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That yellow stuff on everything? You aren't allergic to it

One doctor said the wet winter probably caused high pollen counts this year.
Credit: Getty Images/iStockphoto

ATLANTA — The temperatures are warming up, baby birds are hatching ... and pollen is everywhere.

You may see the yellow, sawdust-like particles and just cringe at what's to come next -- allergy symptoms. That yellow stuff is pollen from pine trees, which we have an abundance of in Georgia. But, you're probably not allergic to it.

Dr. Stanley Fineman with Atlanta Asthma and Allergy said people do have a reaction to the particulates, like sneezing, but not an allergic reaction. 

It's a similar reaction to sneezing after peppering foods or working around sawdust, your body is trying to get rid of the small particles you inhaled.

Fineman said people are allergic to the pollen from hardwood, which they can't see.

The good news is, the worst of the tree pollen season is over. April 15 is usually a good date to clean the yellow dust off your car and patio, Fineman said.

If you haven't experienced allergies yet this season, they may be about to hit you. Grass pollen recently started floating around and will continue to increase through spring.

Wet winter causing high pollen counts

The weather has a big impact on the pollen count, even before trees and plants start blooming. 

December and January saw well above average rainfall amounts, while February was slightly below. Overall the winter was wetter than normal, contributing to what Fineman believes to be a more harsh spring for allergy suffers than normal.

RELATED: NC woman's 'Pollen' song is the anthem for allergy sufferers!

We had one of the highest pollen counts on record April 13, since then we haven't seen a pollen count nearly as high.

Fineman told me they soon will be adding mold to the pollen count to help patients and doctors identify what may be causing reactions.

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