An allergen is a chemical that triggers an allergic response despite its otherwise benign nature. Hay fever, also known as allergic rhinitis, is an allergic reaction to certain allergens. In seasonal allergic rhinitis, pollen is the most prevalent allergen. These are allergy symptoms that appear when the seasons change.

According to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology, over 8% of individuals in the United States suffer with allergic rhinitis (AAAAI). Allergic rhinitis affects between ten and thirty percent of the world’s population.