The Claritin® Allergen Guide: OUTDOOR

Introducing the Allergens

Outdoor allergens like seasonal pollens and molds can be difficult to manage because it seems like they're everywhere and you can't escape them. Many of them occur at the time you want to be able to enjoy the outdoors, too.

Weed Pollens



As you drive down the highway in late summer or early fall past wildflowers, grasses and weeds, it may not occur to you that the most potent and widespread cause of allergy symptoms may be lurking there. Ragweed, a tall, branched plant, is native to North America and found throughout the lower 48 states on dry fields, pastures, roadsides and construction sites.

  • Ragweed usually releases pollen in the late summer.
  • Each plant can produce a billion pollen grains every day during an average season from August until October.
  • Ragweed has 15 different species throughout the United States.
  • The ragweed/composite family includes sunflowers, daisies and mugwort.
  • The giant ragweed can reach up to 17 feet in height and is native from Quebec to British Columbia in Canada and southward to Florida, Arkansas and California in the USA.

Grass Pollens



Although more than 1,200 species of grasses are native to North America, only a few are known to cause allergic reactions. These include timothy grass, Kentucky bluegrass, Johnson grass, Bermuda grass, orchard grass and sweet vernal grass.

  • Grasses generally release pollen from late spring until early summer.
  • In the South, the season begins as early as February or March and continues through October.
  • In the North, the grass pollen season begins in May and ends in August.
  • In summer, be aware of sweet vernal and orchard grass, as well as timothy, bluegrass, fescue, redtop and perennial rye.
  • In the southern U.S., Bermuda, Johnson and salt grasses have particularly long seasons.

Tree Pollens



When it comes to trees, the real allergy troublemakers are hardwood deciduous trees — oak, elm, birch, maple, ash, alder and hazel.

  • These trees generally pollinate from February to April or May.
  • In the South, these trees begin pollinating as early as January; in the North, they begin in April.
  • People show cross-reactivity to trees in the beech, birch, alder and oak family, and in the juniper and cedar family. This means that if you're allergic to one type of tree, you're likely allergic to others in the same family.
  • If you're looking to plant trees on your property, look for species that do not aggravate allergies, such as catalpa, crepe myrtle, dogwood, fig, fir, palm, pear, plum, redbud and redwood trees.

Mold Allergens



Mold spores float in the air like pollen, and can occur indoors as well as outdoors. Outdoor mold spores begin to appear in early spring and reach their peak in July, August, September or October in the northern United States. In the South and on the West Coast, outdoor molds can be found all year long.

  • Mowing grass, raking leaves, and working with hay or mulch piles increases exposure to mold.
  • Mushrooms also have many spores under their "caps," so if you are mold-sensitive, don't kick them.

The Claritin® Allergen Guide: INDOOR

Indoor and Pet Allergies

Indoor allergens like mold, dust and pet dander can be difficult to manage, especially since they tend to exist in our homes year-round. Since you're often indoors during winter, household allergens like molds, dust mites and animal dander can be more troublesome.

Mold



Indoor molds shed spores all year, particularly in damp environments like basements, cellars, attics, bathrooms and laundry rooms. Since you're often indoors during winter, household allergens like molds, dust mites and animal dander can be more troublesome.

Dust Mites and Cockroaches



Dust mites and cockroaches, common triggers of allergy and asthma symptoms, can be found in the dust particles that collect naturally around the house. Cockroaches are more than household pests because they're also an indoor, year-round allergen. Those with asthma are most likely to suffer from a cockroach allergen. Particles from cockroaches, along with those from their feces and saliva, are thought to be the source of cockroach allergies.

Pet Dander



If you're allergic to cats or dogs, you are not allergic to their fur, but to the allergens found in their saliva or urine. These allergens can be transported to the skin and fur, which is where we touch dogs or cats most often.

So if you are one of the millions of people who suffer from indoor allergies, the key to relief is controlling these allergens. Remember to take Claritin® for non-drowsy allergy symptom relief, and follow our Allergy Management Tips to help you keep your environment more comfortable and your allergies under control.