Battling the yellow dust: How to survive springtime pollen

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Seasonal pollen-related allergies impact people in different ways, whether through coughing, itchy eyes or skin irritation.

People don’t experience pollen the same way.

Black people, for instance, may be more susceptible to pollen-related allergies compared to other races. Studies from the National Institutes of Health show Black children are likely more sensitized to tree, grass and ragweed pollen.

This doesn’t include just itchy eyes and a stuffy nose, either. When pollen sits on skin, it could lead to eczema flareups. While eczema affects all people, some studies indicate that it is more common in the Black community.

Dr. Jewell Carr at Atrium Health suggests the severity of seasonal allergies among Black people starts with poverty and lack of proper living conditions.

“When we're thinking about allergies in this setting, the real issue ends up being poverty,” Carr said. “So, even when you look at the studies from the American Academy of Allergists and Immunologists, there’s a few things that affect folks and increase their risks of having poorly controlled seasonal allergies or seem to have just more based on population. So, substandard housing, because people of color and low-income families are more likely to be living in poor housing conditions. That's going to increase their exposure to both indoor and outdoor allergies.”

As to eczema, Carr says there is a strong allergy link.

“There's something we call the allergic triad,” she said. “That’s eczema, allergic rhinitis and then asthma, so they kind of ride together. When you think about these things, there are some underlying tests that we’re learning to do now about trying to think how to best answer this question. It’s really about immune mediation. There may be some immune factors that create more symptoms, those kinds of symptoms in people with melanated skin than others, but a lot of it is still caused by exposure to allergens.”

Allergy medications and steroid creams can be expensive, and without good insurance coverage, people could get stuck paying out of pocket. Carr has suggestions to alleviate some symptoms without paying for the expensive medications.

“Try using simple things like Vaseline, especially to protect skin when you have eczema,” she said. “It does two things: it seals in your moisture and also can protect your skin if you have cuts or bruises or scrapes, especially for people who do a lot of scratching. It can (prevent) dirt and debris from getting into those things, because then you get the whole cascade of things like infections and stuff.”

Carr also warns about over bathing and using an abundance of soap on your skin. Without moisturizing, skin is more likely to dry out and pollen can cause eczema rashes to break out more easily.
For nasal congestion, simple saline rinses can do the trick.

“Use nasal saline washes,” Carr said. “It doesn’t have to be Netti Pot rinses, it can just be plain old nasal spray. This can help rinse away some of the pollen causing the allergic reactions.”

If you suffer from severe seasonal allergies, Carr recommends wearing a mask outdoors to keep pollen away from the nose and mouth.

“I tell patients who have bad allergies and asthma if they’re going to be out during times like this, wear a mask just to keep some of the allergens out of your nose and mouth,” she said. “I have tons of folks who are working landscaping and those types of jobs. A lot of them already wear masks but I think people, even people who don’t have bad allergies, if you’re exposed to enough of that stuff, you’re going to sneeze. So, wear a mask if you’re going to be out.”

Pollen and spring go hand in hand. But, doing the proper things to alleviate symptoms can get you through until the threat dies down.

“Recognize the symptoms,” Carr said, “especially in this time of year when you might have a cold or it might be allergies, so recognizing symptoms that might differ between people, like fevers, sweats, chills, that might mean you’re sick and those allergies. Get the right treatment for your allergies.”

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