

And check out a couple of our highly rated air purifiers:Īllergen avoidance techniques may not always be enough. An air purifier might help, too: See Consumer Reports’ air purifier buying guide here. “You want to keep doors and windows closed, so no pollen can get in,” Lockey says. You may be tempted to throw your windows open, but those lovely breezes can carry pollen into your home. Even if you’re not allergic to your cat or dog, keep pets off your bed-and if possible, out of the room entirely-if they spend any time outdoors. (Skip nasal decongestant sprays, or use them only for a couple of days, because they can cause rebound congestion.) You can use these products as often as you want, says Sandra Hong, MD, an allergist at Cleveland Clinic, but it’s a particularly good idea after you’ve been outdoors and before bed.

This helps clear a clogged-up nose and wash out pollen and other allergens that may have accumulated there.

This helps wash off pollen that’s collected on your skin and hair during the day so that you’re not literally sleeping with allergens. on days when counts are highest, recommends the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. So, monitor local pollen counts and try to stay indoors between 5 a.m. One of the most effective strategies is also one of the most straightforward: reducing your exposure to allergens.
