HAY fever sufferers claim that Vaseline has been their go-to miracle for curing pollen allergies.
As this week’s heatwave sets the tone for the summer, it’s important to know how to best combat this common allergy.
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Petroleum jelly users said they feel a difference after applying a layer around the insides of their nostrils as high as possible.
It might look weird and feel a little uncomfortable, but hay fever sufferers say it’s much better than dealing with the pollen allergy’s effects.
Dabbing a little bit of petroleum jelly around the edges of your nose works as a barrier to trap pollen before you breathe it in.
A standard tin of Vaseline will do the trick – just smear a small amount around the edge of your nostrils.
It also works under the eyes to prevent them getting runny and itchy too. Just remember to reapply if you feel like you’ve rubbed it off.
Record-breaking heatwave
Hay fever is likely to affect even more people this week, as today’s 36C scorcher is set to make it a record-breaking June.
A “tongue of fire” – the 1,500-mile wide heatwave scorching Europe – has already seen France endure its hottest day ever at 45.8C, and has finally now reached the UK.
The Met Office warned areas such as Yorkshire and Humber, North West England, Northern Ireland, East and West Midlands, Wales, East of England, London and South East and South West England all have very high grass pollen risk.
Weed pollen will be very high for these areas and fungal spores.
The Met Office warned asthma sufferers to be prepared and these conditions will continue throughout the weekend.
North England and Scotland will experience medium to high pollen levels.
Tips to deal with hay fever
Take antihistamines at the right time
It may seem obvious for anyone that an antihistamine will help, but it’s actually knowing when to take them that could make the difference.
For most hay fever sufferers, symptoms are worse around midday when pollen levels peak.
So taking the one-a-day anti-allergy tablets first thing in the morning will give you better protection.
But if you are someone who finds they make you drowsy then take it before bed.
Look for products containing Cetirizine or Loratadine – both of these work to combat allergies without making you feel tired.
Get undressed in the bathroom
Pollen can get trapped on clothes, so getting changed in the bathroom as soon as you get home means you won’t spread pollen around the place.
This is particularly important if you’re someone who undresses in your bedroom, then leaves your pollen-laden clothes near your bed for you to breathe in all night while you sleep.
Use eye drops
Many hay fever sufferers will get red, sore and itchy eyes when symptoms flare up.
But to there are a couple of ways to stop them streaming and soothe irritation.
You can try eye drops with antihistamine properties, available from most pharmacies, to reduce inflammation.
Just squeeze one or two drops into each eye four times a day.
If you hate the thought of drops, you could also consider an eye mist which works in the same way – just spray it once or twice onto closed eyelids to to three times a day.
Wear wrap around sunglasses
You may not think wrap around sunglasses are the coolest look – but then nor are red, runny eyes.
And if you want to keep pesky pollen at bay then it’s definitely another great option to try.
They’re also effective at protecting your eyes from dust and wind as well as keeping them moisturised.
Don’t dry clothes outside
Although the sun and fresh air make for the perfect drying solution for freshly-washed clothes, it’s a nightmare combo for hay fever sufferers.
Pollen will cling to your clean washing and cause symptoms to flare when you next pop those clothes on.
Experts recommend avoiding this especially when pollen counts are high, so be sure to check the forecast.
Otherwise, try to dry your clothes indoors where possible.
One million new sufferers
Experts predict a million new people will develop an allergy to pollen this summer.
An estimated 26 per cent of adults in the UK reported suffering from hay fever in 2017, according to research.
Last year that figure increased to 31 per cent with a million new people buying hay fever medicines and remedies for the first time.
The rise is believed to be due to changes in our climate as weather conditions become more extreme clearly defined seasons are blurred.
Experts say a long winter followed by a short spring condensed the flowering season of trees and shrubs into a much shorter time period.
They say this causes a so-called “pollen bomb” as plants burst into life at the same time.
The concentration of many different types of pollen – which ordinarily would have occurred sequentially over a longer time – is thought to have triggered allergic reactions in people who had never suffered with hay fever before.
This also causes more severe symptoms in people with long standing hay fever.
Peak grass season
It comes as we hit peak grass season in the UK, while other pollen sources such as nettle and dock come into season too.
In Britain, it’s thought that more than 10 million people suffer with hay fever – and it affects around 80 per cent of people with asthma.
Grass pollen is the most common allergy and affects 90 per cent of people with hay fever, according to Allergy UK.
The season runs from mid-May until July, with two peaks – usually the first two weeks of June and the first two weeks of July.
But this can vary depending on where you are in the country and how the weather has been during spring and early summer.
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