There's a lot to love about living in Houston. With thriving dining, arts and sport scenes (Go Astros!), mild winters and so much more, it makes sense that Metro Houston has added a new resident every 3.8 minutes in recent years, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

But if you're new to Houston, you should know the muggy climate means that Houston allergies are a year-round affair.

We spoke with Dr. Ashish Asawa, an allergist and immunologist with Houston Methodist, about what new Houston residents can expect from allergy season and how their sensitivities and symptoms may change after acclimating to life in Space City.

What makes Houston a hotspot for allergies?

Houston is a subtropical climate. Much of Greater Houston is in zone 9 of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Plant Hardiness Zone Map, which outlines the regional average temperatures and frost dates in the U.S. Zone 9 is characterized by long, hot and often muggy summers, and mild low temperatures that barely fall below freezing during the winters.

That means much of Houston has extended growing seasons and the ability to cultivate winter gardens. And while Houstonians' potential to grow their own fruit and veggies year-round is a bonus compared to Northern states, it does have a downside.

"Houston has a warm, humid environment," Dr. Asawa says. "This climate allows for year-round plant growth which leads to more persistent pollen production. In addition, the humid environment makes Houston a hotspot for dust mite and mold allergens, which are perennial allergens leading to year-round allergy symptoms for those with sensitivity to those allergens."

How allergy season works in Houston

If you've lived in other parts of the country, you know each region has its own variant of the "four seasons in a day" joke. Cooler temperatures and hard freezes don't just bring stunning fall foliage and snowy scenes worthy of holiday cards — they also give those with allergies a break from symptoms. In Houston, we're not as lucky.

"In other parts of the country, there are more distinct seasons leading to shorter pollen periods," Dr. Asawa says. "However, Houston's warmer year-round climate allows for extended pollen seasons, and the humidity provides the perfect environment for dust mite allergen and mold spores to proliferate year-round."

Houston's seemingly endless heat can make it feel like we're living in one long, continuous allergy season. But there is a rhythm to what's in season and what makes you sneeze. Houston follows the following patterns, notes Dr. Asawa:

• Year-round: Dust mites, mold spores and pet dander
• Winter: Tree pollen, especially Cedar pollen from Ashe juniper trees
• Spring and Summer: Grass pollen, tree pollen from ash, birch, cottonwood, maple, mesquite, mulberry, oak, pecan and pine trees, and ragweed pollen (late summer)
• Fall: Ragweed pollen, mold spores from decaying leaves and plants
  
  

Another season that Houston newcomers will have to adjust to is the Atlantic hurricane season, which runs every year from June 1 to November 30. Hurricanes can bring heavy rain, dangerous winds and floods, as well as cause extended power outages. What's less talked about: A hurricane's aftermath is the ideal environment for allergens to thrive. That includes mold, pollen and dust mites.

RELATED: 5 Tips for Avoiding Seasonal Allergy Symptoms

I'm new to Houston. Will my allergies get better or worse?

The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America releases a yearly report ranking the 100 most-populated U.S. metropolitan areas based on how challenging it is to live with allergies in those cities. These "Allergy Capitals," are ranked on pollen scores for tree, grass, and weed pollen, over-the-counter allergy medication use, and the amount of allergy specialists in the area. In 2024, Houston ranked No. 14 on the list.

"If a person is already sensitized to an allergen that is prominent in Houston, they may have immediate symptoms once they arrive," Dr. Asawa says. "Since pollen seasons are extended in Houston compared to areas that have more distinct seasons, there may be more persistent symptoms when they move to Houston."

There are thirteen other metropolitan areas ahead of Houston on the "Allergy Capitals" list — many of them in the Southeast or Great Plains. If someone struggled with allergies before moving to Houston, Dr. Asawa says it is possible to find allergy relief (albeit temporary) with a move.

"If a person has sensitivity to allergens that are not common in the Houston area or this region of Texas, then their allergy symptoms may initially improve," Dr. Asawa says. "However, after two or more years of living in Houston, it is common for a person with a history of allergies to start having sensitivity to the allergens that are prominent in our region."

Seeing people wearing winter parkas when the temperature first dips below 60 degrees can make transplants from states with longer, colder winters roll their eyes. But soon enough, your body acclimates, and even the most winter-hardened Midwesterners find themselves saying things like, "It doesn't feel that bad," when it's still 87 degrees at 9 p.m. in August. Dr. Asawa says this acclimation to our new environment and climate can make it possible for allergies to spring up (pun intended).

"Allergic diseases are due to genetic and environmental factors," Dr. Asawa says. "In the right environment, allergic sensitivities and therefore allergic symptoms can develop in a person that did not previously have symptoms. With Houston having year-round allergens and more extended high pollen seasons, it is very possible to experience allergen sensitivities after moving to this area."

How to manage seasonal allergies at home — and when to see an allergy specialist

Over-the-counter allergy medicines, including antihistamines and nasal steroid sprays, can help some people find relief from a flare-up of seasonal allergy symptoms.

"As needed, over-the-counter nasal sprays and oral antihistamines can improve some symptoms, but even these medications have their own risks and benefits," Dr. Asawa says.

Antihistamines can help with nasal congestion, sneezing, and itchy eyes that can occur. Nasal steroid sprays target more severe congestion, as well as the post-nasal drip and scratchy throat that can develop. Antihistamines are fast acting compared to steroid nasal sprays, which may need a couple of days of use to see a benefit.

It's also important to note that nasal steroid sprays are not the same as nasal decongestants. Nasal decongestant sprays can cause rebound congestion if taken more than three consecutive days.

Dr. Asawa says that people often think of allergies as affecting just the nose and sinuses. However, he says allergies can also manifest as respiratory conditions such as chronic cough or asthma or skin conditions such as eczema or hives. Often, people may not attribute their chronic cough or skin condition to everyday allergens. If you can't find relief from allergy symptoms, or you're not quite sure what's causing a respiratory or skin condition, you'll want to talk with your primary care provider.

"My recommendation is any patient with allergy symptoms or concerns about potential symptoms, seek medical care with a board-certified allergist/immunologist," Dr. Asawa says. "An allergist will be able to diagnose the condition, identify the allergic triggers, review the risks and benefits of different therapies that may include allergen avoidance strategies, symptom relief medications, and/or disease-modifying therapies, and create a tailored treatment plan that will address each patient's specific concerns and needs."