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Coating cars, driveways, windows and sidewalks, the yellow dust of pine pollen marks the allergy season - but it is usually not the cause of itching, sneezing and watery eyes.
"Yes, pine can be a true allergen for some; but often, it is a visible marker that occurs at the same time of year as a different pollen that is the source of the troublesome symptoms," said Dr. Jeffrey Nugent of the Northern Nevada Allergy Clinic in Reno.
Most people suffering from spring allergies are suspectible to grasses, tumbleweed, curly dock, maple/boxelder, juniper, birch, oak, sycamore, cottonwood, among several others. Only a few people are allergic to pine pollen. The only way to know the difference is to take a skin test, he said.
"Yes, pine can be a true allergen for some; but often, it is a visible marker that occurs at the same time of year as a different pollen that is the source of the troublesome symptoms," said Dr. Jeffrey Nugent of the Northern Nevada Allergy Clinic in Reno.
Most people suffering from spring allergies are suspectible to grasses, tumbleweed, curly dock, maple/boxelder, juniper, birch, oak, sycamore, cottonwood, among several others. Only a few people are allergic to pine pollen. The only way to know the difference is to take a skin test, he said.
"There are a few people for whom it is a dominant allergen," Nugent said.
Because people see pine pollen everywhere it is often wrongly blamed for allergies, while the real culprits are pollens in the air that are less visible.
"The truth is often stranger than fiction in allergens," he said.
Because people see pine pollen everywhere it is often wrongly blamed for allergies, while the real culprits are pollens in the air that are less visible.
"The truth is often stranger than fiction in allergens," he said.
However, the massive amounts of pine pollen can affect some people just like dust can cause people to sneeze.
Dr. Dianne Higgins, an emergency room physician at Incline Village Community Hospital, said pine pollen might not be the cause of allergies, but it still causes some people to cough and sneeze.
"The pine pollen is pretty irritating. You may not call it an allergy, but it is really irritating to your respiratory passages," Higgins said.
You treat pine pollen the same as other allergies, with an antihistamine such as Benadryl or Claritin and keep your windows closed, she said.
Dr. Dianne Higgins, an emergency room physician at Incline Village Community Hospital, said pine pollen might not be the cause of allergies, but it still causes some people to cough and sneeze.
"The pine pollen is pretty irritating. You may not call it an allergy, but it is really irritating to your respiratory passages," Higgins said.
You treat pine pollen the same as other allergies, with an antihistamine such as Benadryl or Claritin and keep your windows closed, she said.
"What you cannot see is more allergenic, but the pine pollen is plenty irritating," she said.
She has been treating about two or three asthma and allergy patients for every 12-hour shift she works at the hospital.
This year, pine pollen is extremely prolific, Nugent said, noting that dry winters followed by spring precipitation creates greater amounts of pollen.
She has been treating about two or three asthma and allergy patients for every 12-hour shift she works at the hospital.
This year, pine pollen is extremely prolific, Nugent said, noting that dry winters followed by spring precipitation creates greater amounts of pollen.
"You can park your car under a tree and it's yellow in a day," he noted. "Right now we're in the thick of it."
Windy days are the worst for pollen.
Pine trees are not pollinated by insects, but by wind. So whenever it is windy, residents can expect a cloud of yellow dust to cover any surface, create yellow waves in Lake Tahoe and generally coat everything with a greenish-yellow sheen.
Windy days are the worst for pollen.
Pine trees are not pollinated by insects, but by wind. So whenever it is windy, residents can expect a cloud of yellow dust to cover any surface, create yellow waves in Lake Tahoe and generally coat everything with a greenish-yellow sheen.
The pollen can travel for hundreds of miles.
Crystal Bay resident Ronie Cardenas recently viewed pine pollen in action. Looking out the window from her office window in her home, Cardenas saw a yellow cloud blowing over Incline Village. It was a sight she had never seen since moving to the area in 1977.
"It looked like it was on fire, but it was pollen," Cardenas said.
Crystal Bay resident Ronie Cardenas recently viewed pine pollen in action. Looking out the window from her office window in her home, Cardenas saw a yellow cloud blowing over Incline Village. It was a sight she had never seen since moving to the area in 1977.
"It looked like it was on fire, but it was pollen," Cardenas said.
