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Q: With COVID-19 keeping a lot of us isolated, I am being encouraged to go outside now and then — at a safe distance from other people, of course! But with springtime coming, how do I treat the itchy, watery eyes and sneezing that I get from seasonal allergies?

A: The warmer weather inspires us to spend time outside, but it also brings a cover of yellow pollen from trees, weeds and grasses. Pollen can cause an allergic reaction: itchy or watery eyes, sneezing and congestion.

For many, these allergies depend on the type of pollen prevalent during a particular season. For example, tree pollen can start to appear in early to mid-March and April. Grass pollen season begins in May, and weed pollen arrives in late August into the fall. 

If you are a seasonal allergy sufferer, there are a few things you can do to make this time of year easier:

Avoid pollen when you can. Trying to avoid outside activities on days when pollen levels are high can help. The website pollen.com is a useful resource for tracking pollen levels and types prevalent in your area. If you know what kind of pollen gives you the most symptoms, then you can plan and prepare.

Try a nasal wash/neti pot. For a quick solution, try over-the-counter saline sprays or drops. Saline solution is soothing to the nasal passages and can dry up congestion that can occur with allergies. 

At home, you can try a saline nasal wash pot, or neti pot. Distilled saline solution is either sprayed or poured through the nasal passages using the neti pot device, washing out allergens and congestion that can cause an allergic reaction. Properly using a neti pot with saline solution has proven to be safe, with most people experiencing few, if any, side effects. When they occur, these can include nasal burning, headache and nausea.

Important: When using a neti pot, it is imperative to always use distilled water (or tap water that has been boiled for three minutes and cooled) to eliminate any bacteria, amoebae or fungi in the water source. Not doing so can be dangerous and, in rare cases, fatal.

Get relief with over-the-counter products. One easily available option is an antihistamine, which blocks histamine, a compound released in the body following exposure to an allergen. Histamine release is what causes allergy symptoms including runny nose, itchy and watery eyes, and possibly rash or hives. 

Older antihistamines such as Benadryl or Chlor-Tabs are effective in treating allergy symptoms such as hives, runny nose, itching and watery eyes. But they can cause side effects such as drowsiness, dizziness and dry mouth. 

Newer antihistamines are available — including Claritin, Zyrtec, Allegra and Xyzal — that have fewer side effects and are taken once daily.  

Another over-the-counter option is a steroid nasal spray such as Nasacort, Flonase or Rhinocort. These nasal sprays work directly in the nasal passages to help relieve the symptoms of allergies as well as post-nasal drip and congestion. Their side effects can include dryness, sneezing and throat irritation. 

As with any over-the-counter product, be sure to chat with your local pharmacists to make sure that each medication is the best choice for you and that you know how to best use it.

Leighton Mascari is a fourth-year Pharm.D. student at VCU School of Pharmacy. Upon graduation, she will begin her PGY-1 community-based pharmacy residency with VCU at Bremo Pharmacy.