Spring has sprung, and that means so has hayfever season. Whilst there’s no cure for this seasonal allergy, there are some helpful remedies that work hard to stop symptoms in their tracks. Want to know which hayfever treatments to invest in? Here are our pharmacist, Daniel Zhou’s expert recommendations…
About one in five Australians suffer from hayfever. Despite its name — it has nothing to do with hay, nor do you experience fever symptoms — hayfever (the common name for a condition called allergic rhinitis) is in fact an allergic reaction caused by the nose and/or eyes coming into contact with environmental allergens, such as pollens, dust mite, moulds and animal hair.
Those who suffer from this allergy will know its effects all too well. Runny and itchy noses, incessant sneezing, itchy, red eyes, airways so blocked you can hardly breathe, not to mention feelings of exhaustion. Hayfever is far from fun.
With hayfever season at its peak, we spoke to our pharmacist Daniel Zhou to get the lowdown on which hayfever treatments you should invest in this season. Here’s how to manage the symptoms and make it through the sneezy season with a smile.
Common hayfever symptoms include:
- Sneezing
- Runny or stuffy nose
- Itchy throat
- Red, itchy or watery eyes
- Headaches
- Fatigue
Hayfever Remedies: How to Reduce Hayfever Symptoms
Take a hayfever and allergy relief tablet every morning throughout spring and summer to suppress hayfever symptoms. Here are Daniel's recommendations:
- Adults Try (12yrs+): Claratyne hayfever and Allergy Relief, Zyrtec rapid action relief, Telfast fast-acting hay fever and allergy relief
- Kids Try (1-12 yrs): Claraytne children’s Hay fever and Allergy Relief Peach or Grape flavour, Telfast Oral Liquid Kids, Dimetapp Kids (2-5yrs) Childrens Paedamin (6 – 12yrs)
- Babies (under 1): Hayfever medications are not prescribed to babies under one. If you do notice they have symptoms, take them to the doctor for a professional diagnosis. They will be able to advise further. Natural remedies that could help include rubbing baby-friendly balm around the nose to block the pollen, wash their face regularly with cold water to help soothe their itchy eyes, and pop a hat and sunglasses on as a barrier to protect against the pollen. You can also use a saline nasal spray like Fess Little Noses to relieve symptoms of a blocked or runny nose.
- Rinse your eyes regularly with cold water to flush away pollen or use eye drops to help clear and relief itchy, red eyes. Try Visine Allergy Eye Drops
- Monitor the daily pollen count and forecast, so you know if it’s a high pollen day: Melbourne Pollen Count, Sydney Pollen Count, Canberra Pollen Count, Brisbane Pollen Count, Air matters, Pollen Wise
- A nasal spray or douche can also help flush out pollens. Try Fess Nasal Sprays, Nasonex Allergy, Drixine No Drip Formula
- If you suffer badly from hayfever through the warmer seasons you can contact us and talk to one of our friendly pharmacists.