Hay fever sufferers are going wild for ‘magic’ balm available at Boots and Amazon ‘better than any sprays or pills’
GLORIOUS as these warmer months are, they can be hell to ten million Brits who suffer from hay fever.
Most people are sensitive to the pollen and airborne allergens shed by grass, which reach peak levels in June and July every year.
As if that wasn’t enough, weed pollen can also send your eyes and throat into itchy agony between June and September.
The runny nose, streaming eyes and itchy mouth and throat are cause by immune system’s overreaction to innocuous particles such as pollen, producing histamines in the process.
And though there isn’t a cure for these annoying symptoms, there are a few treatments that address and ease them.
Hay fever sufferers – including ex-Hollyoaks star Nadine Mulkerrin – are now swearing by a ‘lifesaving’ barrier balm which they said has help alleviate their agonising hay fever, called HayMax.
All you need to is wipe the balm onto the base of your nostrils and around your eyes. The sticky substance will help trap all types of grass and tree pollen.
The five varieties of the balm are suitable for pregnant and breast-feeding mums and children.
It costs £8.49 per pot and is available in selected Superdrug and Boots stores, independent chemists, Holland & Barrett, Booths and Ocado.
You can also find the nifty balm on Amazon.
Shoppers there said the product had definitely made their nose less runny and it itchy, though some noted that you might also need to use HayMax alongside other hay fever relief products.
“Have to reapply fairly often if you rub your nose a lot but [it] does seem to help,” one reviewer wrote. “Reduced sneezing and runny nose due to hay fever.”
Another said: “There is no smell to the product and it doesn’t leave your skin feeling greasy. I have noticed a difference in a reduction of symptoms.
It’s important to note this is not a cure as such and you will need to use this alongside antihistamines and nasal sprays etc,” they added.
“This is magic,” yet another customer wrote. “I have to say that this has been so much better than any spays or pills I’ve used, just make sure to line up both nostrils properly, you won’t feel it there but the difference is day and night.”
They noted that they still take allergy pills to treat their symptoms.
Hayfever symptoms
HAY fever is a common allergic condition. It affects up to 1 in 5 people at some point in their life.
You’ll experience hay fever symptoms if you have an allergic reaction to pollen.
The symptoms of hay fever include:
- frequent sneezing
- runny or blocked nose
- itchy, red or watery eyes (allergic conjunctivitis)
- an itchy throat, mouth, nose and ears
- cough, caused by postnasal drip (mucus dripping down the throat from the back of the nose)
Less commonly, you may also experience:
- the loss of your sense of smell (anosmia)
- facial pain (caused by blocked sinuses)
- headaches
- earache
- tiredness and fatigue
If you have asthma, your asthma symptoms may get worse when you have hay fever.
Source: NHS
Applying balm – including Vaseline – to your nostrils and eyes before you head out isn’t the only way to east your hay fever symptoms.
Firstly, try showering and changing your clothes after being outdoors, as pollen gets everywhere, sticking to clothes and affecting you long after you’ve retreated inside.
Try wearing some (very stylish) wraparound sunglasses to block out pollen particles.
It’s also important to regularly wash your hands when out and about to remove pollen and avoid rubbing it further into your eyes or nose.
And avoid drying your laundry outside.
Lastly, it’s a good idea to create an on-the-go first aid kit and carry it with you in case symptoms strike.
For further tips on preventing hay fever, see the NHS website.
And you can check the pollen forecast for your area here.
The Met has forecast ‘high’ pollen levels in the North West, Wales, South West and South East today, which is predicted to spread to the West and East Midlands tomorrow and Friday.