Morning or evening: When is pollen worst for your allergies?

Spring can bring warmer days and more time outdoors, but it can also bring sneezing, itchy eyes and runny noses for people with pollen allergies.

If you suffer from seasonal allergies, you may have wondered whether the time you step outside makes a difference.

Pollen levels can change throughout the day, and weather conditions such as wind, temperature and rain can also affect how much pollen you encounter.

Is pollen worse in the morning?

Pollen levels often rise earlier in the morning as plants release pollen into the air.

The Allergy Foundation of South Africa (AFSA) says pollen counts tend to be higher earlier in the morning, settle during the day and can increase again around dusk.

This means people who react strongly to pollen may experience different levels of exposure depending on when they spend time outside.

However, there is no single time that will always have the highest pollen level. The type of plant, location and weather conditions can all change the pattern.

Watch out around dusk too

The morning is not the only time allergy sufferers may need to pay attention.

AFSA says pollen levels can increase again around dusk, while its guidance on seasonal allergies recommends avoiding peak pollen periods such as sunset where possible.

This means an evening walk may not necessarily provide an escape from pollen.

Checking local pollen information can give allergy sufferers a better idea of conditions in their area rather than relying on the time of day alone.

Weather can change pollen levels

Weather plays an important role in how much pollen gets into the air and where it travels.

Warm weather can encourage plants to release pollen, while wind can carry the tiny grains through the air and over longer distances.

This can make windy spring days particularly uncomfortable for some people with pollen allergies.

Rain can change conditions too. Rainfall can remove some pollen from the air, but pollen levels do not remain the same from one day to the next.

South African pollen researchers say rain, wind, temperature and humidity can all affect the amount of pollen in the air.

Instead of relying only on the clock, people with pollen allergies can check local pollen counts and pay attention to the weather.