My top tips for reducing autumnal allergies and hay fever symptoms.

The trees begin to lose their leaves, and you sigh a great sigh of relief thinking that the hay fever and seasonal allergies season is finally over. Then you realise that you are still getting symptoms – itchy eyes, runny nose, a dermatitis flare. It is very possible and even probable that you are suffering from Autumnal allergies. 
 
TV adverts and magazine articles would have you think that hay fever and seasonal allergies only happen in the spring and summer, but that isn’t the case.  Autumn brings its own set of allergens ready to trigger a runny nose, atopic dermatitis, and itchy eyes. If it isn’t plant pollen, what are the autumnal triggers that can cause so many issues? 
 
Weed pollen, mould spores and house mites are the most common triggers for Autumnal allergies, read on to find out more details and to get my 5 tips to lessen the autumnal allergy symptoms.
 
Weed Pollen 
 
Not all pollen producing plants flower in spring.  A whole category of weeds flower in the autumn and produce the highly allergenic weed pollen. These plants usually flower from late August until the first frost (usually around the end of November but growing later with climate change). This category of plants includes common weeds found in the UK such as nettles and sorrel but also varieties that are much newer to the UK and Europe such as the American Ragweed. Not only is ragweed a recent invader, but it also produces one of the highest amounts of pollen, causing uncomfortable hay fever and dermatitis symptoms in many sufferers.  
 
Mould Spores
 
Mould is around us all the time, but at this time of year levels peak with the falling leaves gently composting on the ground releasing large amounts of allergenic spores.  These are the main types of mould which have been highlighted as being triggers for allergy symptoms: 
 
Cladosporium Herbarum – this is a black mould that you can sometimes be found on bathroom walls or in a fridge, but it is also found on rotting vegetation. This is the considered the most allergenic of the moulds as it is easily airborne and so can spread quickly. 
 
 
Penicillium Notatum – found in decomposing leaves and soil. This mould is also the type you find on food that is going off eg. bread and fruit. 
 
Alternaraia Alternata – mainly found in rotting wood and therefore, forests, but can also be present on food and textiles. 
 
Dust Mites
Many sufferers of asthma, eczema or hay fever also have a dust mite allergy and whilst dust mites exist all year, reactions tend to peak in autumn as the weather becomes damp but remains relatively warm and we retreat inside and close our doors and windows, but we haven’t yet put our heating on. 
 
5 Tips to Lesson the Autumnal Allergy Symptoms

• Avoid stomping through fallen leaves as the movement will shake up any pollen or mould spores.
• Mould spores like the damp, so ensure your home is well ventilated and consider furnishings that can be easily wiped or washed.
• Check your property for any signs of damp or mould and consider purchasing some dehumidifiers for some of the less well-ventilated areas of your home and/or the bedrooms
• Avoid drying your washing on radiators as this drastically increases the amount of humidity in the air. 
• Remember to clean your fridge regularly as mould often builds in the more hard-to-reach shelves

 
If you were interested in this article, you may be interested in these other blogs I’ve previously published: 
 
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Read more by clicking below to see my previously published articles: 

• Motivated to change but struggling to stay on track? Tips for long term transformation.

• Symptoms but no idea what’s triggering them? Here are some tips to unravel the mystery.  
• Top Tips for Eating for the Planet without Compromising Your Nutrition 
• I want to eat more plant-based but pulses give me terrible digestive issues
• What is the atopic march?
• Why is eczema/atopic dermatitis itchier at night?
• You’ve been diagnosed with an atopic condition, but what does that mean? 
• Atopic dermatitis/eczema – a chronic condition that effects all ages 
• The skin microbiome, the key to good skin health  
• If one-size-fits all diets worked, don’t you think we would have the magic formula by now? 
  
  

Who Am I? 
I’m Jessica Fonteneau, the Eczema and Digestive Health Nutrition Expert. I’ve worked with hundreds of clients to help them change their diets, better manage their flares, and find relief.
 
My vocation is to help those with eczema and digestive issues, because I have suffered with these interlinked conditions since I was 6 months old, and I truly know what it is like to experience these debilitating conditions. 
 
Every client I have ever worked with has their own triggers and ideal nutrition. There is no such thing as ‘one-size-fits-all’. Whether you work with me one-to-one or use my guided tools, my objective is to help you uncover what works best for you, so that you take back control and experience relief. 
 
My guided programmes are only suitable for adults as children have very specific nutrition requirements. I do, however, work with many child clients as part of my clinic. 
 
I also offer two free communities for adults caring for children with eczema and digestive symptoms, feel free to come and join us and get some well-deserved support. 

• Free community for adults with skin and/or digestive issues
• Free community for carers of children with skin and/or digestive issues

 
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Interested in what I do and who I am? Go to my website: www.jessicafonteneaunutrition.com