Bringing a wet flannel cloth with you everywhere is one of the key tricks to avoiding hay fever, according to one pharmacist. 

With warmer temperatures approaching, watery eyes, blocked noses and itchy throats are becoming the new norm among people in Ireland. 

Hay fever is triggered by the pollen count which heightens during these summer months – but there are ways to avoid it. 

Laura Dowling, also known as the ‘Fabulous Pharmacist’ online, said parents dealing with hay fever-prone children should keep a cloth flannel on them at all times. 

“Bring a flannel cloth with you everywhere you go that's wet – already wet or you wet it with water,” she told Lunchtime Live. 

“You could wipe their face down every couple of hours, every half hour even, just to keep the pollen off their face. 

“If the pollen count is high, once it’s on their face it goes up into their nose, in their eyes and causes those streaming eyes, runny nose – cold-like symptoms.” 

Ms Dowling also recommended changing your clothes as soon as you’re home after a high pollen count day. 

“The clothes will trap the pollen,” she said. “You might yourself doing a bit more [clothes] washing than normal. 

“Wiping down any pets that were outside is also a good idea, with a wet towel because they will hold pollen in their coats as well.” 

The pharmacist noted these tips “absolutely” apply to adults fighting hay fever as well as children. 

People should also keep their windows closed and get wraparound glasses to protect themselves from pollen, allowing them to avoid seeking medication for hay fever for as long as possible. 

Hay fever medication

For those that end up needing medication anyway, Ms Dowling said there are several kinds, depending on the severity of the fever. 

People can get once-off medication to reduce the symptoms of hay fever “straight away” - or they can find long-term medication to prevent an allergic response completely. 

“They are really excellent, but you do need to continue the use of them throughout the hay fever season to get the most benefit off them,” Ms Dowling said. 

The number of people with hay fever in Ireland is reportedly increasing, with Ms Dowling estimating anywhere between 20% and 25% of people affected. 

She suggested in more recent years, people live in too “sterile” environments – making their immune systems ill-equipped to deal with a high pollen count. 

Global warming has also caused the ‘pollen season’ to last longer, leaving people dealing with hay fever for more time than before. 

You can find the daily pollen count in Ireland here.

Listen back here: