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Itchy eyes, sneezing & a runny nose? Find out how to deal with hayfever & what can help relieve symptoms in our expert guide
Are you part of the 20% of the population that are hayfever sufferers? It’s increasingly common and come spring and summer (otherwise known as hayfever season), when the amount of pollen is at its highest, it can mean weeks and even months of sneezing, watery eyes and a runny nose if symptoms are left untreated.
The good news? There’s no need to suffer (or sneeze) in silence - there's lots we can do to manage hayfever, as well as medicines to help control symptoms. Scroll on for information on spotting the signs and ways to help prevent them from affecting day-to-day life.
What is hayfever & what causes it?
Hayfever is an allergic reaction to pollen produced by trees, grasses and weeds, causing inflammation of the lining of the nose. This allergic reaction causes the immune system to release histamine, a chemical produced by the body.
Pollen is a fine dust that disperses in the wind to reach other plants for pollination, as part of their reproduction cycle, and tends to be more prevalent in certain months of the year.
Tree pollen is usually released between February and June, grass pollen between the end of spring and the beginning of summer and weed pollen in late autumn. People who have hayfever are most likely to get symptoms when the pollen count is high.
What are some common hayfever symptoms?
Typical symptoms of hayfever include sneezing, a blocked or runny nose, and itching of the nose, eyes, throat and ears. You may also get a dry irritating cough.
Other symptoms include: watery eyes, loss of smell, pain around the temples and forehead or headaches and earache.
Although symptoms aren’t usually serious, untreated or uncontrolled hayfever can disrupt sleep and concentration, leaving you feeling tired and not quite yourself.
If you have hayfever, you may be more prone to having other allergy-related conditions such as eczema and asthma, a long-term condition that affects the airways of the lungs. If you have asthma, you might also experience a tight feeling in your chest, shortness of breath, wheezing, coughing and a worsening of your asthma symptoms when you have hayfever. If you do experience this, you should see a GP - particularly if any treatment you are having for asthma isn’t helping with the symptoms.
What can help treat hayfever symptoms?
While there isn’t a cure to hayfever, there are options available to help ease symptoms. These range from lifestyle changes to help reduce exposure to pollen to medicines that help reduce the effect of histamine in the body.
Ways we can limit our exposure to pollen include:
• Checking the pollen counts where you live and try to stay indoors, where possible, keeping windows shut
• Avoiding keeping fresh flowers in the house
• Vacuuming and dusting with a damp cloth regularly
• If possible, delegating mowing lawns and raking leaves to others who don't suffer from hayfever
• Considering buying an air filter for pollen - some filters can be used in the car
• Wiping any pets who have been outdoors with a damp microfibre cloth before allowing them in, as pets often carry pollen grains on their coats
• Avoiding drying clothes outside
If you do have to go outside when pollen counts are high, the following may help:
• Apply a barrier balm, such as Vaseline, around your nose to trap pollen
• Wear wraparound sunglasses to avoid pollen getting into the eyes
• Change your clothes as soon as you come indoors. It's best to take a shower and wash your hair too, as pollen is difficult to remove unless it's wet.
Pollen counts tend to be lower on rainy days, but the time and amount that it rains during the day can have an impact. According to the Met Office, early, heavy and prolonged rain is likely to keep counts low all day, but less so in the afternoon.
What hayfever medicines can I consider?
If you're still getting symptoms after taking steps to reduce your exposure to pollen, have a chat with a pharmacist who'll be able to advise you on suitable over-the-counter medicines.
There are different categories of medicines that can be used in helping relieve and manage hayfever symptoms. Scroll down for a whistlestop tour of them.
1. Antihistamines
Antihistamines can be used to help manage mild hayfever symptoms by helping prevent the allergic response. They’re available over-the-counter as tablets and liquids. There are products available that are suitable for both adults and children.
Antihistamines can be taken when needed to manage mild symptoms, or regularly if you’re experiencing daily symptoms. While antihistamines like cetirizine, loratadine and acrivastine don’t normally cause drowsiness, this can occasionally happen to some people.
Older antihistamines, such as chlorphenamine, can make some people drowsy, so you may prefer to take them in the evening, especially if your allergy symptoms are worse at night or interrupt your sleep.
