With spring working steadily towards summer, allergy season in southern California is in full swing, according to Santa Clarita allergists.

Dr. Houshang Farhadian is an allergy & asthma specialist practicing in Valencia, and is affiliated with Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital and Antelope Valley Hospital.

According to Dr. Farhadian, the heavy rain that fell over the Santa Clarita Valley last winter is the main culprit behind the severity of the current allergy season.

“It caused more growth of plants on the hills, it’s definitely the cause of all the pollen,” said Farhadian. “The flowering this year was fantastic, and the trees have had a good benefit from the rain as well.”

Climate researchers say rising temperatures and higher concentrations of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere are prolonging the pollen production seasons and increasing the amount of pollen that plants produce, according to a study released this year in The Lancet Planetary Health magazine.

“It’s true that we all love to be out in the spring, but for some who suffer from allergies spring is more difficult,” said Farhadian.

More than 50 million people in the United States suffer from allergies and hay fever, according to the CDC. Most seasonal allergies are caused by pollen, the fine powder that comes from the stamen of flowering plants, as well as several species of trees and grass.

“We have been pretty busy this season,” said Farhadian.

Farhadian has been treating more cases than usual for the season, with higher numbers of patients coming in with eye irritation, nasal congestion and even skin irritation due to spring allergies.

“Eczema is common this year, we treat the skin problems but we have had to decide to treat with allergy injections in some cases,” said Farhadian. “We have also been having alot of patients with hives, which is more common with food ingestion, because of people breathing in and then the pollen enters the (digestive tract).”

Farhadian also shared his concern for patients with asthma that have been affected by the pollen.

“We have had more patients in past month than usual,” said Farhadian. “The children are missing school, adults and parents have difficulty working.”

The times with the highest concentration of pollen occur at around 10 in the morning and 2 in the afternoon, according to Farhadian. While the best way to combat allergies is to simply not go out during those times, he acknowledges that for those who work or school-age children, this is simply not practical.

“I suggest that at home and in the office use an air purifier, locally or in an air conditioning system, as that usually prevents some of the reactions,” said Farhadian. ‘If possible, try not to go out during the weekend during those times, but instead in the evening after 6 or 7 when the pollen concentration is lower.”

Farhadian wants Santa Clarita residents to be aware that not all over-the-counter drugs may work the same for everyone, and that different drugs may have side effects. If over-the-counter drugs are simply not cutting it, Farhadian suggests seeing an allergist.

Farhadian especially cautions against using Benadryl improperly, stating that although it is a
“good quick anti-histamine” the drowsiness that the drug can cause may be dangerous for driving adults or simply inconvenient for children who are in school.

For emergency situations, Santa Clarita residents should call emergency services, or for non-life threatening but still major reactions, patients should make an appointment with an allergist for treatment.

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