Spring and summer are the highlights of many people’s year. Feeling the warmth of the sun on your skin and seeing the vibrant colours of newly blossoming flowers is guaranteed to lighten your mood and make you feel better. As well as being a favourite time of year for many people, the warmer seasons can have a downside, which is allergies. Seasonal allergies affect many people every year and can disrupt their enjoyment of spring and summer.
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Allergic rhinitis, aka hay fever, is a seasonal allergy that is especially common in the UK. Research suggests that between 10% and 30% of adults suffer from hay fever, and the condition affects up to 40% of children. Many people rely on antihistamines to relieve their allergy symptoms, but there are some other ways that you can help to reduce the chances of hay fever ruining your spring and summer. Here we will look at some practical ways to reduce the severity of this often frustrating condition.
Create a Barrier
Unfortunately, pollen and other allergens are everywhere. It is not possible to avoid contact with all allergens completely, so the next best solution is to minimise your contact with them. There are a few ways that you can help reduce the likelihood of allergens causing you issues. Firstly, you can create a barrier by wearing sunglasses when you are outside, as this will prevent your eyes from being exposed to allergens. Some people find it helpful to dab some petroleum jelly or buy a specific hay fever pollen balm that helps to trap pollen before it is inhaled through your nostrils.
As well as protecting your eyes and nose from pollen, you may also want to try and prevent pollen from entering your home. Even gentle summer breezes can send pollen into your home through open windows and doors. Keeping your windows closed where possible should help to reduce the amount of pollen that enters your home.
Take Care of Your Skin
People that suffer from hay fever often experience other allergy-related conditions, such as eczema. If this is the case for you, you may find that your skin flares up during the summer due to the combination of pollen and heat aggravating it and causing irritation. It is vital to take care of your skin to prevent eczema from worsening and becoming more uncomfortable. Trying to avoid scratching at the skin is the first step, but you may also want to take extra care when choosing skincare products. Organic Body Washes for Sensitive Skin can provide the perfect solution to soothing your skin and preventing further irritation from occurring. Looking at the ingredients contained in your products before you buy them will ensure that you avoid any hidden nasties that could upset your skin.
Finding the best ways to manage your seasonal allergies can help you get far more enjoyment from the warmer months. However, you may find that it takes a combination of the above methods to keep allergies under control.
Do you have allergies? How do you manage them?
*This is a collaborative post