It’s that time. With the rise of spring, comes the daily aggravation of seasonal allergies. For those living in eastern North America, with its unseasonably warm and early spring, they may have already been experiencing the red and itchy eyes, runny nose, and sneezing associated with seasonal allergies. However, we on the west coast have only recently seen the sun. With the sunshine and spring flowers come the allergies, and with that, we present the top tips for making allergies easier to bear.

Minimize Exposure – Wear sunglasses to keep pollen out of your eyes, wash your hands frequently, and try to stay in air conditioned places. Keeping the aggravating factors away from you can make you spring much easier to bear.

Track Pollen Counts – In the United States, allergy sufferers can follow the National Allergy Bureau, or download its smartphone app to be kept up to date on daily pollen counts in different regions of the United States.

Exercise at the Right Time – Pollen counts fluctuate throughout the day. In the morning to midday, pollen counts tend to be the highest, so try to exercise in the early morning, late afternoon and evening in order to limit your exposure to pollens.

Waterproof Mascara – This one is for the ladies. If you experience runny eyes, invest in good waterproof mascara. Waterproof or liquid eyeliner is also good for those who find themselves rubbing their eyes.

Moisturizer – If you find yourself constantly blowing your nose, keep a small tube of facial moisturizer in your bag to rub on your unhappy nose. It will keep it from cracking or peeling from repeated friction with a facial tissue.