Allergies are a lot more common than people think. Almost everyone is allergic to something. Even if you’re not allergic to shellfish or peanuts, you probably still suffer allergic reactions from the changing of the seasons. Rather than going through another season under the misery of your symptoms or trudging through an over-medicated fog, take control of your allergies. Fight your allergy symptoms, and get on with your life by using the tips that we present here.

Avoid line-drying your clothing, or linens if you suffer from allergies, especially during the spring. While the smell and feel of fresh, line-dried laundry can be a treat. It can also make you miserable when you bring in pollen from outdoors. Use the clothes dryer when pollen levels are at their peak.

Check the pollen levels for the area. During allergy season, these are usually broadcast on the local news for the day. Make sure you watch the weather so you know how bad your allergies might be for the day, or if you should pack some allergy medicine with you for the day.

There are countless antihistamine and allergy products available with or without a prescription, but not everyone finds relief from the same products. Ask the doctor if you can have a sample pack; otherwise, buy the smallest package you can. If one medication fails to solve your problem, you are free to try another without feeling that you have squandered too much money.

Unless your asthma and allergies are severe, you might feel that there is no reason to visit a specialist for treatment. Don’t sell yourself short, chronic wheezing and slight shortness of breath can adversely affect your quality of life. Each time you experience even mild trouble breathing; your lungs and muscles work harder and quickly lead to fatigue.

Determine why you itch. Sometimes it can be difficult to know whether the itchy, raised welts on your skin are hives or just insect bites. If the bumps appear all over your body, they are probably hives. Insect bites, on the other hand, appear in clusters and on the arms on legs. Topical products are ideal for either ailment; oral anti-histamine is recommended to treat allergies, but is not necessary for insect bites.

To keep allergies under control indoors, you should use an air conditioner so that you do not have to open windows. You should also consider putting a filter in your air conditioner, in order to filter any outdoor impurities that are trying to sneak their way into your home.

Many doctors are more than willing to write prescriptions for the latest and greatest allergy medications, but some are utterly clueless about the high price tag. If you are having a hard time paying for these medications, ask for samples or contact the drug manufacturer to inquire about patient assistance programs.

You can avoid using creams and sprays to fix your hair, which can cause you to have an allergic reaction. When you spend some time outside, understand that you will bring airborne allergens such as pollen home with you. You should understand that sticky hair styling products attract and hold free flying allergens.

If you have been outside for 60 minutes or so, it is almost certain that you have attracted at least some airborne allergens. If possible, take a shower before you go to bed; the sooner, the better. This will wash away any irritants that you have come in contact with. Your hair and your skin are both susceptible to accumulating these sorts of allergens.

Sometimes, new clothing can contain chemicals or other allergy-causing substances that can cause a rash or hives upon contact with your skin. When you buy new clothing, be sure to wash each item before you wear it. This is particularly true of man-made materials such as nylon and rayon.

Keep your pets groomed if you suffer from allergies. Regular brushing not only removes excess hair and dander, but it keeps pets from bringing in pollen from outdoors, too. While it’s hard to completely eliminate allergens when you have pets, you can probably your symptoms under control with a bit of extra care.

Many people experience sore throats because of allergies. Consider gargling with salt water to relieve these symptoms. Combine warm water with a few teaspoonfuls of table salt, then gargle and swish (but don’t swallow) the mixture for a minute or so. This will soothe the throat all of the time.

As stated previously in this guide, allergies can be common and could be caused by either plants, animals or food. It can be extremely annoying to deal with your allergies when the seasons are changing. However, you have several methods of coping. Use the advice this article has provided you and you will find your symptoms to be under control.