7 Seasonal Allergy Relief Options For Pollen, Dust And Dander

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Coughing, sneezing, snotting and seasonal distress are the eternal harbinger of spring for many allergy sufferers. Afraid to take allergy medication because of drowsiness? Do you find yourself sleeping restlessly due to breathing difficulties? You definitely aren’t alone – and summer may not bring much relief.

Over 100 million people in the U.S. suffer from allergies, with nearly one in three U.S. adults and more than one in four U.S. children having a seasonal allergy, eczema, or food allergy. It’s not just a case of the sniffles – allergies may cause uncomfortable and sometimes debilitating symptoms that can significantly impact daily life.

From seasonal pollen to unfortunate reactions to Fido’s pet dander, understanding your allergies and the various treatment options available is critical for finding effective relief. This guide explores common allergies and breaks down popular treatment options, from over-the-counter medicine to home air quality products.

The Weather Company does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This information is intended solely as a general educational aid and not intended to be used for medical diagnosis or treatment. Always consult your doctor or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition, procedure, or treatment, whether it is a prescription medication, over-the-counter drug, vitamin, supplement, or herbal alternative.

Common Allergy Types And Triggers

An allergy is when the body overreacts to a trigger that is inhaled or enters through the eyes or nose. It’s often called hay fever or allergic rhinitis.

A few common allergy triggers include:

1. Pollen from trees, grasses and weeds allergies
2. Animal dander such as fur and skin flakes from cats and dogs
3. Dust mites
4. Mold
5. Food, commonly including shellfish, eggs, milk, peanuts and tree nuts
6. Insect bites and stings from bees, ticks, ants and wasps
7. Chemicals found in cleaning products and latex rubber
8. Medicines, such as penicillin or certain herbs
9. Perfumes and scents

Common Over-the-Counter (OTC) Ingredients

The symptoms of an allergic reaction will determine the best over-the-counter (OTC) medicine or other home remedies to take, and the ingredients will impact how fast it works and the side effects.

If you take medication for chronic conditions, it’s critical that you speak with your doctor before taking OTC medicines that could negatively interfere with your prescriptions.

Natural Remedies And Prevention

If you prefer to skip the meds, there are a few natural home remedies, personal products, and dietary changes that may help reduce some allergy symptoms.

These remedies may include:

• HEPA air filters – be sure to check out our complete air purifier guides for beginners and air purifiers for those who suffer from severe pollen allergies for details on how they work, and a few of our top rated air purifier picks.
• Saline nasal sprays and irrigation – nasal irrigation (also known as sinus rinsing) involves moving a saline solution through your nasal passages to clear our mucus and flush out allergens. These devices, such as neti pots, push water through one nostril and out the other. Never use tap water – always use boiled water, distilled or sterile water, or filtered water, and make sure your irrigation device is cleaned after every use.
• Dietary changes – elimination diets to remove allergenic food will help determine food you may be intolerant of, including products like milk, eggs, tree nuts, shellfish or wheat. Consider replacing these with other alternatives like plant-based milk options, gluten-free grains, eating tropical fruits, and even consuming local honey that may help you become desensitized to local pollen, according to one source.

Seeking Professional Help

As with any major lifestyle or medication change, be sure to consult your doctor or a specialist for more information on how to help control severe allergy symptoms. You may require allergy testing, especially if you suffer from chronic symptoms.

7 Allergy Relief And Air Purifier Options

If you’ve been suffering from horrible allergies this spring and you’re looking for OTC allergy medicine (and their cheaper generic counterparts), or a practical and useful home remedy, here are seven popular allergy relief options that may help get you on the road to easier breathing.

