On The Cover Dr Sarah Jarvis Coping with spring allergies

The clocks have gone forward, evenings are lighter and the trees and flowers are blossoming. But for people who suffer seasonal allergies, this time of year is all about stocking up on tissues and wearing wraparound sunglasses to protect your eyes from ppollen. And this yyear there’s another factor in the mix, courtesy of coronavirus.

Hay fever is the classic spring/summer allergy. The medical name is seasonal allergic rhinitis: seasonal, because it happens at much the same time every year; allergic, because it’s usually due to allergygy (to a form of pollen); annd rhinitis, which means innflammation of the nose.

The times you’re likely too suffer most are:

◆ From early to late sppring if you’re allergic to trree pollens

◆ From late spring to eearly summer if you’re aallergic to grass pollen – tthe most common reason for hay fever symptoms ◆ Right through from spring to autumn if you’re allergic to weed pollen.

While most symptoms affect your nose – sneezing, itching, blocked or runny nose – many people with hay fever find their nose and eyes are affected. Eyes can be itchy, watery or bloodshot and your throat may be scratchy. Some people will lose their sense of smell; less commonly hay fever is linked to headaches and worsening asthma.

Avoiding pollen can make a big difference. If you don’t have a garden, you’re unlikely to be spending much time in grassy areas at the moment. But if you have to drive anywhere, keep the windows shut and consider investing in a pollen filter for your car’s air vents.

With GP appointments so hard to come by, it’s a good thing that your local friendly pharmacist can provide pretty much all the hay fever treatments available on prescription. If your nose is causing you most trouble, a steroid nasal spray relieves all nasal symptoms, including blockage. Antihistamines help eyes and throat as well, but don’t relieve a blocked nose.

With so many of us washing our hands even more than usual because of coronavirus, it’s hardly surprising that dry, chapped skin is on the up.

The skin of your hands isn’t the thinnest on the whole body surface – that honour goes to the skin of your face and round your nether regions. But most of us wash our hands more often than any other part of the

YOUR PHARMACIST IS STILL OPEN AND CAN PROVIDE ADVICE AND TREATMENTS ALLERGIES’’

FOR A WIDE RANGE OF

body. Water can actually dry your skin out, especially if you spend too much time with your hands in water. And as the weather warms up and we set about spring cleaning, matters are only likely to get worse.

Alcohol-based sanitisers and soap, along with any cleaning products, can lead to a form of eczema called irritant dermatitis (inflammation of the skin). This can lead to dry, red, itchy or sore skin. In more severe cases it can result in painful cracking of the skin, which leaves you at higher risk of bacterial infection getting under the skin.

There are three keys to minimising dryness. The first is what you’re using to wash your hands. Soap substitutes, such as aqueous cream or Oilatum, are every bit as effective at removing dirt and germs as soap. However, new guidance suggests they may not kill coronavirus as effectively. Use an unscented soap, but do use soap. After you’ve washed, use a clean dry towel and pat rather than rub dry.

The second is avoiding any unnecessary exposure to harsh detergents or cleaning products. Whether you’re washing up or doing a deep clean, wear gloves to avoid chemicals coming into contact with your skin. Consider cotton-lined gloves to reduce sweating inside the rubber.

The third is simple – moisturise, moisturise and then moisturise some more. You can apply moisturiser after washing or using hand sanitiser. Use it several times a day and opt for an unscented version as perfumed varieties can be irritating.

NEXT WEEK: Focusing on good eye health