April showers bring May flowers. But they also bring mold, wind, and pollen (and can even exacerbate asthma symptoms).
Rainfall can be a double-edged sword for allergy sufferers. On one hand, rain helps by washing away airborne allergens like pollen, offering temporary relief to those who struggle with sneezing and itchy eyes. However, rainy days also create ideal conditions for mold, which thrives in damp environments, turning what seems like a comforting downpour into an allergy trigger.
Mold Allergies: A Growing Concern After Rain
One of the trickiest allergens when it comes to rain is mold. Rain can temporarily reduce airborne mold spores by washing them out of the air, and it helps to lower the concentration of other allergens, such as pollen. Rain can improve air quality during and immediately after rain.
However, post-rainfall, you might find worsening symptoms if you’re allergic to mold. Damp and humid conditions created by rain create the perfect environment for mold to grow. Mold spores thrive on wet surfaces outdoors, like soil, leaves, and wood. Outdoor mold colonies can release spores into the air when disturbed by rain, while moisture from rainfall can seep into indoor spaces, promoting mold growth inside your home. The result? An increase in allergy symptoms can feel inescapable, especially if you have mold sensitivity or live in a high-humidity area.
Do you have a mold allergy? Check out the signs and symptoms of a mold allergy and see if this is why you feel bad after a heavy rain.
Wind and Pollen: A Perfect Storm for Allergies
Occasionally gentle breezes can help dry wet surfaces, preventing conditions that encourage mold growth. Wind can also help carry allergens out of the region, diluting their concentration and reducing your potential exposure.
But overall, wind can be harmful to allergies and rain. In Houston, rainstorms are often accompanied by gusty winds that stir up pollen, dust, and other allergens. This turbulent mix can make your symptoms feel worse, even during what might seem like a refreshing rainfall.
While wind can carry pollen and other irritants over long distances, diluting their concentration, it can also bring other allergens into our area making it harder to avoid allergy triggers, no matter where you are.
Does Rain Help or Hurt?
So, does rain help with allergies? The answer isn’t straightforward, unfortunately. While it can provide temporary relief by clearing the air of some allergens, it also introduces new challenges, especially for mold-sensitive individuals.
Rain can help by temporarily reducing allergens in the air and bringing in cooler temperatures, reducing the intensity of symptoms made worse by heat and humidity.
On the other hand, rain provides the perfect conditions for mold growth and stirs up tree and grass pollen. Higher humidity caused by rain mixing with the South Texas heat can worsen dust mite activity in homes, and humidity can worsen allergy symptoms.
Rain can also trigger “Thunderstorm Asthma”. During thunderstorms, grasses release a large amount of pollen. Heavy wind can pick up this pollen, along with mold spores, and carry it over large distances. Severe allergy attacks and asthma can be caused by Thunderstorm Asthma in sensitive individuals.
If your symptoms persist or worsen, rain or shine, it might be time to take the next step: allergy testing.
Get to the Bottom of Your Allergies
At Allergy & ENT Associates, we specialize in identifying the exact triggers behind your allergies, whether it’s pollen, mold, dust mites or a combination. Our expert providers work with you to develop a personalized plan for lasting relief, tailored to your specific sensitivities.
Take Control of Your Allergies Today
Don’t let rainy days control your comfort. Schedule a consultation with us today and take the first step toward understanding your allergies—and overcoming them.
Rain or shine, relief is always within reach!
