Hay fever is a common allergy that causes sneezing, coughing and itchy eyes. You cannot cure it, but there are things you can do to help your symptoms, or medicines you can take to help.

Check if you have hay fever

Symptoms of hay fever include:

• sneezing and coughing
• a runny or blocked nose
• itchy, red or watery eyes
• itchy throat, mouth, nose and ears
• loss of smell
• pain around your temples and forehead
• headache
• earache
• feeling tired

Symptoms are usually worse between late March and September, especially when it's warm, humid and windy. This is when the pollen count is at its highest.

Hay fever will last for weeks or months, unlike a cold, which usually goes away after 1 to 2 weeks.

How to treat hay fever yourself

There's currently no cure for hay fever and you can't prevent it.

But you can do things to ease your symptoms when the pollen count is high.

Do:

• put petroleum jelly such as Vaseline around your nostrils to trap pollen
• wear wraparound sunglasses, a mask or wide-brimmed hat  to stop pollen getting into your eyes
• shower and change your clothes after you've been outside to wash pollen off
• keep windows and doors shut as much as possible
• vacuum regularly and dust with a damp cloth
• buy a pollen filter for the air vents in your car and a vacuum cleaner with a special HEPA filter

Don't:

• do not cut grass or walk on grass
• do not spend too much time outside
• do not keep fresh flowers in the house
• do not smoke or be around smoke - it makes your symptoms worse
• do not dry clothes outside - they can catch pollen
• do not let pets into the house if possible - they can carry pollen indoors

Allergy UK has more tips on managing hay fever.

A pharmacist can help with hay fever

Speak to your pharmacist if you have hay fever. They can give you advice and suggest the best treatments to help with symptoms, such as: 

• antihistamine drops, tablets or nasal sprays
• steroid nasal sprays

Some antihistamines can make you very sleepy, so speak to your pharmacist about non-drowsy antihistamines if you need to.

Hayfever is one of the conditions covered by the Common Ailments Scheme which is an NHS service that patients can access for free advice and free treatment and is available from 99% of pharmacies in Wales. 
Find your nearest pharmacy here. 
Find out more information on the service. 

See a GP if:

• your symptoms are getting worse
• your symptoms do not improve after taking medicines from the pharmacy

Treatments for hay fever from a GP

Your GP might prescribe a steroid treatment, such as a steroid nasal spray.

If steroids and other hay fever treatments do not work, your GP may refer you for immunotherapy.

This means you'll be given small amounts of pollen as an injection or tablet to slowly build up your immunity to pollen.

This kind of treatment usually starts in the winter about 3 months before the hay fever season begins.

Immunotherapy is a specialist service that may not be available everywhere.

What causes hay fever

Hay fever is an allergic reaction to fine powder that plants produce, called pollen, usually when it comes into contact with your mouth, nose, eyes and throat.