Researchers aren’t really sure why some people have outdoor allergies while others do not. In general, allergies have a strong hereditary component meaning you have a greater chance of developing allergies if one or both of your parents has them. However, scientists do not believe that people inherit sensitivity to specific allergens, but instead inherit a general tendency to develop some type of allergy or allergies. Most people with allergies are allergic to more than one allergen. It is possible that some people have a genetic tendency to develop allergic reactions because they are more likely to produce to IgE antibodies than people without allergies.
A person can develop allergies at any age, whether that person is already allergic to several allergens or if that person has never experienced an allergic reaction to anything.
Other risk factors for developing outdoor allergies include:
- Family history of allergies
- Male gender
- Being born during pollen season
- Being a firstborn child
- Exposure to cigarette smoke during your first year of life
- Exposure to dust mites