Fall Allergies vs. Spring Allergies: How Are They Different?

You finally made it through spring. The sneezing stopped, your eyes cleared up, and you put the tissues away. Then September rolls around, and the same itchy, stuffy feeling comes right back. Spring and fall allergies can feel almost identical, but they usually come from very different sources. Spring allergies bring a wave of tree and grass pollen. Fall allergies are triggered by weeds and mold, especially ragweed, a plant that blooms and releases pollen from August into November. Each season asks something different of your body, so your allergy treatment plan can end up looking different every year. 

Continue reading to learn what sets fall and spring allergies apart, how treatment can change through the year, and where those looking for the best allergy doctor in Santa Monica can find personalized allergy treatments.

What Triggers Allergies in the Spring?

Spring allergies mostly come from trees and grasses. As the weather warms up, trees release huge amounts of lightweight pollen that the wind can carry for miles. Grass pollen tends to increase later in spring and into early summer. 

Common spring triggers in the Los Angeles area include:

• Oak
• Olive
• Walnut
• Ash
• Sycamore
• Bermuda grass and other lawn grasses

Pollen counts usually climb on warm, dry, windy days and drop after a rain. That's why many people feel worst on breezy spring mornings, when trees release the most pollen.

What Makes Fall Allergies Different From Spring Allergies?

Fall brings a whole new set of allergy triggers, mostly from weeds and mold. Ragweed is the best-known fall trigger, but it has plenty of company. Sagebrush, mugwort, and Russian thistle, also known as tumbleweed, release pollen into the fall months too.

Mold plays a bigger role in autumn as well. Outdoor mold spores and tree pollen thrive in piles of fallen leaves, damp soil, and compost. Raking leaves or working in the yard can send a cloud of spores into the air right where you're breathing.

Fall also changes where you spend your time. As days get shorter and cooler, many people close their windows and stay inside more. That means more contact with year-round indoor allergens, including:

• Dust mites in bedding, carpets, and upholstered furniture
• Pet dander
• Indoor mold in bathrooms, under sinks, and around windows

Here in Southern California, the dry Santa Ana winds that blow through fall can also stir up pollen and dust, making a bad allergy day even worse.

Can Fall and Spring Allergy Symptoms Feel the Same?

For the most part, allergies typically cause:

• Sneezing
• A runny or stuffy nose
• Itchy, watery eyes
• Postnasal drip
• An itchy throat or ears
• Fatigue from poor sleep

But allergy symptoms can also differ significantly between fall and spring. Mold allergies are more likely to trigger coughing, wheezing, or asthma flares. Fall allergies also overlap with cold season, so many people mistake them for a lingering virus. 

Why Do Allergy Seasons Last So Long in Southern California?

In colder parts of the country, a hard freeze ends allergy season each year. Southern California rarely gets that break. Many people here feel like allergy season never really ends, and for some, it doesn't. Mild temperatures let something bloom in almost every month, so tree, grass, and weed seasons can run longer and overlap. 

Can You Be Allergic to Both Spring and Fall Triggers?

Absolutely. In fact, many people with seasonal allergies react to more than one type of pollen, along with mold and indoor allergens. That's why allergy testing is so helpful. It shows exactly what your body reacts to, so you can plan around your own triggers instead of guessing. For those looking for the best allergist in Santa Monica, testing is usually the first step. Modified Quantitative Testing uses a two-part skin test that includes:

• Skin prick test: Small amounts of common allergens are placed on the surface of the skin.
• Intradermal dilution test: Diluted allergens are placed just under the skin to measure how strongly you react.

Your allergy team can use the results of both tests to build your treatment plan. If skin test results are unclear, a blood test can measure allergy-related antibodies instead.

How Should Allergy Treatment Change Throughout the Year?

Once you know your triggers, you can get ahead of them. A plan that shifts with the seasons may include:

• Starting medication early: Begin nasal steroid sprays or antihistamines about two weeks before your symptoms usually peak.
• Spring habits: Keep windows closed on windy days, shower and change clothes after time outdoors, and check daily pollen counts.
• Fall habits: Wear a mask while raking leaves, keep indoor humidity in check, and wash bedding in hot water each week.
• Allergy shots: Regular injections help your immune system build tolerance to several allergens at once, with protection that carries through every season.
• Sublingual immunotherapy: Allergy drops or tablets placed under the tongue at home can treat ragweed, grass, and dust mite allergies. Ragweed and grass tablets need to start about 12 weeks before their season begins.

Immunotherapy takes time, but it can lower your sensitivity year after year. That means fewer symptoms each spring and fall, and less need for daily medication.

When Should You See an Allergy Specialist in Los Angeles?

Over-the-counter medicine works well for some people, but be sure to watch for the signs that it’s time to see a specialist. Especially if you: 

• Have symptoms in more than one season, or all year long
• Take allergy medicine most days and still feel stuffy
• Get frequent sinus infections
• Notice wheezing, coughing, or asthma flares during allergy season
• Lose sleep or energy to your symptoms
• Want a long-term solution instead of yearly medication

Where to Find the Best Allergy Doctor in Santa Monica for Allergy Shots or Immunotherapy

Spring and fall allergies may feel alike, but their triggers and timing require different approaches. The right testing, alongside a calendar-based treatment plan, can help you breathe easier year-round. 

Dr. Daneshrad has spent years helping Southern California patients get relief from the allergy and sinus problems that keep them from breathing freely. As a board-certified otolaryngologist specializing in rhinology, he treats adults and children, and his work has appeared in medical journals as well as on radio and television. His approach prioritizes effective, lasting treatment while minimizing discomfort and downtime.

Dr. Daneshrad works alongside Nina Sedighi, a board-certified physician assistant who focuses on allergy testing and treatment for environmental allergens and food sensitivities. Together, they offer Modified Quantitative Testing, allergy shots, and sublingual immunotherapy drops. Because Dr. Daneshrad is also a sinus surgeon, he can treat the swelling, polyps, and chronic sinus infections allergies can leave behind, using tools like our in-house CT scanner, balloon sinuplasty, and minimally invasive endoscopic sinus surgery.