Finally it is Spring 💃🏾! It is also HAYFEVER season 🤧 😫 😭!

I for one, am looking forward to Spring, sunshine and not having to turn on the heating while constantly staring at the gas meter wondering how i am going to afford to pay for it all! The only problem i have is that i suffer from bad hayfever and spring really is not my friend. The crusty eyes, constant sneezing are a pain and having to use my nasal spray, eye drops and antihistamine tablets are just some of the ways to survive pollen season, which seems to start earlier and earlier every year!

A sunny spring day.

Seasonal allergic rhinitis commonly known as hay-fever, can be disruptive to ones quality of life and if you are one who finds this time of the year miserable with a huge negative effect on you life, limiting what you are able to do, then you can be reassured that help is at hand.

Your GP/Doctor can refer you to an allergy specialist who will take a thorough history from you about(not an exhaustive list):

• Your symptoms and when to they start/get worse/better?

• How long you have had the symptoms for?

• any medication you take/use to relieve the symptoms?

• any other illnesses you may have?

• any other relevant history?

A comprehensive history helps to narrow down what are the likely causes of your allergies and is used alongside Skin Prick Testing to the specific allergens to confirm or rule out the Doctors suspicions.

Aeroallergens are commonly tested for and these could include and are not limited to:

• Timothy Grass

• Silver Birch

• House dust mite

• Aspergillus

• 6 Grasses

• 3 Trees

Skin Prick Testing Allergen Solutions.

Once your clinician has decided what tests need to be done, an appointment is then made to come to clinic. You would normally be advised to stop taking any antihistamines at least 5 days before you Skin Prick Test appointment. This is because, antihistamines can mask your reactions to the allergens being tested and hence the results would be skewed. It is also important to note that allergy testing is NEVER 100% conclusive. You may also have a blood test to look for sensitization to the suspected allergens.

A sample of a skin prick test request form.

The testing procedure involves using a drop of allergen solutions applied to your skin in a grid like fashion and then using a lancet to prick your skin lightly do introduce the solution into your skin and illicit a reaction which is then observed and interpreted after 15 minutes. A negative solution( saline) and positive solution(histamine) are used a controls.

Skin prick test allergen solutions laid out with lancets ready for testing.

Below is a sample test i conducted on myself and you can see from the wheals and redness which allergens are responsible for my hayfever! It also shows how the test and subsequent reactions show on dark skin as most images around are of white skin.

Your clinician would then collate and review all your results and advise as to which i the best course of action treatment wise for you. Available treatments depending on the severity of your symptoms and recommendation from your clinician could be:

• Higher dose of antihistamines or changing the antihistamines you currently use.

• Steroid Nasal sprays.

• Immunotherapy.

So, you don’t have to suffer, help is out there. If you are currently using a nasal spray, please see below on how to use one correctly to help gain maximum benefits.

Correct Nasal Spray Technique.