Allergies in Texas: Common Triggers, Symptoms, and Seasonal Patterns

Allergies are one of the most common health issues in America, with more than 25% of adults reporting symptoms of seasonal and environmental allergies. Pollen, dust, pet dander, and mold can trigger itchy eyes, sneezing, and congestion.?

Texas cities like Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, and Austin rank in the top 100 “Most Challenging Places to Live With Allergies” according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. The year-round growing season in Texas means something is always blooming, and Texans are used to frequent flare-ups of allergy symptoms.

Why Allergies Are So Common in Texas

Texas has more than its share of allergens, thanks to its temperate climate and the state’s diverse plant life. The varied landscape means Texas is home to a huge variety of trees and grasses.

Weather patterns can also contribute to the spread of allergens. In most of Texas, there aren’t long spells of freezing weather when plants take a break.  Instead, the growing seasons of different trees and grasses overlap, bringing a year-round rotation of pollen.

Wind and dry air from cold fronts are effective for circulating pollen, which is great for plants but problematic for allergy sufferers.

Mold and dust mites worsen in warm, humid weather. Along with pet dander, they can trigger indoor and outdoor symptoms, whether it’s outdoor allergy season or not.

What Are the Seasonal Allergies in Texas?

It might seem like Texas is one big allergy trigger, but there is an annual pattern to when each type of allergy peaks.  Researchers have studied more than a decade of pollen and weather data for the Dallas-Ft. Worth area and use it to create a pollen calendar that predicts when different allergies are at their worst.

Winter Allergens in Texas (December–February)?

Between December and February, many Texans struggle with so-called “Cedar Fever.” This winter ailment is caused by pollen from the Mountain Cedar tree, also called the Ashe Juniper. Mountain cedars are evergreen trees that release their pollen in cooler weather, with levels usually at their peak in February.?

Juniper pollen is highly allergenic and can cause symptoms in many people, including:

• Congestion and a stuffy nose
• Headaches
• Itchy and watery eyes.
• Sore throat and coughing
• Runny nose
• Sneezing

Spring Allergens in Texas (March–May)

Spring is when the deciduous trees like oak, elm, pecan, ash, and cottonwood trees begin to produce pollen. April is often the worst month for tree pollen allergies, and allergies in the spring can bring on symptoms such as:

• Runny or stuffy nose
• Postnasal drip
• Sneezing
• Itchy nose, eyes, ears, and mouth

Summer Allergens in Texas (June–August)

Summer is the season for grass pollen allergies. Grasses like Bermuda, Bahia, and Timothy thrive in Texas and cause allergy symptoms like:

• Red, watery eyes
• Itchy eyes or nose
• Runny or stuffy nose
• Postnasal drip
• Sneezing

Summer is also a time when you might encounter plants that cause skin reactions or rashes.

Fall Allergens in Texas (September–November)

The fall brings cooler weather, which triggers weeds such as ragweed, goldenrod, and sagebrush to release pollen. Ragweed, like juniper, is highly allergenic and affects many people.

Fall allergies might lead to symptoms such as:

• Runny or stuffy nose
• Postnasal drip
• Sneezing
• Itchy, red, and watery eyes
• Swelling around the eyes
• Feeling moody and irritable
• Disturbed sleep

Year-Round Allergens in Texas

Indoor allergies to substances like mold, dust mites, and pet dander can occur year-round. You may notice symptoms such as:

• Sneezing
• Stuffy or runny nose
• Itching around the nose, throat, eyes, or ears

How Allergy Patterns Vary Across Texas Regions

Allergy season patterns vary across the state, based on what plants are most prevalent in your area.

The allergy count in Austin and other parts of Central Texas is often worse in winter, when cedar pollen is circulating.

Spring and fall are when allergies in North Texas are at their peak, thanks to trees and weeds.

Allergies in South Texas are a year-round issue due to the warmer climate in the southern part of the state.

The same is true for allergies in the Houston and Gulf Coast areas, where mold levels tend to be elevated due to humidity.

Managing Symptoms Caused by Texas Seasonal Allergies

To feel better during allergy season, you can try home care remedies to manage symptoms. These remedies include:

• Monitoring pollen counts to find out the risk of allergies in San Antonio, Houston, or other parts of Texas
• Limiting outdoor exposure during peak allergen times
• Showering after coming inside to wash away pollen
• Taking over-the-counter allergy medications such as antihistamines and decongestants
• Using saline nasal rinses to flush allergens out of sensitive nasal tissue
• Using air filters to reduce indoor allergens at home

Exposure to some plants can cause skin reactions or rashes. You can treat poison oak, ivy, or sumac with cool compresses and anti-itch creams, and by avoiding scratching the itchy welts.

If over-the-counter remedies don’t work, you may need to see an allergist to discuss allergy shots. This is a type of immunotherapy that can train your body not to react so strongly to allergens.

Prepare for Texas Allergies and Manage Your Symptoms

It’s easy to confuse seasonal allergies with a cold because the symptoms are so similar. The coughing, sneezing, and headaches that come with allergies may also be the first signs of a cold or the flu. A fever and symptoms that get worse over several days are often a sign that you have a virus.

Rest, fluids, and over-the-counter cold medicines can help with cold and flu symptoms. If you don’t start to feel better within five to seven days, you can visit an urgent care center to talk to a healthcare provider, who can check to see if you have strep, bronchitis, or a sinus infection that requires prescription medication to help you feel better.

If you are experiencing symptoms of mold exposure in Houston or other parts of Texas, the staff at an urgent care facility can guide you to additional treatment.

Next Level Urgent Care has over 45 locations around Austin, Beaumont, Houston, and San Antonio. All our locations are open from 9 AM – 9 PM, seven days per week, so you and your family can get the care they need when they need it.

You can walk into any location or use our app to register online and skip the waiting room.