When I had alopecia areata, I noticed a pattern that took me years to fully understand: I would experience more patches of hair loss during certain seasons, especially in spring and early autumn. At first, I thought it was due to stress or coincidence. But as I deepened my clinical understanding and began supporting others with autoimmune conditions, the picture became clearer. There’s often a seasonal rhythm to autoimmune flares—and environmental allergies may play a bigger role than we think.
The hidden link between allergies and autoimmunity
Your immune system is like a highly trained guard dog. It’s constantly scanning, ready to act—and sometimes, it becomes too reactive. Seasonal allergies, triggered by pollen, mould spores, or other airborne particles, are technically a sign that your immune system is mounting a response to what it sees as a threat. For most people, this shows up as sneezing, itchy eyes, congestion. But if you have an autoimmune condition, this extra immune activity can tip the scales.
Think of your immune resilience as a glass of water. Every drop—whether it’s stress, allergens, blood sugar swings, gut imbalances, or nutrient deficiencies—adds to that glass. If it overflows, symptoms emerge. For me, that overflow often looked like new patches of hair loss.
Clinically, I often see that clients with autoimmune conditions—whether alopecia, Hashimoto’s, or lupus—tend to have more histamine sensitivity than they realise. Histamine is a compound released during allergic reactions, but it also affects digestion, mood, and skin. When histamine builds up faster than your body can break it down (due to genetic factors, gut dysbiosis, or chronic inflammation), it contributes to that “full glass” effect.
In clients, I’ve observed that this histamine load can trigger flares, worsen fatigue, and even affect sleep and mood. Those with already heightened immune activity are especially vulnerable to these seasonal surges.
This issue can be worsened by mould toxicity. If you’re keen to learn how to test for mould in your body, you can find out more here.
What you can do
Here’s how I support myself—and clients—through allergy-triggered autoimmune flares:
- Support histamine breakdown: One of the first areas I focus on is histamine breakdown, particularly by supporting the DAO enzyme, which is responsible for clearing histamine in the gut. When the gut lining is inflamed—due to stress, alcohol, dysbiosis, or processed foods—this enzyme becomes sluggish, and histamine builds up. To help ease this burden, I reduce alcohol, limit ultra-processed foods, and focus on nutrient-dense meals that naturally support DAO activity. Key nutrients like vitamin B6, vitamin C, and copper play an essential role here, and if needed, I bring them in through targeted supplementation..
- Eat anti-inflammatory, low-histamine foods: Food choices matter too, especially during allergy-heavy seasons like spring and autumn. I tend to simplify my meals during these times—steering clear of histamine-rich or histamine-liberating foods like aged cheeses, leftovers, fermented products, spinach, and tomatoes. Instead, I lean into fresh, simply prepared meals using ingredients that are rich in antioxidants and polyphenols. Omega-3 fatty acids from wild oily fish or chia seeds, colourful produce like blueberries and red peppers, and herbs such as thyme and basil all help to calm the immune system and reduce the inflammatory load. You can also test for foods that may trigger a histamine response using the P88 Dietary Antigen Screen — a comprehensive food reactivity panel. I use this with clients and have seen phenomenal improvements in skin issues and hair growth. You can learn more here.
- Use natural antihistamines: I also use natural antihistamines consistently during allergy season. Quercetin, which is found in apples and onions, has become a staple in my toolkit, both in food and supplement form. Nettles—either as tea or capsules—offer a gentle but effective antihistamine effect, and I often increase my vitamin C intake as well to further support histamine clearance and adrenal health. For many clients, just a few weeks on these nutrients can make a tangible difference in how their body responds to seasonal triggers.
- Focus on liver support: Supporting the liver is another cornerstone of my seasonal approach. The liver plays a huge role in clearing out histamine and other inflammatory compounds, so I make sure it’s not overwhelmed. I bring in foods like broccoli sprouts, rocket, and bitter greens, which enhance the liver’s detox pathways and promote bile flow. I also rely on herbal teas like milk thistle and dandelion to support this process gently, without overstimulating the system.
- Don’t forget the basics: And while it might sound overly simplistic, the foundational practices—getting good sleep, staying well-hydrated, reducing sugar, and managing stress—are often the most important. When we’re underslept and overstimulated, cortisol levels rise, and that in itself can worsen histamine symptoms. That’s why I schedule more downtime during high-pollen months and take a proactive approach to regulating my nervous system with breathwork, nature walks, or even just moments of quiet before bed. I now use the Nurosym device daily to support my vagal tone and help regulate my stress response throughout the day. You can learn more about it here, and use code VJ5 for 5% off at checkout.
Seasonal self-awareness is key
Now that I understand this connection, I plan ahead for the spring and autumn. I tweak my food, increase antihistamine support, and focus more on nervous system regulation during these months. And I advise my clients to do the same. It’s not about being perfect—it’s about being prepared.
If you’re seeing patterns in your symptoms around seasonal changes, it’s not in your head. Your immune system is part of a delicate ecosystem that’s always responding to your environment. Understanding and respecting that rhythm can be the difference between spiraling symptoms and steady progress.
Ready to take the next step in your autoimmune health? Download my free guide — The Autoimmunity Recovery Plan — and discover actionable strategies you can start using today. You will find it here.
VJ Hamilton, BSc, RNT
VJ Hamilton is a Registered Nutritionist (BANT) and an expert in autoimmune disease. VJ combines her knowledge from her medical science degree in Biochemistry & Immunology with Nutritional Therapy to offer a thorough and personalised approach to support her clients based on the most current scientific research. VJ runs a virtual and in-person nutritional therapy and functional medicine practice, The Autoimmunity Nutritionist, specialising in gut skin and immune health.