Does it feel like hay fever season is never-ending? It’s not your imagination – the season is lasting longer than it used to. That’s why this guide to the best ways to treat hay fever is more relevant than ever, especially as you might be treating it all wrong.

If you got drenched during rainy February, or sunburnt in last year’s June heatwave, it won’t come as news to you that weather in general is changing. But this doesn’t just play havoc with your outdoor plans – it can also affect pollen levels. According to the UK Health Security Agency (a group that analyses public health concerns), ‘Recent studies suggest that some types of pollen and other allergens could be released earlier in the year and for longer durations as temperatures rise. For some types of pollen, this may mean levels high enough to trigger hay fever as early in the year as January or February.’

Urgh! But hidden away in those words is the first thing you might not know about hay fever: it isn’t just one problem…

What is hay fever caused by?

Hay fever can be triggered by different types of pollen released at different times of the year – so when your symptoms start and end can give you clues as to what exactly you’re allergic to. 

As a general rule, hay fever season in the UK works like this: from March to May, trees such as hazel and birch are responsible for most symptoms. From May until July, grass pollen is the most common trigger, while from June to autumn, weeds such as dock and mugwort are the culprits. Plus, not only does the pollen type affect when your symptoms start, but it can also determine what symptoms you get.

How do I know if I've got hay fever?

‘The physical characteristics of pollen differ,’ explains Jason Murphy, head of pharmacy at Chemist4U. ‘Tree pollens are generally smaller and lighter, so they can easily irritate your eyes and upper airways, leading to itching, sneezing and watery eyes. Grass pollen, on the other hand, is released in large quantities and tends to cause more widespread inflammation in your nose – which explains why blocked noses, congestion, streaming eyes and fatigue are more common with this type of pollen. Weed pollens are usually released at lower levels, so symptoms may be milder but more prolonged.’

How to prevent hay fever

All of the above means that there isn’t one single hay fever treatment that works for everyone. According to Jason, ‘Antihistamines work best for symptoms that are directly driven by histamine, released when you encounter pollen.’ These include itching, sneezing and a runny nose. Blocked noses and congestion, however, are driven more by ongoing inflammation and swelling of the nasal lining, so steroid nasal sprays tend to work better at controlling them.

Your treatment method isn’t the only thing you might need to change. A lot of people only start hay fever treatment once they get symptoms. ‘But this is like trying to put out a fire,’ says Jason. ‘You’re playing catch-up. If you regularly get hay fever, start treatment early – sometimes up to six weeks before you normally get symptoms. This prevents the allergic inflammatory process from fully developing and gives medications time to work.’

If you know your allergen and the best way to treat it, and start doing so well before symptoms start, you could soon be saying goodbye to sneezy summers.