Seasonal Allergy Hives

Seasonal allergy or more commonly known as “hay fever” occurs from exposure to airborne particles, such as pollen, that emerge only during particular times of the year. Usually people with seasonal allergies are affected during the spring and fall seasons, because this is the period where pollens are released from blooming flowers, trees and grasses. Pollination periods vary from geographical regions.

The pollens that cause hay fever or seasonal allergy vary by season:

• Spring season: Spring season causes spring allergies which occur due to the pollen of trees such as maple, oak, juniper, olive, alder, birch, walnut and elm.
• Summer season: During summers, pollens from grasses causes summer allergy. In some areas, even weeds pollinate during summer time.
• Fall season: During fall, weeds releases pollens causing fall allergies.

When a person, who is susceptible to seasonal allergy, is exposed to pollen he/she happens to have an allergic reaction which can cause skin rashes or hives, watery eyes, itching on the top of the mouth or at the back of the throat and eyes, coughing and sneezing, running nose and headaches.

Seasonal hives are hives that occur when exposed to seasonal pollen causing inflammation of the skin. Hives are red raised welts that appear on the skin due to an allergic reaction. Often hives are itchy and also cause swelling and discomfort.

Seasonal hives appear within 5-10 minutes on exposure to pollen. It usually does not last for more than 24 hrs. It is seen that seasonal hives disappear on cessation of exposure to pollen. Seasonal allergies affect people at any stage of their lives but, on an average, seasonal allergies develop in the pre-teen years. According to statistical data, seasonal allergies are present equally in both males and females and no ethnicity or culture is more prone to seasonal allergies. However, it has been noticed that seasonal allergies runs in families and hence is hereditary.

Symptoms of seasonal hives and allergy:

• Skin rashes that cause irritation and discomfort.
• Red raised wheals which are itchy and sometimes accompanied with burning sensation.
• Swelling of skin.
• Rapid onset of skin inflammation on exposure to seasonal particles.
• Runny nose and watery eyes.
• Itching at the roof of the mouth, back of the throat and eyes.
• Headaches
• Coughing and sneezing.

Diagnosis of Seasonal allergy hives:

To know if you have seasonal allergies you will need to be diagnosed by an allergist. He will conduct an allergy test to determine if you have seasonal allergy and also find out to which types of pollen you are allergic to. Allergy testing typically involves a skin test or a blood test. The test results can help you predict, at which times of the year will you have an allergy and accordingly you can take precautions. You can take allergy shots to prevent an allergic reaction.