Spring allergy season – How Americans are managing symptoms and choosing medications

With spring approaching in the United States, seasonal allergies may impact a significant portion of the population as per research data from YouGov Profiles. This article also reveals how Americans manage their allergies, from over-the-counter medications to specific brand preferences.

Pollen is the most common allergen

Pollen is the most prevalent allergen among American adults, with one-third (32%) reporting sensitivity. Women are more likely than men to suffer from pollen allergies (36% vs. 27%). Dust allergies are also common, affecting 22% of adults, with a higher incidence among women (26%) compared to men (17%).

Other allergens include drug allergies (19%), mold (14%), animal fur or dander (14%), food allergies (11%), insect bites or stings (10%), latex allergy (5%), and chemical allergy (5%). Across all allergy types, women consistently report higher rates of allergic reactions than men, indicating potential differences in immune response or diagnosis frequency.

Allergy medication usage and purchasing trends

To combat allergies, many Americans turn to over-the-counter (OTC) medications. In the past six months, 38% of adults have purchased allergy prevention and treatment products. Again, gender differences emerge, with 43% of women buying these medications compared to 32% of men.

When it comes to frequency of use, 18% of adults take allergy medication at least once a day, while 6% use it at least once a week. Women are more likely to take daily medication (21%) than men (15%).

Preferred allergy medication brands

As per YouGov BrandIndex research data, 26.8% of adults would consider buying Benadryl. Women (29.6%) are more likely to consider this brand than men (23.4%).

Claritin follows with 17.2% of adults expressing interest. Other popular choices include Zyrtec (13.9%), Flonase (13.9%), and Allegra (11%). Nasacort (4.4%), Xyzal (4%), Alavert (2%), and AstePro (1.9%) have lower levels of consumer consideration, suggesting that mainstream brands dominate the market.

Methodology: YouGov Profiles is based on continuously collected data and rolling surveys, rather than from a single limited questionnaire. Profiles data for Great Britain is nationally representative and weighted by age, gender, education, region, and race.

YouGov BrandIndex collects data on thousands of brands every day. Medication brands Consideration score is based on the question: When you are in the market next to purchase drugs or medical products, which of the following would you consider buying? and delivered as a percentage. Scores are based on 52-week moving average of 5,795-17,448 US adults between Feb 25, 2024, to Feb 25, 2025.