Hay fever

What is hay fever (allergic rhinitis)?

Hay fever, or allergic rhinitis, is one of the most common allergies in the UK, affecting around 13 million people. 

It’s an allergic reaction to tiny particles in the air called allergens. Some of the most common allergens that cause hay fever are pollens, dust mites and moulds.

Depending on which allergens you’re sensitive to, hay fever can start early in the year (February - May) if it’s due to tree pollen allergy or in the summer if it’s due to grass pollen. For those who have an allergy to house dust mites, moulds or pets, symptoms can be present all year round.

Thankfully, there are both at-home and doctor-led treatments that can help alleviate the sneezing, itching and other symptoms you might be experiencing. 

What causes hay fever?

Hay fever occurs when your body’s immune system reacts to an allergen in the air. Allergens are harmless to most people but if you have hay fever, this is because your immune system overreacts to an allergen that it has mistakenly identified as a threat to your body.

Common allergens associated with hay fever include:

• Pollen from trees, grass and weeds

• Dust mites 

• Pet dander

• Mould spores

• Cockroach saliva and waste

The immune reaction aims to protect your body from these allergens by releasing a chemical into your bloodstream called histamine. Histamine causes the mucous membranes in your nose, eyes and throat to become inflamed and itchy as they work to eject the allergen from your body – think sneezing, coughing and watery eyes. 

Symptoms of hay fever

Hay fever symptoms can range from mild to severe. They can also vary depending on the allergen(s) you’re sensitive to.

Common signs and symptoms of hay fever are:

• Bouts of sneezing 

• Itchy, red, and watery eyes

• Itchy throat, ears, nose, and mouth

• A runny or blocked nose

• Postnasal drip (mucus dripping down the throat from the back of the nose)

• Headaches

• Feeling tired and irritable

• A cough

• Poor sleep due to a blocked or runny nose

Hay fever allergy test

If you’re experiencing hay fever symptoms, our OneWelbeck allergy specialists can confirm whether you have the condition, as well as identify which allergens you’re affected by, with an allergy skin prick test and blood tests.

A skin prick test involves pricking or scratching the skin (usually on your arm) with a needle and placing a small amount of a range of allergens on the skin’s surface. If there’s a reaction, this indicates an allergen sensitivity. 

Blood tests are used to look for specific antibodies in your blood that are produced in response to allergens. This can provide insight into which allergens may be triggering your symptoms.

Hay fever treatment

There are various treatments, both over-the-counter and prescribed, that can help reduce and manage hay fever symptoms.

These include nasal steroid sprays, antihistamine tablets and eye drops designed to treat the inflammation and irritation caused by hay fever.

If these treatments are not effective, your allergy specialist may offer you desensitisation (immunotherapy). This involves having increasing doses of allergen extracts over time, either via injection or drops or tablets under your tongue (sublingual). This treatment helps your body learn to tolerate allergens to reduce your reactivity and lessen the severity of your symptoms. 

How to reduce hay fever

In addition to taking the medication listed above, the following tips may help you reduce your symptoms:

• Shower and change your clothes as soon as you get home to reduce pollen exposure

• Put clothes in an enclosed washing basket or straight in the wash to limit the amount of pollen that enters your home

• Wear sunglasses outdoors to help reduce the amount of pollen that can get into your eyes

• Keep windows and doors closed to prevent pollen from entering your home

• Use an air purifier and vacuum with a HEPA filter to help keep the air free of allergens 

• Dust your home with a damp cloth to get rid of pollen

• Wash bedding, cushion covers and sofa covers regularly

• Apply Vaseline or a clear lip balm around your nostrils and lips to ‘trap’ pollen

• Keep car windows shut when driving

• Keep pets outside as much as possible and groom them regularly