Ask a pharmacist if you're unsure which one to take or when to take them. If you become drowsy after taking antihistamines, you should always avoid driving or using machines.
Consider: Boots Hayfever & Allergy Relief 10mg Tablets Cetirizine
• Size: 30 tablets
• Suitable for: adults and children aged 6 years and over.
• Active Ingredients: cetirizine.
• Always read the label
Containing cetirizine, these tablets can help dial down hayfever symptoms like sneezing and an itchy nose, as well as other allergies like pet and dust allergies.
2. Steroid nasal sprays
Steroid (also known as corticosteroid) nasal sprays can be used to help with the nasal symptoms of hayfever, such as sneezing and a blocked, stuffy or runny nose and work by helping to reduce inflammation and are suitable for those over 18 years of age.
They need to be taken regularly and it may take up to a week before you start to notice an improvement. Some steroid nasal sprays are available over-the-counter, so pop into your local Boots for a chat with a pharmacist to find the right one for your needs.
If you find that you're still getting symptoms, a pharmacist can offer advice on an additional antihistamine and/or eye drops. See a GP if you think you may benefit from prescription medication.
3. Decongestants
If you have a blocked nose, then a decongestant nasal spray may be able to help. It usually works quite quickly but should only be used for the short term.
Decongestants - also available as tablets - aren't compatible with certain conditions, so ask a pharmacist if you're unsure whether you should take them. For example, you should avoid taking a decongestant tablet if you suffer from high blood pressure or if you have diabetes.
Consider: Beconase Hayfever Relief for Adults Nasal Spray
• Size: up to 100 sprays
• Suitable for: adults over 18 years
• Active ingredients: beclometasone dipropionate
• Always read the label
This nasal spray containing beclometasone dipropionate has been formulated to help provide relief against nasal congestion, sinus discomfort and other common hayfever symptoms. It also provides up to 100 sprays.
4. Eye drops
If you’re experiencing itchy eyes - including if you’re taking an antihistamine tablet and/or using steroid nasal spray regularly - you may wish to consider eye drops. Anti-allergic eye drops - for example, those containing sodium cromoglicate - are available to buy without the need for a prescription.
To be effective, you need to use them regularly for two weeks - if they haven’t helped within that time, speak to a pharmacist or GP.
Consider: Boots Hayfever Relief 2% w/v Eye Drops
• Size: 10ml
• Active ingredients: sodium cromoglicate (2.0% w/v)
• Suitable for adults and children over six years
• Always read the label
Gently squeeze one to two drops into each eye, four times a day, to help relieve itching, redness, soreness and watering.
How can I manage my hayfever if I'm pregnant?
As most hayfever medicines aren't suitable to use when you're pregnant, the lifestyle measures previously mentioned are the best first port of call when it comes to helping manage your symptoms.
If you find that you're still getting symptoms, speak to a midwife or GP for more help.
For more advice for managing hayfever in pregnancy, have a read of our guide.
When should I see my GP?
If symptoms are getting worse or aren’t improving after trying lifestyle changes and taking over-the-counter medicines, make an appointment with a GP. Alternatively, you may wish to consider accessing the Boots Hayfever Treatment service* and, if appropriate, treatment.
What is immunotherapy?
Sometimes, in spite of using medicines and doing your best to avoid exposure to pollen, hayfever symptoms can remain severe. In this situation, a GP may send you for further tests and a review by an immunologist or allergy specialist, who may consider giving you immunotherapy.
What’s involved? Before starting, you'll need to undergo blood tests or a skin prick test to identify which type of pollen is causing your symptoms. You'll then be exposed to small amounts of it, either as a daily tablet that's placed under the tongue or as injections at regular intervals.
This treatment may be available on the NHS or you may have it privately. It helps build resistance to pollen’s allergic effect and can, therefore, take months or even years to work.
The takeaway
While hayfever symptoms can have an effect on your day-to-day life (particularly when pollen counts are high), help is at hand. Whether that’s finding ways to limit your exposure to pollen or considering over-the-counter and prescribed medicines for hayfever, pop into your local Boots to chat through the options with a pharmacist.
For more tips to help reduce hayfever symptoms and ways your local Boots pharmacy team may be able to support you, watch our video below.
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