PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — The last few days of warmer weather have been a blessing for some and a curse for others.

A wet spring and a hot start to summer has been the recipe for allergies for some people around the area.

The springtime showers have brought summertime flowers, which have been spewing pollen into the hot and finally dry air. But that’s not all that’s blowing around.

“A lot of mold in the air, mold spores, as well as grass pollen and weed pollen,” says Dr. David Skoner, an allergist at Allegheny General Hospital.

Indoors – mold lurks damp areas, like your basement and bathrooms. Outdoors – mold lives in soil, compost and wet areas.

No matter what you’re allergic to, the symptoms are the same.

“Itchy, watery eyes, runny nose, sneezing and congestion,” Dr. Skoner describes.

Antihistamine pills and eye drops, and inhaled steroids are the standard treatments for bad allergy symptoms.

Staying indoors in air conditioning can help, along with avoiding outdoor activities in the morning when pollen counts are the highest.

On the bright side, with summer, springtime allergies will fade away.

“It’s very active right now,” says Dr. Skoner. “But I think the good news is we’re approaching the end of it, which is typically in mid-June or so.”

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Allegheny General Hospital
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