Tried and tested! Our top tips to help with hayfever this summer…

Summer is finally here and while this is all well and good, it is also accompanied by the dreaded hayfever. And let’s face it, no one wants to spend their summer days sneezing into tissues with streaming eyes and puffy faces! This is why we have put together our top tips to help with hayfever this summer…

Pinpoint the allergy

The first step to helping to control your hayfever symptoms is to find out just what it is that you’re allergic to. While it may seem all of outdoors is off limits when summer hits,  actually you can be allergic to a number of, or just a specific one or two things such as tree or grass pollen. You can get tests to find out what it is that affects you so you know areas to try and avoid.

Pay attention to pollen count in your area

Second on our top tips to help with hayfever is to check online or on the news for pollen counts in your area. Monitor these and if they are high (particularly between 5-10am where pollen is most prevalent) try and stay inside. If possible, avoid contact with pets that have been outside as they can carry this pollen inside and trigger hayfever.

Keep your house as pollen free as possible

There are a number of things you can do in your house to also keep the pollen count at bay. Start by keeping windows closed and using an air conditioner or fan to keep cool instead. Be sure to check that the air con or fan is clean to avoid blowing allergens round! Regularly wash or use synthetic pillows to avoid them retaining pollen and put allergy-free covers on your matress.

Try over the counter medicines

There are a number of over the counter medicines you can pick up and try which can help to curb the symptoms of hayfever. Desloratidine tablets are worth a try – (they inhibit the body’s production of histamine which provides relief from hayfever symptoms) as well as different nasal sprays and eye drops.It’s worth trying the over the counter ones first, before moving onto a prescription only medicine.

Shower and wash your hair each night

While you may not always wash your hair every day, it’s important to thoroughly wash your hair before bed. This is because throughout the day pollen can collect on your hair and skin building up and if you don’t wash it can then spread to your bed clothes making it impossible to sleep.

These are just some of our top tips to help with hayfever, what do you recommend? Let us know in the comments below!