How to prevent or deal with grass allergies

July 9, 2013 10:17 PM

I stopped weeding the yard a few years ago because my grass allergies are pretty bad. Even when I've covered my skin with gloves, jeans, and covered shoes I've gotten so itchy that I couldn't sleep at night. Bt the weeds come fast and furious in our yard and my husband has a hard time pulling them all, even though he uses Roundup to help keep them at bay. So I'd like to help if I can, and am wondering if there are effective ways to protect my skin to minimize allergic reactions. OTC itch medicines haven't made much of a difference for me.
posted by lirael2008 to Home & Garden (14 answers total)

Best answer: This is a great question for an allergist. I have quite a few friends and family members for whom this is a big issue, and they now get allergy shots every few months to help bring their histamine reactions down so that they are not as inundated by allergy symptoms throughout the year. Talk to your GP about getting a referral. It's really worth the trip.
posted by These Birds of a Feather at 10:21 PM on July 9, 2013 [1 favorite]

Best answer: You might also look into the type of grass you have in your yard, some grasses are more allergenic than others. A lot of the yards in my neighborhood have this really fine bladed, densely packed, slow growing grass in them and it seems to be much less of an allergy issue, as well as much easier to maintain and more resistant to weeds.
posted by fshgrl at 12:02 AM on July 10, 2013

Another angle: plant more grass to choke out the weeds. We planted clover in the back and side yards and I love to look out the kitchen window at all those pretty blooms. Our yard man sets his mower higher in order not to take off all the clover heads. You will not have a green velvet lawn, but the clover improves the soil and is better than weeds.
posted by Cranberry at 12:09 AM on July 10, 2013

This doesn't directly address the allergies, but also consider leaving the grass a little longer; it can grow thicker (the leaves are how it feeds, after all) and more easily block out the weeds.
posted by notsnot at 4:48 AM on July 10, 2013

Best answer: You need to see an allergist for help, if OTC medications and barriers aren't doing the trick. You'll likely get skin testing, perhaps a course of allergy shots (extremely effective!) and prescription medication.

Allergy shots are time-intensive at first--you have to be persistent--but they are amazing. I have gone from taking allergy medication every day and having asthma attacks with every URI to no allergy symptoms, ever. And I live in one of the pollen capitals of the US. I have had excellent results.
posted by FergieBelle at 5:51 AM on July 10, 2013

Maybe this is what you mean by OTC anti-itch medicines, but have you tried an antihistamine like Zyrtec or Claritin?
posted by MadamM at 6:29 AM on July 10, 2013

Definitely see an allergist!

I am not sure if by OTC anti-itch medicines you are referring to benedryl creams or Zyrtec or Allegra. If you haven't tried the Zyrtec/Allegra/Claritin route, try that.

You can try covering up when weeding, but remember that whatever you are wearing is now covered in allergens. You could try covering up, and then immediately throwing your clothes in the wash and showering. Treat your gloves/shoes/whatever like they are contaminated and wash them all separately from your regular clothes. Also, this probably goes without saying, but if you are currently hanging your laundry to dry outside, stop doing that!

Seriously, though I can't recommend going to an allergist enough. I haven't gone the allergy shots route, but for me a prescription for singulair and a steroid nosespray has been life-changing.
posted by inertia at 6:53 AM on July 10, 2013

Did you take any Benadryl in the tablet form?

You should go hit up the allergist.
posted by discopolo at 7:01 AM on July 10, 2013

If you haven't tried them, I would try OTC Zyrtec, Claritin or Allegra. You will need to take your dose at least a couple hours before you actually move into the allergic environment in my experience.

Anti-itch just soothes the symptom after it already occurs and is pretty useless for prevention.
posted by rocketpup at 8:05 AM on July 10, 2013

I get pretty terrible hives due to pollen, drove me nuts before my allergist helped me figure out the cause. Luckily taking Allegra every day keeps me sane, but nothing marketed as "anti-itch" did a damn thing. So if allergy shots aren't an option (and the expense is a bit much for me), there might be an antihistamine in pill form that will do the trick.
posted by Tequila Mockingbird at 8:25 AM on July 10, 2013

A friend with severe grass allergies swears by local honey. He took a spoonful every day for a year, the next summer, virtually no grass allergy! He says he does it again in spring. Look around online for more on this approach.

But, yeah, it's so worth talking to an allergist to see about OTC meds to cope or something more.
posted by amanda at 8:29 AM on July 10, 2013 [1 favorite]

I hire a person to deal with my yard. I so allergic to trees and grass that I'm miserable just breathing air. I even get whiffs and start choking when the guys cut the grass outside of our office.

Some things you just hire people to do for you.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 9:32 AM on July 10, 2013

It's possible that even though it's your skin reacting, you're actually reacting to inhaling the pollen through your nose and mouth.
posted by radioamy at 11:36 AM on July 10, 2013

Response by poster: Thanks everyone. I'd seen an allergist a few years ago, but all I can remember them saying is to avoid the things I tested positive for. I didn't know allergy shots existed. And what I've tried is OTC anti-itch lotions and Claritin. I also have eczema and that doesn't help things.
posted by lirael2008 at 5:51 PM on July 12, 2013