If you suffer from hay fever, you’ll know that having a runny or stuffy nose and dry, itchy eyes (among other things) can impact your daily life.
But did you know that hay fever—otherwise known as the less snappy seasonal allergic rhinitis—can also affect your skin?
While it’s said to be less common, some sufferers can experience an allergic rash as part of their hay fever symptoms.
And hay fever isn’t the only allergic reaction that can make your skin look and feel less than perfect, but more on that later…
What causes hay fever?
According to the NHS, hay fever is caused by an allergy to pollen, a fine powder that comes from plants—which means it can spread far and wide however much you try to avoid it.
While hay fever can cause a skin rash, other allergy symptoms affecting your eyes and nose, alongside coughing and sneezing, are more common. These symptoms are usually worse between late March and September and can last for weeks or months depending on which type or types of pollen you are allergic to.
There’s no cure for hay fever, but treatments are available to help keep the symptoms under control while you wait for the pollen count to die down. And that includes ways to help your skin feel more comfortable.
What are some other common allergens that can cause skin problems?
The bad news is that lots of things can cause you to develop an allergic rash—and some of them can be quite hard to avoid.
These allergy triggers can include dust mites in your home, insect bites and stings, and animals. So even staying indoors and getting cosy with your pets might leave you ‘feline’ less than fabulous.
It’s also possible to get an allergic rash from food allergies, and from adverse reactions to medicines. So there’s a good chance that, at some point, many of us will find that our skin will need a little more help than usual to stay comfortable.
Are all allergic rashes the same?
Not all allergic rashes are created equal, as different people can react very differently to allergens. In very mild cases, you might just find that your skin is itchier than usual and there is no visible rash.
One allergic rash you’ll definitely notice is hives—which appear as itchy raised bumps. They can pop up anywhere on your body and will feel quite uncomfortable.
The good news is that hives are normally quite short-lived (lasting anywhere from a few minutes to a few days); the bad news is that, alongside allergies, they can also be triggered by an infection, being too hot OR too cold, and also by wearing tight clothing! So, the chances are you may well experience them at some stage!
The other allergic rash that you might experience is contact dermatitis, a type of eczema. This can occur within a few hours or a few days of being exposed to an allergen and can also affect anywhere on your body—although is more likely to appear on your face or hands.
You’ll probably notice that your skin feels itchy and dry, and it may look cracked or blistered. Contact dermatitis often happens as the result of an allergic reaction to something that has directly touched the skin (like a soap or skincare product). The good news about this is that once you’ve worked out what has affected your skin, you stand a better chance of being able to avoid it next time!
What can I do to make my skin feel more comfortable if I have an allergic rash?
While you’ll just have to wait for your allergic rash to go away in most cases, the good news is that there’s lots of help out there to make your skin more comfortable.
Your local pharmacy is an excellent place to start (you can find your nearest one online if you’re not sure where it is) or your GP. They’ll be able to recommend treatments to manage allergies—like antihistamines or steroids—or to stop your skin becoming even drier and itchier—like moisturising creams.
Other approaches that might make you feel more comfortable include splashing cold water on your skin, using a cold compress, using calamine lotion, or taking an oatmeal bath, which sounds like a lovely way to pamper yourself anyway!
Is it possible to avoid skin allergies by taking care of your skin?
Where possible, it’s a good idea to try and stay away from triggers you know you are allergic to—but that’s easier said than done!
The good news is that taking care of your skin all year round will put it in the best possible place to recover after the rash has receded, so all your efforts are worthwhile—including tackling pimples with Hero Pimple Patches when one pops up!