Top tips to tackle troublesome sniffles

Is an itchy nose, red eyes or sniffly nose getting you down? There’s a chance it could be hay fever. It affects 10-15% of children and 26% of adults in the UK. However, you needn’t sit and suffer – try these five tips from our Pharmacist Tim Laycock from our Metheringham Pharmacy.

Wash, wash, wash

Shower and wash your hair after being outside all day. Pollen can collect on your skin and hair without you knowing, even if you’ve been covered in clothes from your head to your toes.

Keep your eyes protected

Your eyes can become irritable during high pollen weather and rubbing them can often make it worse. Tim recommends wearing sun glasses and if possible ones that wrap around your head. This will make it harder for pollen to get into your eyes and will help you to stop rubbing them.

Laundry is vital

Although the weather outside might be warm and dry, try to avoid hanging laundry outside as it becomes a prime target for pollen. Hang your clothes in a dry room with closed windows and doors.

Keep the air clean in your home

When it’s summer you could be tempted to open all the doors and windows to let the fresh air in. If you’re a hay fever suffer you’ll want to avoid this as much as possible. Pollen can settle in your home and you may have to consider buying a dehumidifier to keep indoor air as dry as possible. In the car, try to use air conditioning rather than opening the window on hot days, particularly when the pollen count is high.

Visit your local Lincolnshire Co-op pharmacy

Our trained pharmacists can advise you on the best over-the-counter medication. There’s no appointment needed and we have consultation rooms to talk through your symptoms in private. You can also go to our hay fever page for more support here.