North Carolina is known for its lush vegetation, large canopies of trees, and various wildflowers. While this is all beautiful to look at, it can wreak havoc on an allergy sufferer’s symptoms. Unfortunately, allergies aren’t just a thing in the springtime here. Fall allergies in NC are very prevalent and affect a majority of the population living throughout the state.
Not to worry! This doesn’t mean you can never enjoy the beauty of our home state’s landscape. It just means you will have to be careful about managing your allergies come fall. Here’s everything you need to know about fall allergies in NC, the most common culprits behind these seasonal allergies, and how to manage them!
The Southeast in general is known to be one of the worst areas in the country for allergies. Because of the mild weather, seasonal and environmental allergens occur year-round. With no freezing winters to kill off allergy-inducing weeds, or dry weather to prevent mold and pollen from blooming, allergy sufferers may have a hard time living in North Carolina. Staying proactive against your allergies by avoiding your triggers and starting immunotherapy will help greatly.
The Carolinas are home to two types of nettle: common nettle and stinging nettle. This perennial herb grows in rich soil along streams, meadows, and in woodland areas. Nettle looks tall and dark green with many pointed leaves. Stinging nettle in particular contains sharp bristles, or hairs, that are painful to the touch.
Nettle is a big cause of fall allergies in NC because it reproduces via wind-dispersed seeds — rather than insect pollination. This means, every fall there are billions of airborne nettle seeds being inhaled by allergy sufferers. To avoid coming into contact with nettle allergens, wear sunglasses and a scarf over your nose and mouth when it’s especially windy outside. Change your clothes after spending time outdoors and be sure to avoid touching your face and eyes.
A second weed to avoid is ragweed, one of the most common fall allergies in NC and the entire country! Ragweed is often found growing in the following areas: fields, vacant lots, riverbanks, farms, turf grasses, and alongside roads. This plant is also tall and stemmy, with leaves that look similar to a fern or carrot top.
Stay clear of ragweed by limiting your time outdoors and don’t dry your clothes or linens outside. Going out after a heavy rainstorm is your safest bet during ragweed season, as the rain does a great job of removing pollen from the air. If this isn’t possible, immunotherapy can help reduce the severity of your fall allergies in NC.
Mold allergies can be tricky as they can occur both indoors and out. The symptoms can also be difficult to pinpoint, as mold allergies often get misdiagnosed as a common cold during the fall season.
Inside our homes, mold can grow in spaces that tend to have high humidity levels like bathrooms, kitchens, laundry rooms, and crawl spaces. Using a dehumidifier and cleaning regularly to prevent any mold growth is the best way to manage your indoor mold allergies.
On the other hand, outdoor mold is common in most of North Carolina. The warm and wet weather allows mold and mildew to pop up literally everywhere. It’s often hiding in leaf or wood piles and over-watered grass. Having someone help with your yard work is a simple way to reduce your mold allergy symptoms.
Dust mites are microscopic pests that trigger allergies and asthma. These mites feed on dead human skin cells and live in the fabrics, carpet, and other soft materials throughout your home.
Because dust mites require humid air to survive, homes in North Carolina need to be mindful of how quickly these pests can concentrate. Reducing the humidity in your home, replacing fabrics and upholstered furniture with hard materials, and dusting often will reduce the overall number of mites.
Pet allergies are imminent year-round, but they can become worse in the fall when we are spending more time inside with our pets due to inclement weather. Urine, saliva, and pet dander are the triggers that cause pet allergy symptoms.
As much as we want to snuggle up with our beloved pets, allergy sufferers may want to avoid excessive contact with them. If your pets spend time outside, they can also bring outdoor allergens into your home, which can make it even more difficult to control your symptoms. Keep your home clean and free of pet dander with HEPA vacuums, air filters, and by having your pet groomed on a regular basis.
Fall allergies in NC may seem impossible to deal with, and that they are just too difficult to avoid. Getting rid of weeds, mold, mites, or your pets isn’t an option, but there are other ways around this dilemma.
Instead, you can reduce the severity of your symptoms and your reaction time by trying immunotherapy to manage your allergies. Immunotherapy is used to lessen the reaction of your immune system against certain allergens. By repeatedly exposing your body to said allergens, you’re able to give your immune system a chance to get used to it and to perceive it as less of a threat.
Immunotherapy comes in several forms, with the most common being weekly injections. As you can imagine, this form of treatment isn’t the most ideal option for most people. Costly, painful, and time-consuming, we have created a better alternative to weekly injections that is cheaper (and less painful) to use and provides the same end result!
The biggest benefit of ShotFree Allergy immunotherapy is that there is no hassle. Simply apply the custom-formulated cream to your forearm several times per week and enjoy less severe allergic reactions — that’s it! Your prescription formula is even sent to your home so you don’t have to pick it up from a pharmacy or doctor’s office on a regular basis.
If you are done dealing with fall allergies in NC and want to see if ShotFree Allergy can help, take our quiz to find out if it’s right for you. We hope we can make the fall months in North Carolina a little more enjoyable for you!