Don’t let hay fever get you down

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The sun is shining, the sky is blue, off the shoulder dresses are on trend and everyone is happy.

Well, nearly everyone.

With an estimated one in five people suffering with this common allergic condition during their life, summer can be unbearable for many.

In a nutshell, pollen from grass, flowers, plants and trees can cause sneezing, runny or blocked nose and itchy eyes and it can be both painful and frustrating as there is no known cure.

Of course, the most effective way to keep hay fever under control is to avoid pollen exposure. This, however, it’s difficult and impractical, so we have some tips and tricks to help keep it at bay so you can enjoy your summer as much as everyone else.

Medicines
Hay fever can be controlled with conventional, over-the-counter medicines on sale at your chemist. Antihistamines help prevent allergic reactions and corticosteroids ease inflammation and swelling. If you try these and they aren’t helping it is worth speaking to your GP to see if prescription medication is needed.

Diet
Eat organic food where possible as this helps avoid pesticides and additives. Low-allergen foods such as brown rice, quinoa, broccoli, cabbage, sweet potatoes, leeks, peas, pears, apples and papaya are all good options and of course will aid general peak health.

Mushrooms
Mushrooms aren’t just for breakfast and can really help regulate the immune response. A good quality organic extract from Reishi mushrooms is a good option and worth investing in if you are serious about dealing with hay fever for once and all.

Drinking
Keep your water drinking up and reduce your alcohol intake. Beer, wine and spirits all contain histamine, which is the chemical that sets off allergy symptoms in your body so as well as making you more sensitive to pollen, alcohol also dehydrates you, making your symptoms seem worse.

Wash your hair
Did you know pollen can stick to your hair? Well it can and when you go to bed it transfers to your pillow and will affect you as you try to sleep. If you have been out for the day, it is a good idea to have a shower and change your clothes before going into your bedroom and sprinkling pollen around and making life harder.

Go for sunglasses
As well as shades protecting your precious peepers, they are also a great way of stopping pollen from getting into your eyes. Go for a decent wrap around pair to create a barrier and to ensure your eyes are less red and itchy.

Housekeeping
We aren’t saying you don’t clean but given that pollen can easily get into your carpets it is a good idea to vacuum regularly and sweep it away. Try not to have the windows open too much and dust with a wet cloth so pollen doesn’t unknowingly spread around your house

Barrier
It is said that applying a little Vaseline (petroleum gel) around your nose can stop pollen getting into your system.

Home comforts
This isn’t going to happen every day but if the pollen count is high (over 50 grains per cubic metre of air) you might want to stay at home or visit a shopping centre, cinema or museum rather than being outdoors and at risk of symptoms getting worse.

Spice up your life
Garlic, ginger, red onions and other spices are all brilliant ways to help clear sinuses and ease congestion. Add them to curries, salads, stir fries and BBQs to keep your pain away.

Honey
Pop some honey on your toast or in your green tea and let the bee pollen in it desensitise your body to the plant pollens that cause the hay fever grief.

We hope you find a way to keep your hay fever under control this summer, and if you have a top tip, would love to know what it is.

Team Pure Beauty

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Help! It’s Hayfever Season

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Decleor Dark Circle and Eye Wrinkle Eraser, Decleor Harmonie Calm Relaxing Milky Gel-Cream for Eyes, Dermalogica Soothing Eye Make Up Remover, Dermalogica Soothing Shave Cream, Dermalogica Stress Relief Treatment Oil, hay fever, heyfever, irritation, itchy eyes, pollen local honey

It’s that time of year again where eyes are red, noses are streaming and everyone is slightly cheesed off. No, we’re not talking about England being knocked out of the Euros, we’re talking about hayfever season! Of course, there’s lots of things you can do to help with hayfever, such as the obvious antihistamines and the less obvious local honey, but there are also several products from Dermalogica and Decleor which can help with the less-than-desirable symptoms and side effects. Here’s a few of them –

Red, itchy eyes

One of the first places to suffer with hayfever is the eyes – constant watering and irritation can leave you feeling as though someone has rubbed sand on your eyeballs. Wearing make-up can often make things worse, but many women feel naked without it, especially when they’re already feeling run down. Make sure you use a gentle, soothing eye make up remover such as Dermalogica Soothing Eye Make Up Remover to remove all traces and give your eyes a chance to calm down and then apply Decleor Harmonie Calm Relaxing Milky Gel-Cream for Eyes to reduce redness and irritation.

Sore skin

Constantly wiping your nose with tissue when its running can leave the skin red raw and feeling very sore. Using a layer of petroleum jelly under your nose will stop the moisture from chapping your skin and treating it with a layer of Dermalogica Soothing Shave Cream can also help. Although it’s designed for shaving, the chapping effect is very similar, so a layer of this super soothing cream can really reduce irritation and redness.

Tiredness

Another, less talked about, symptom of hayfever is fatigue. Sleep is very often disturbed during hayfever season because breathing is blocked and the body is under duress during the day, which all adds up to feeling like you’ve no energy. Lack of sleep can lead to dark circles under the eyes, so it’s wise to opt for a product like Decleor Dark Circle and Eye Wrinkle Eraser, which can reduce the appearance of dark circles and keep your eye area looking refreshed.

Stress

The problem with hayfever is that, unlike having a cold, it can last for months and by the end of hayfever season we’re feeling more than a little stressed out. Massage is a great way to help to relieve stress and Dermalogica Stress Relief Treatment Oil is perfect for keeping the skin soft and supple, as well as soothing the sense with its unique blend of aromas. Lavender, Sandlewood and Orange aide relaxation and help to increase your sense of well-being.