1. Benadryl Ultratabs Antihistamine (100 Count)

Active Ingredient: Diphenhydramine HCl (25 mg)

Price: $14.88 at Amazon; $19.99 at FSAStore.com; $8.88 at Walmart (48 Count)

Treats:

• Symptoms of allergy, hay fever and the common cold
• Relieves runny nose, sneezing, itchy and watery eyes, itchy nose and throat

Common side effects:

• Drowsiness
• Dizziness or blurred vision
• Stomach upset
• Dry mouth
• Constipation

Generic Option: ValuMeds Allergy Medicine Antihistamine (600 Count)

Active Ingredient: Diphenhydramine HCl (25 mg)

Price: $9.99, was $14.99 at Amazon

2. Zyrtec 24 Hour Allergy Relief Tablets (14 Count)

Active Ingredient: Cetirizine HCI (10 mg)

Price: $14.19, was $20.76 at Amazon; $19.97 at Walmart (30 Count); $16.99 at Walgreens

Treats:

• Symptoms of allergy, hay fever and the common cold
• Relieves runny nose, sneezing, itchy and watery eyes, itchy nose and throat
• Used to reduce itching and hives on skin

Common side effects:

• Drowsiness
• Headache
• Sore throat or cough
• Stomach upset, nausea
• Nosebleeds
• Trouble sleeping

Generic Option: GenCare 24 Hour Allergy Relief Pills (200 Caplets)

Active Ingredient: Cetirizine HCL (10 mg)

Price: $9.99 at Amazon; $10 at Walmart

3. Afrin Allergy Sinus Nasal Spray (0.5 Fl Oz.)

Active Ingredient: Oxymetazoline HCl (0.05%)

Price: $9.99 at Amazon; $12.79 at CVS

Treats:

• Symptoms of allergy, hay fever and the common cold
• Relieves stuffy nose, sinus congestion, sinus pressure
• Lowers swelling, inflammation and congestion in nose

Common side effects:

• Burning
• Stinging
• Sneezing
• Runny nose
• Blood pressure elevation

Generic Option: Amazon Basic Care No Drip Nasal Spray (1 Fl Oz.)

Active Ingredient: Oxymetazoline HCl (0.05%)

4. Flonase Allergy Relief Nasal Spray (2 Pack)

Active Ingredient: Fluticasone propionate (glucocorticoid) 50 mcg

Price: $36.19, was $46.99 at Amazon; $14.99 at CVS (1 Pack); $21.99 at Walgreens (1 Pack)

Treats:

• Symptoms of allergy and hay fever
• Relieves stuffy nose, runny nose, itchy or watery eyes, sneezing
• A corticosteroid reducing inflammation in nasal passages

Common side effects:

• Burning
• Stinging or sneezing
• Runny nose
• Headache
• Nosebleeds
• Dry or irritated nose
• Change in taste or smell

Generic Option: KIRKLAND Signature Aller-Flo Fluticasone Propionate (Glucocorticoid) - 5 Bottles

Active Ingredient: Fluticasone propionate (glucocorticoid) 50 mcg

Price: $23.99, was $35.99 at Amazon; $25.67 at Walmart

5. Medium Room Air Purifier: LEVOIT Core 300-P Air Purifier

Price: $99 at Amazon

Rating: 4.7-stars; 123,000+ company ratings

Filter Type: Filter & Carbon | Effective Range: 222 sq. ft. (up to 1,000 sq. ft./1 hour) | CADR: 143 CFM

Features:

• 3-in-1 filtration system: Pre-filter, multi-layer filter and activated carbon filter
• Targets airborne pollutants including pollen, dust, animal dander and VOCs
• Sleep mode turns off the display and reduces noise level
• Company claims AHAM Certified, ETL Certified, CARB Certified, EPA Certified

We’ve written extensively about air purifier models and consistently rank Levoit as one of the top thanks to its efficiency, portability, and price point. Reviews remain consistently above average for the company’s variety of product offerings, and in our opinion the Levoit Core 300-P is one of the best bangs for your buck. While you miss out on some of the smart features of the other products in the lineup, its middle of the pack price point and overall performance make it one of our top picks.

Customers agree it works well in medium-sized rooms, and those with allergies saw a noticeable difference in air quality. One reviewer noted that both they and their rabbit suffered from bad allergies, and both of them have seen breathing improvement.

