March is a tricky month: allergens are already active, but people don’t yet expect allergy season to begin.
It seems like allergies should only start when everything around is blooming. But many people notice something strange: in March, runny nose, itchy eyes, and sneezing get worse, even though the trees are just waking up. Sometimes there’s still snow on the ground, yet the symptoms already feel like the peak of allergy season. Let’s figure out why March can be one of the toughest months for people with allergies, and what can be done to get through it more easily.
Allergies in March: Dust, Mold, and Winter Allergens
Spring is a time of dramatic environmental changes: humidity, temperature, air circulation, and even the behavior of microscopic particles in the air all shift. All of this affects allergy sufferers much more than it seems.
Even if trees haven't started actively blooming yet, a large number of allergens are already present in the air.
The main reason is snowmelt. When snow begins to melt, it releases a large amount of dust, fungal spores, and organic particles that were “sealed” under the snow cover all winter.
The following are especially active during this period:
- mold spores
- outdoor dust
- microscopic remnants of last year’s plants
Mold spores are one of the most potent natural allergens, and they begin to spread much earlier than the first pollen appears.
Studies show that in March, the concentration of mold spores in the air can be high, especially during snowmelt. And if you think mold only lurks outdoors — it doesn’t. Quite dangerous mold can also be found in apartments.
Allergies at Home: Dust Mites, Dust, and Mold
Paradoxically, in early spring allergies often worsen precisely because of your apartment.
In winter, we rarely ventilate our homes, so allergens accumulate indoors:
- dust mites
- pet dander particles
- household dust
- mold spores, once again
When it starts to warm up in March, people open windows more often, move furniture, clean, and air out rooms. All the allergens accumulated over winter become airborne, causing a sharp increase in symptoms.
By the way, one of the most underrated household habits in this situation is simply washing your bed linens — how often you really need to wash them according to science is worth looking into.
In spring, allergens become active not only outdoors but also inside the home.
Tree Pollen Allergy in March: Alder, Hazel, and Birch
Many people believe that allergies only begin when flowers and green leaves appear. But some trees start releasing pollen much earlier — as early as late winter.
We’re talking primarily about trees such as:
- alder
- hazel
- birch (in some regions later, but the preparation starts early)
Their blooming is almost invisible. There are no bright flowers on the trees, and the pollen looks like ordinary dust. So a person might be confident that “nothing is blooming yet,” even though the allergen is already actively spreading through the air.
In southern regions of Russia — for example, in the Kuban, Crimea, or the North Caucasus — such trees can begin to release pollen as early as February–March. In the central part of the country, this process usually starts a bit later, closer to the end of March or April.
The special thing about tree pollen is that it's very light. Wind gusts can carry it tens and even hundreds of kilometers.
For example, birch pollen can travel great distances through air currents, so an allergic reaction sometimes occurs even in places where there are almost no such trees nearby.
And yes, a lot depends not only on the plants themselves but also on the weather.
If you understand what’s happening during this period, getting through early spring becomes much easier.
What to Do About Spring Allergies: Simple Ways to Ease Symptoms
It’s impossible to completely avoid allergens, but a few simple habits can noticeably ease your condition:
- regularly ventilate your home (if your allergy is not to pollen)
- change your bed linens once a week
- wash your face and rinse your nose with saline solutions after being outside
- do wet cleaning and use air purifiers
Another useful tip is to monitor the humidity level in your apartment. At a humidity level of about 40–50%, the number of dust mites and mold spores decreases significantly.
