- Avoid drinking alcohol as it contains histamine, which exacerbates hay fever.
- Wear glasses or a hat to stop pollen settling in your hair, or change your clothes.
- Antihistamines can be especially effective at reducing the symptoms of hay fever.
- Dry your clothes indoors to avoid pollen sticking to them.
- Wash your hands, face and hair after you have been outdoors.
- Regularly check weather reports and avoid going outdoors when the pollen count is high.
- Pollen count is highest during the morning and at night. Avoid going outside at these times.
- Rub petroleum jelly underneath your nose.
- Pass off gardening responsibilities, like mowing the lawn, so someone else.
- Avoid large fields with lots of grass.
- Keep windows closed at night and while driving.
For more information on Hay Fever Management, please visit Allergy UK’s website.
Or you can visit the NHS Website for more information.
Speak to your local community pharmacy to help manage your hay fever. Pharmacists can suggest and advise on over-the-counter medicines such as antihistamine tablets, drops, steroid nasal sprays and many other remedies. These items tend to be cheaper when purchasing, than on prescription.
Treatment
Medication used either blocks (antihistamine) or reduces inflammation (nasal steroids) caused by the allergic response.
Anitihistamines help with mild symptoms and are most effective for sneezing, itchy-runny nose and itchy eyes. For moderate to severe symptoms or blocked noses, it is recommended to use topical corticosteroid nasal spray; these can be purchased at your local pharmacy.
Nasal sprays that contain decongestants may be useful on the worst days of hay fever for additional relief of congestion but should only be used short term, for no more than a few days at a time. These can be purchased at your local pharmacy.
Eye drops are available over the counter to help with mild to moderate itching and eye watering.
All treatments should be taken regularly to control symptoms, only taking medication occasionally is less effective once symptoms have established.