Another said, “We are really happy that we chose the Levoit air purifier for our home. The dust is much less than before and the air smells clean. The air purifier is quiet and [it's] doing a great job. It was worth the money that we paid for it and affordable.”

For complaints, some say the sensor quality is inefficient, others felt it was too loud, and a few questioned its longevity (noting they felt it wouldn’t last long under constant use).

6. Large Room Air Purifier: COWAY Airmega 350 Air Purifier

Price: $339 at Amazon

Rating: 4.4-stars; 1,000+ company ratings

Filter Type: HEPA & Carbon | Effective Range: 546 sq. ft. (up to 2,600 sq. ft./1 hour) | CADR: 352 CFM

Features:

• 3-in-1 filtration system: Vacuumable pre-filter, true HEPA filter and activated carbon filter
• Targets airborne pollutants including pollen, dust, animal dander and VOCs
• PM 10 Sensor and real-time AQI
• Smart settings: Auto, Sleep, Turbo, Eco fan speeds, timer, night light
• Sleep mode reduces noise level and display light on/off
• Energy Star Certified, CARB certified
• 3-year limited warranty

My colleague (a beginner air purifier user) has been thoroughly testing the COWAY Airmega 350 for the last month, and it's easily one of those “set it and forget it” home products. We’ve written about the COWAY Airmega AP-1512HH with its very respectable reviews and features, and at a $200+ price point. But if you need an air purifier designed for large to extra-large spaces (think open kitchen and living room floor plans), it might be wise to upgrade to the Airmega 350.

Its three-in-one filtration system is similar to the Levoit, but with a true HEPA filter to remove down to 0.01 microns of particulate matter (think pollen, pollutants, and other allergens), as well as removing unwanted cooking scents and noxious cleaning fumes from the air.

7. SinuCleanse Soft Tip Neti Pot

Price: $11.49 at Amazon

Rating: 4.5-stars; 26,900+ company ratings

Features:

• Uses the flow of gravity to flush saline solution into the nasal passages
• Comes with 30 saline packets
• Relieves nasal congestion symptoms associated with colds, allergies, and dry air
• BPA and latex-free, according to the company page

Instructions: Mix one package in 8 ounces of water for a mild cleaning solution (isotonic), or mix two packets for a more concentrated solution similar to ocean water (hypertonic). Water should be distilled, boiled, or otherwise purified. Do not continue to use it if you notice water in your ears.

Reviewers found the SinuCleanse nasal wash irrigation system to be easy to use, budget-friendly, with straightforward instructions and enough saline packs to get plenty of usage for spring allergies or a cold.

For complaints, some said it feels pretty cheap (but the price point is not $100 like some of the competitors), and some noted a stinging sensation. It can be a little messy to use.

More Home Product Reviews: Air Purifiers, Dehumidifiers And More

We expect more heat, humidity and storms this coming season according to some early summer forecasts. It’s important to stay cool, dry, and healthy, and we have a few in-depth shopping guides that can help you purchase some home essentials.

Not sure what portable air conditioner size you need for your garage, workspace or bedroom? We've got you covered. If you're suffering from terrible humidity in your basement or crawl spaces, we detail how to determine when, and what, dehumidifier might be right for you. And if these air purifier picks didn’t quite meet your needs, we have even more top air purifier picks based on our first hand testing, room sizes, CADR rating, price point, and user reviews.

• A Beginner's Guide To Air Purifiers: How They Work And Our Top Picks
• Best Pollen Air Purifiers of 2025
• Dehumidifier Guide: How It Works And Our Top Picks
• Best Portable Air Conditioners of 2025
• Best Humidifiers of 2025: How They Work, Our Top Picks

The Weather Company makes no guarantees about the efficacy or safety of products or treatments described on The Weather Company’s websites, apps, newsletters or other other digital media properties or publications. Health conditions and drug information contained are subject to change and are not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects.