Seasonal care
How to Prepare for Fall Allergy Season in Northern Virginia
Ragweed and mold peak in the fall. Start the right treatment early, reduce your exposure at home and know when to ask for a prescription.
What triggers fall allergies
- Ragweed pollen: a single plant releases up to a billion grains, and pollen travels for miles.
- Mold spores: from damp leaves, compost and soil.
- Dust mites: active indoors when the heat comes on.
Prepare before the season
- Start a daily non-drowsy antihistamine or steroid nasal spray in mid-August.
- Check pollen forecasts and plan outdoor time for later in the day after rain.
- Keep windows closed; use air conditioning with clean filters.
- Shower and change clothes after time outdoors.
- Wear a mask for raking leaves or yard work.
- Use a saline rinse to wash pollen out of your nose.
Medicines that help
- Steroid nasal sprays (fluticasone, budesonide): best for congestion; take a few days to work.
- Non-drowsy antihistamines (cetirizine, loratadine, fexofenadine): sneezing and itching. See our antihistamine guide.
- Antihistamine eye drops: itchy eyes.
- Allergy shots or tablets: for severe or year-round allergies, through an allergist.
How we can help
We help you build a seasonal plan by video, prescribe stronger options when needed, manage asthma that flares with allergies, and refer for allergy testing when it would help.
Questions people ask
Is it a cold or allergies?
Colds often bring aches and low fever and last about a week. Allergies cause itching, sneezing and clear mucus that last as long as exposure continues.
When does ragweed season end in Virginia?
Usually with the first hard frost, often in October.
Can I take allergy medicine every day?
Yes, non-drowsy antihistamines and nasal steroids are designed for daily use during the season.
Talk it through with Lydia
Ready to beat ragweed season this year? Let us plan ahead together. See a board-certified nurse practitioner virtually anywhere in Virginia, in our Woodbridge office, or straight to your front door in much of Northern Virginia.
Visits start at $85, and every membership comes with a 30-day trial.
Prefer to ask first? Text us at (571) 402-2102 or message us on WhatsApp.
