A doctor has given his expertise on how you can limit or avoid the worst side effects of hay fever.
The UK has been hit with a 'pollen bomb' as of late, with almost every region in the country suffering with high levels of pollen amid the scorching heatwave that is sweeping the nation.
With certain areas hitting 30°C in Britain this week, ways to keep cool have been laid out by the NHS, with the probability of heatstroke and heat exhaustion increased because of the change in weather.
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You may have noticed a lot more people around you sneezing now the flowers have bloomed and the sun is out - and it's because of a 'pollen bomb' that has also hit the country.
In fact, 14 of the 16 regions in the UK have been rated with a 'very high' pollen count by the Met Office, while the remaining two, both in the Scottish highlands, have been given a 'high' rating of pollen today (Tuesday 24 June).
The ratings might fluctuate throughout the week, with areas going down to 'moderate' at the lowest mid-week, before going back up to 'high' or 'very high' on Friday (28 June).
A lot of people that suffer with hay fever may find the next week or so particularly challenging, but a health professional known as @drnomzzy on TikTok, known as 'The Skin Doc', has given some top tips that he calls 'cheat codes' if you're struggling with all the pollen flying about.
Salt water nasal sprays
You can get this at your local pharmacy - often used to flush nasal passages, it can treat nasal/sinus dryness, itching and congestion that can be caused by pollen allergies.
Pollen balms
The barrier balms trap dust allergens and more than a third of pollen before it gets into your body, all you need to do is rub a thin layer around your nostrils and eye sockets and it will help you combat hay fever.
Non-sedating antihistamines
Antihistamines are commonly used during the summer by those with allergies to pollen, but the doctor highlighted that it has to be some that are long acting and non-sedating.
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Some examples of this are Ceterizine Fexofenadine or Loratidine, and they will help relieve symptoms of your allergies.
Steroid nasal sprays
If it gets really bad and salt water nasal sprays aren't cutting it, anti-inflammatory steroid nasal sprays, also known as corticosteroid nasal sprays, can help you fight your hay fever symptoms.
They are easily available at your local pharmacy.
Desensitisation
If none of the four other tips work, The Skin Doc says to try this psychological method.
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Desensitisation can be used to modify how sensitive an area of your body is to particular stimuli, which is pollen in this scenario, with the method being used to decrease or normalise your body's reaction to it.
This is done by administering increasing doses of the allergen extract into your body, reducing the symptoms of hay fever that it usually causes.
Joshua Nair