You can't be allergic to air on its own. You react to particles carried in the air, not air itself. The air is simply the medium that carries the particles that trigger allergy symptoms.

Allergies are an immune reaction to a specific protein. (1) Air itself has no protein to react to. The gases that make up the Earth’s atmosphere (mainly nitrogen, oxygen, and carbon dioxide) are not themselves allergens.

Irritation from air conditions is a related phenomenon that people often confuse with an allergic reaction, but it isn’t an allergy.

What Causes Allergy Symptoms in the Air?

Airborne particles are always the cause of allergies. These commonly include pollen from plants and pet dander – not the air itself.

Four major airborne allergens are most frequently the cause of allergy symptoms: (2,3)

• Pollen: comes from trees, grasses, weeds, and other plants.

• Pet Dander: the skin flakes of dogs, cats, and other pets (not the actual fur).

• Mold Spores: can occur both indoors and outdoors.

• Dust Mites: the waste particles from mites, sometimes confused with dust alone.

• Cockroaches: roaches are a fifth major allergen to watch for. Debris from roaches (much like dust mites) is an overlooked trigger found in many humid urban environments. (3)

Why It Feels Like You're Allergic to Air Itself

Airborne particles are sometimes too small to see with the naked eye. This is why it may seem like air itself causes allergies.

In addition, airborne particles are tiny enough to stay suspended in the air for hours, which can make it seem like “the air” causes your allergies. These particles are present indoors and outdoors, so triggers can feel like they are everywhere.

Allergen concentrations in the air can change throughout the day or week. As a result, symptoms may not neatly line up with one obvious source of exposure. This is why it's important to test for your allergy and not just rely on your feelings.

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Is it Allergies or Nonallergic Rhinitis?

Sometimes, sneezing and a runny or stuffy nose aren’t caused by an allergy. These symptoms may be due to a condition called nonallergic rhinitis (4)

Some common triggers of nonallergic rhinitis include: (4)

• Changes in the temperature or weather

• Strong odors such as perfume or household cleaning products

• Smoke, smog, or air pollution

• Spicy foods or alcohol

• Hormonal causes

In general, non-allergic rhinitis does not involve allergens, so allergy testing cannot detect them.  (4,5) Nonallergic rhinitis commonly occurs in adulthood. It may not show up until a person is between 30 and 60 years old. By contrast, allergies usually start much earlier in life.

Confusing rhinitis with allergies can lead to misdirected treatments. The idea of “air as an allergy” can likewise lead to treatments that won’t work.

Another trigger of allergy-like symptoms is cold urticaria, though much rarer: cold air can trigger an itchy reaction resembling hives. (5)This is different from the immune response brought on by allergen sensitivity, but it can sometimes be mistaken for an allergic reaction.

Can Air Conditioning Trigger Allergy Symptoms?

Air conditioning (A/C) cannot cause an allergy. However, A/C does recirculate whatever is already in the room: dust, dander, and especially mold from damp cooling coils. (7) The latter often occurs with “swamp coolers,” the A/C units that typically attach to a window.

In addition, a stuffy A/C can concentrate exposure to the real allergen, but it is never the allergen itself.  If you use A/C, keep the filter clean to reduce allergy triggers.

How to Find Out What You're Actually Reacting To

Most allergens that cause allergy symptoms are invisible to the naked eye. Guessing isn’t useful; hence, allergy testing is the only way to provide a reliable answer.

The IgE panel doctors use today is the gold standard for determining allergen sensitivity. Other modern at-home tests offer allergy testing without a clinic visit.

How Can I Get Relief From Airborne Allergies?

Avoidance alone isn’t enough to manage environmental allergies, as airborne triggers are diffuse and potentially numerous.

Some ways to get relief from airborne allergies include:

• Reduce exposure to your triggers: Avoiding airborne allergens completely can be difficult, but limiting exposure may help.

• Improve indoor air quality: Check your heating and air conditioning filters and control indoor humidity to help reduce allergens.

• Get help identifying and treating your allergies: An allergy specialist can recommend testing and treatment based on your symptoms.

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How Quello Can Help With Airborne Allergies

Our goal at Quello is to help you achieve allergy relief that lasts a lifetime, so you can enjoy your favorite activities free from the irritation that interferes with them.

Quello offers free allergy tests that specifically test for allergens such as pollen (trees, weeds, and grasses), pet dander, household insects (such as cockroaches), dust mites, and molds.

Our tests take as little as 2 minutes. Follow the steps in our kit to collect a few drops of blood and then mail them back in the return envelope. Our team of board-certified allergists will analyze your sample to measure your response to all the common allergens we test for.

All you have to do is pay your shipping fees. Once we have your test results, we'll schedule a virtual consultation with one of our specialty-trained allergy providers at no charge. 

Once we know what allergens you are most sensitive to, you can opt to create personalized allergy drops to help you overcome your allergies for good!

Ready to start your journey to allergy freedom? Order your free test kit here!

Suggest Reading

How to Reduce Indoor Allergens in Your Home

How Much Does an Allergy Test Cost? 

Skin Test vs Blood Test for Allergies

What Are Allergy Drops? Allergy Shots vs Drops