Allergy sufferers need not look past their vehicle’s hood to see why this season is so bad — if their watery eyes let them. Tree pollen allergy season is nearing its peak, but relief might be available at your local pharmacy or grocery aisle. Grass pollen season is right around the corner. Here are five things to know about allergy season: Allergy season peaks Those struggling with the telltale symptoms of a seasonal allergic reaction — including runny noses, post-nasal drip, itchy eyes, congestion and sneezing — shouldn’t be surprised. Dr. Kumar Patel of Advanced Allergy and Asthma in Tarentum said tree pollen is particularly high at the moment. “We’re pretty much in the thick of it.

The past month was sort of cold and rainy, and now that the sun is coming out, we’re getting a lot more pollen production,” he said. “The nice thick coat of pollen on your car tells you the increased amount of pollen production, since it’s been sunny and warm. The recent rains sort of fertilized all the tree pollen, and as the trees are growing, you’re getting a huge amount of pollen production.” Dr. Robert Gorby of Westmore­land Allergy & Asthma Associates noted that tree pollen season started earlier than usual this year. Grass pollen season will follow, starting in mid- to late May and ending in mid-July.

Then, weed pollen season will start around mid-August and end in October. Molds may also crop up during the hot and humid parts of the summer. And allergy season may get worse before it gets better. The tree pollen season is likely to overlap with the grass pollen season. “Oak trees are one of the later pollinating trees. They sort of peak later,” Gorby said. “It’s not unusual to see oak trees pollinating on Memorial Day still.”

What causes allergies?

Allergies are caused by the body’s immune system reacting to foreign objects, which can include pollen, pet dander or mold. A person can be allergic to some seasonal allergens and not others, Gorby noted. Allergies can run in families, he said, but children aren’t always guaranteed to inherit their parents’ allergies. “For people who react to all three pollens, generally one season is going to be more troublesome than the other two,” he said. “Right now, we’re sort of in the intersection between the tree pollen and the grass pollen, so some people are really miserable right now.” ‘No magic pill’ Local allergists say no single allergy medicine or treatment is guaranteed to be best for everyone.

“There’s no magic pill,” said Patel. “Different medications work on different individuals.” Many over-the-counter allergy medicines can help ease allergy symptoms. Steroid nasal sprays such as Flonase, Nasacort and Nasonex can be effective, along with any generic versions. Antihistamines such as Claritin, Allegra and Zyrtec also can provide relief, and allergy eye drops also help with eye-related symptoms. Dr. Thomas Mertz, allergist with Allergy and Asthma Associates of Pittsburgh in Harmar, encourages people to try different medications. “I think you can just try different ones and just see which one works best for you,” he said.

“The medicines have a pretty quick onset — you should know within a day or so of taking them whether this is helping or this is not.” If no over-the-counter medications are working, it may be time to see an allergist to look into getting tested for your specific allergies, or consider getting allergy immunotherapy shots. “If you can take Flonase and Claritin and you are happily symptom-controlled, you’re fine continuing that,” allergist Dr. Russell Traister of AHN Pediatric Institute said. “If despite taking those two over-the-counter medicines you’re having persistent worsening symptoms, maybe it’s time to consider talking to an allergist.”

When to take medicines For the best results from nasal steroid sprays, Patel said, allergy sufferers should start using those before the allergy season begins, in February or March. “The key is to use the medications prior to the onset of allergy season to work really well,” he said. “You want to use it early, because it takes a while for that to build up.” It’s still worth using a nasal spray even if you didn’t start early, he added. “The amount of benefit you will get will be less than if you were doing it on a regular basis,” he said. How to decrease allergy symptoms In addition to using medications, one reliable way to lessen the impact of allergies is to avoid them.

When seasonal allergies are presenting a problem, sufferers might want to stay indoors when pollen is high. Mertz suggested allergy sufferers should also keep windows closed to keep the pollen out. “The most efficient way to avoid any allergen, especially the pollen, would be with air filtration and air conditioning,” he said.