According to the CDC, nearly 1 in 3 US adults and more than 1 in 4 US children have a seasonal allergy, eczema, or food allergy. Among adults, 25.7% have a seasonal allergy, 7.3% have eczema, and 6.2% have a food allergy. Among children, 18.9% have a seasonal allergy, 10.8% have eczema, and 5.8% have a food allergy¹. As these numbers continue to grow across the nation and around the world, avoiding, managing, and treating symptoms for allergies caused by food and environmental factors will only become more important.
What are allergies?
Simply put, an allergy is caused by your immune system overreacting when it encounters a usually harmless substance in your environment. Instead of behaving neutrally when it encounters common allergens like pollen or peanuts, your immune system may cause symptoms like red eyes, an itchy rash, sneezing, coughing, a runny nose, swelling, shortness of breath, and in extreme cases, anaphylactic shock. (Food allergies are different from food poisoning.)
Worldwide, 30 to 40% of people now have some form of allergy, with hay fever, eczema, and asthma on the rise. While there are many possible culprits, the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) reports that the main driver is climate change. Its 2025 Allergy Capitals™ report shows that “climate change is driving worsening allergy seasons across the country, with a particularly noticeable impact in the southern and eastern U.S. In areas with high levels of ragweed pollen, allergy season can last nearly year-round.”
Pollen, dust, mold, and pet dander are some common environmental allergies. For many people, particularly children, some foods can also be allergens. Some of the most common foods for children to be allergic to are:
milk
eggs
peanuts
tree nuts (e.g., walnuts, almonds, pine nuts, Brazil nuts, pecans)
sesame
fish
shellfish (e.g., crustaceans and mollusks)
How to prepare for allergy season
Preparing yourself for allergy season isn’t just about avoiding uncomfortable symptoms. “Increased pollen exposure can make it difficult to manage and control allergies and asthma—causing more missed work and school days, emergency room visits, and hospital stays,” says AAFA Chief Mission Officer Melanie Carver.
As “allergy season” continues to increase in size, it may be all year-round for some people, especially those with more sensitivities. “It depends on how warm the weather is,” says Dr. Sandra Hong of the Cleveland Clinic. “If it’s really warm, people experience symptoms sooner.”
Here are a few ways to prepare for allergy season, before you experience symptoms.
Reduce exposure: Run air conditioning to keep pollens outdoors, invest in HEPA air filters, and keep pets out of your bedroom (or even outside, if you are allergic).
Travel smart: Research your destination to find out how allergies affect the locals. When you arrive, run your air conditioning in your room to keep pollen levels down inside.
Keep clean: Close your bedroom windows, use zippered covers for your pillow and mattress, and wash your bed clothes regularly. Avoid carpeted floors and ceiling fans when possible. Take a shower and change your clothes before going to bed.
Avoid pollen: Stay indoors when pollen counts are highest—between 5 and 10 am. This is especially the case on hot, dry, windy days.
For kids: Plan outdoor play closer to the evening and have them wear tight-fitting sunglasses to protect their eyes from pollen.
How to manage allergy symptoms
When you do have symptoms, there are things you can do to manage allergies caused by food and environmental factors. Talk to your doctor to make sure you’re managing your symptoms safely.
Over-the-counter medications for symptoms like congestion and sneezing
Antihistamines, which prevent the release of the chemicals that cause allergic reactions
Natural remedies like eating local honey or taking apple cider vinegar or quercetin supplements
Immunotherapy prescribed by a specialist
Elimination diets, such as dairy- or gluten-free foods
EpiPens on standby, for those with severe allergies, in case of anaphylactic attack
How Sollis supports your health during allergy season
At Sollis Health, our unlimited 24/7 care keeps our members out of the ER 99%. But we’re not just here for emergency needs: our powerful proactive and preventative care helps members feel their healthiest with Wellness Consultations to discover their baseline health, proactive treatments and procedures with medical partners, and expedited specialist referrals when they need specialized care.
If you’re struggling with allergies, Sollis can support you in the short- and long-term, whether it’s managing symptoms, getting diagnosed, seeking treatment, or receiving ER-level care for allergic reactions.
Manage symptoms: When you’re not sure if it’s an emergency, Sollis medical teams are on standby to talk, message, or email if you have questions about symptom management, from congestion and coughing to swelling or difficulty breathing.
Get diagnosed: Not sure if your sneezing, coughing, or itchy eyes are allergies or something else? Sollis offers unlimited rapid diagnostic testing for strep, RSV, flu, mono, and COVID-19 and SPOTFIRE PCR-based testing for RSV, COVID-19, flu, common cold, and strep*. With our in-house blood work, test results are available within minutes.
Specialist Care: Sollis partners with Wyndly to diagnose and treat allergy symptoms virtually. Get personalized treatment plans prescribed by doctors and administered in one of our centers. If you or your children are dealing with symptoms like runny or stuffy noses, sinus congestion, itchy or watery eyes, sneezing or coughing, poor sleep, or brain fog and fatigue caused by allergies, Wyndly can help. If preferred, our care navigation team can also help make you an in-person appointment with a local top allergist as well.
Travel safely: If you start having allergy symptoms while in a different state or even country, Sollis Health offers 24/7 travel medicine. Members can call our hotline for medical advice, support finding local care, and assistance navigating ER-level emergencies like allergic reactions.
Receive emergency care: When you’re having an emergency allergic reaction, Sollis can see you in-center without delay. Rather than lose precious moments in an urgent care or ER, your Sollis medical team makes you comfortable while addressing your symptoms without a waiting room.
Have kids with allergies?
Sollis Family members receive complimentary food and environmental allergy testing for all members under 18 and curated specialist referrals for all account members, which includes priority access to our 2,000+ network of specialists like allergists and ENTs.
Learn more about the Sollis Family Membership here.
*Rapid antigen tests are included for Sollis members. PCR tests are available at an additional fee.
