Wear sunglasses.
  • Avoid drying clothes outside on a clothes line.
  • Wipe down your pets after they’ve been outside.
  • Remove your shoes when you enter your home and vacuum once a week.


An important side note for summer allergies:

Summer is when we can truly enjoy fresh fruits and vegetables; but if you suffer from seasonal allergies, your allergic reactions may be intensified by certain produce, like bananas, almonds or apples. This exacerbation is called Oral Allergy Syndrome. You may feel as if your lips, mouth or ears are itching or burning, and you may notice that your lips and/or tongue swell. 


Avoidance measures for grass allergies will help. Over-the-counter medicines can also provide some relief. But before you do any of this, consider seeing a board-certified allergist. A board-certified allergist is someone who has years of training and experience in how and why your immune system reacts the way it does. She or he will help determine if a grass allergy is at the root of your symptoms, if you have OAS or a more serious food allergy, and which course of action is best for you. 


If you’re ready for answers and some long-term, lasting relief, contact us for an appointment. We’ll work with you to find the best solution, whether it’s avoidance, specific medications, or immunotherapy (the closest thing to a cure). We’re here to help.


Resources and references:

American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology: Mowing Down Your Grass Allergies

Allergic Living: Coping with Grass Allergy


Share by: