Relieving Allergies
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Allergic rhinitis affects up to 30% of people worldwide and can have a real impact on everyday life.1 If you live with allergies, you know how symptoms such as sneezing, a blocked or runny nose, and itchy, watery eyes can disrupt sleep, drain energy, and make it harder to focus on the things that matter.
From fluffy kittens to lush lawns and shady trees, some of life’s best moments can come with unwanted allergy symptoms. Whether symptoms appear during pollen season or year-round, we’re here to help you better understand allergies, recognize common triggers, and find ways to manage symptoms so you can enjoy more of the world around you.
It can mean missing time outdoors when pollen counts are high, struggling to concentrate at school or work, or feeling uncomfortable during everyday activities. And allergies aren’t limited to a particular season. While pollen is a common trigger, indoor allergens such as dust mites, pet dander, and mold can cause symptoms year-round.
Rising rates of respiratory allergies and seasonal allergies in some regions have been associated with factors such as urban air pollution and other environmental changes.2,3 Understanding your triggers and available symptom management options is therefore increasingly important.
What are Bayer's trusted self-care solutions for allergy relief?
ClaritinTM is a family of allergy products that provides proven, non-drowsy, all-day relief from runny or itchy nose, sneezing, itchy, watery eyes, and itchy throat. Its active ingredient, loratadine, is an antihistamine that blocks histamine, an inflammatory molecule released by the immune system during an allergic reaction.4 Claritin targets the receptors in your eyes, nose, and throat to help stop symptoms at their source. Because it has minimal effect on histamine receptors in the brain, Claritin provides allergy relief without drowsiness, so people can focus on what matters.
Claritin comes in many forms and flavors. It offers relief for both indoor and outdoor allergies, for adults and children, helping people enjoy everyday life as if they didn’t have allergies.
Portfolio of Claritin products:
- Claritin® – 24-hour, non-drowsy, multi symptom allergy product for indoor and outdoor allergies, relieving sneezing, runny nose, and itchy, watery eyes.
- ClariCare® – a non-medicated, plant-based solution that contains a herbal ingredient (butterbur Ze339) to help ease multi-symptom discomfort, offering a natural alternative for people who prefer drug-free options.
- Claritin‑D® – combines an antihistamine with a nasal decongestant to relieve common allergy symptoms such as sneezing, runny nose, itchy, watery eyes, and itchy nose or throat, plus sinus congestion.
- ClariSpray® – fast-acting nasal decongestant spray that helps relieve nasal allergy symptoms through its no-drip nasal spray technology.
- Children’s Claritin® and Claritin Juniors® – non-drowsy allergy solutions in kid-friendly forms and flavors, providing relief from sneezing, runny nose, itchy, watery eyes, and itchy nose or throat, tailored to children within the recommended age and dose ranges.
- Aerius® (active ingredient – desloratadine) is a non-drowsy antihistamine that offers fast, 24-hour relief from multiple allergy symptoms in a single daily dose. It helps relieve sneezing, runny or itchy nose, nasal congestion, itchy palate and ears, itchy throat, allergic cough, and itchy, red or watery eyes, supporting normal functioning at work, at school, and during everyday activities.
- Astepro® is a steroid free nasal antihistamine spray (active ingredient – azelastine) that starts to relieve nasal allergy symptoms within 30 minutes and provides up to 24-hour relief. It helps reduce nasal congestion, runny nose, sneezing, and itchy nose and is available for adults and children over 6 years of age.
Common Questions about Allergies
Your immune system is designed to protect you from threats like viruses and bacteria. With allergies, it mistakes harmless substances like pollen or pet dander for something dangerous and triggers a defense response. This overreaction leads to the release of inflammatory mediators such as histamine, which cause familiar symptoms like sneezing, a runny or blocked nose, and itchy eyes. Bayer provides educational information and self-care solutions that can help people better understand and manage allergy symptoms.
Allergic rhinitis is influenced by both genetics and environmental factors. Some people are genetically more susceptible to developing a type 2, IgE-mediated immune response to otherwise harmless substances such as pollen, dust mites, or pet dander.5 When exposed to these allergens, their immune system can become sensitized and react strongly, triggering allergy symptoms. Others may be exposed to the same allergens but never develop symptoms. In short, it’s not just about what you’re exposed to, but how your immune system responds.
Focus on three things: how symptoms start (onset), how long they last (duration), and whether you feel otherwise well. Allergies tend to start quickly after exposure to a trigger and can last as long as the trigger is present. Common symptoms include sneezing, a runny or blocked nose, and itchy or watery eyes, while people generally feel well otherwise. Colds tend to develop more gradually and are more likely to be accompanied by symptoms such as a sore throat, fatigue, body aches, or fever. Most colds improve within about 7–10 days. Through websites such as Claritin, Bayer offers resources to help people identify common respiratory and allergy symptoms and make informed self-care decisions.
Common allergens can be grouped into outdoor and indoor triggers. Outdoor allergens include pollen from trees, grasses, and weeds, which often vary by season. Indoor allergens include dust mites, pet dander, and mold. Unlike seasonal pollen allergies, indoor allergens can trigger symptoms throughout the year. Dust mites and mold may be more common in warm, humid environments, while pet dander can remain in the environment for extended periods.
It depends on what a person is allergic to and how much of that allergen is present in the environment. Different plants release pollen at different times of the year, so symptoms often follow seasonal patterns. Weather can also play a role – warmer temperatures, changing rainfall patterns, and longer growing seasons may increase pollen production and extend exposure. As a result, some allergy seasons can feel much worse than others.
It's also important to remember that allergic rhinitis affects people differently. Some experience symptoms only at certain times of year, while others have symptoms that persist throughout the year. The severity of symptoms can also vary from mild to more disruptive, depending on both the level of exposure and an individual's sensitivity to allergens.
Antihistamines and decongestants both help with allergy symptoms, but they work in different ways and target different problems.
- Antihistamines: When you have allergies, your body releases inflammatory mediators predominantly histamine, which causes symptoms like sneezing, runny nose, itchy eyes, and an itchy throat. Antihistamines block the effects of histamine, helping to reduce these “itchy, runny, sneezy” symptoms. They are often used daily and many newer antihistamines are non-drowsy, making them suitable for daytime use.
- Decongestants: Decongestants are designed to relieve a blocked, stuffy nose. They work by shrinking swollen blood vessels in the nasal passages, which helps air flow more easily through the nose. Decongestants are usually taken for a short period of time when congestion is most bothersome and are not intended for long-term, continuous use.
Because they work differently, people sometimes use both types together, for example in a combination product like an antihistamine with a decongestant - when they have sneezing and itching along with nasal congestion. Bayer encourages consumers to seek guidance from pharmacist or healthcare professional to choose which option, or combination, is most appropriate for your symptoms and health situation.
The number of children with allergic rhinitis is increasing worldwide.7 Environmental factors and time spent indoors play a role. Uncontrolled allergies can significantly affect a child’s daily life.8 They can disrupt sleep, reduce concentration, and lead to more missed school days. This can impact learning, mood, and overall well-being, and may even affect social interactions. Timely diagnosis, guideline-based care, and allergy-friendly classrooms are essential to reducing the burden of allergic rhinitis on children worldwide. Bayer supports allergy education and awareness to help families better understand and manage allergy symptoms in children.
If you suspect allergies, a bit of preparation can make the visit more productive and less stressful. Track symptoms ahead of time. Take note what symptoms occur, when they appear, how severe they are, and how they affect your child’s daily life. This helps your doctor spot patterns and identify possible triggers. Be ready to answer a few key questions, such as:
- When symptoms started and how they have changed
- Any family history of allergies
- Treatments or medications already tried
- Where symptoms tend to occur (indoors, outdoors, or both)
Bringing this information to the appointment helps your doctor make a clearer diagnosis and recommend the most effective next steps.
This site is intended to provide information to an international audience. Not all products discussed on this site may be available in your country and local prescribing information and approved indications may differ from country to country.
1 PubMed Central. The Unmet Global Health Need of Severe and Complex Allergies: Meeting the Challenge. Available at https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3488929/
2 Schreurs W et al. 25-year retrospective longitudinal study on seasonal allergic rhinitis associations with air temperature in general practice. NPJ Prim Care Respir Med. 2022;DOI:10.1038/ s41533-022-00319-2.
3 D'Amato G. Effects of climatic changes and urban air pollution on the rising trends of respiratory allergy and asthma. Multidiscip Respir Med. 2011;6(1):28-37.
4 Linton S, Hossenbaccus L, Ellis AK. Available at: Evidence-based use of antihistamines for treatment of allergic conditions. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2023 Oct;131(4):412-420. doi:10.1016/j.anai.2023.07.019
5 PubMed Central. Allergy, Anaphylaxis, and Nonallergic Hypersensitivity: IgE, Mast Cells, and Beyond. Available at https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9841766/
6 Bousquet J et al. Allergic Rhinitis and its Impact on Asthma (ARIA) 2008. Allergy. 2008;63:8-160
7 Licari A et al. Epidemiology of allergic rhinitis in children: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract. 2023;11(8):2547-56.
8 EMJ. Global Perspectives on Challenges and Opportunities in Managing Allergic Rhinitis in Children: Taking the School Environment as a Case. Available at EMJ.
