Caring For Irritated Skin During Allergy Season

How allergy season can affect your skin

According to the HSE, approximately 1 in 4 people in Europe suffer from allergies at some point in their lives. Almost half of allergy sufferers are also thought to have more than one allergy making treating allergies more difficult.

Hay fever is an allergic reaction to pollen, usually when it comes into contact with your mouth, nose, eyes and throat. Pollen is a fine powder released from plants. Hay fever is 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.

If you’re unsure which type of pollen you’re most sensitive to, it’s usually most easily identified by the time of year you suffer with hayfever.

• Late March - Mid May: Tree pollen is most common
• Mid May - July: Grass pollen
• Late June - September: Weed pollen is particularly prominent during this time

You can check out the pollen level forecast at the Met Eireann site

Allergy season and your skin

Hay Fever doesn’t just affect the sinuses and eyes – it can also have a major impact on your skin too. While most people are familiar with Hay Fever symptoms such as itchy and runny eyes and nose, with possible chest tightening and wheezing, you may also experience greater skin sensitivity, especially on the face.

There are a few ways you can try to prevent and alleviate some of this skin irritation. The first is to try avoid exposure to pollen when the pollen count is high, unfortunately this means limiting being outdoors and by keeping doors and windows shut. If you do have to go outside and you’re experiencing a lot of skin sensitivity, it can help to change your clothes and take a shower as soon as you return home. This helps remove any pollen that may have become stuck to your clothing and hair.

Soothing skincare

Follow this with gentle skincare that hydrates to soothe feelings of irritation and is suitable for sensitive skin. La Roche-Posay’s Cicaplast Lavant B5 Gel is the perfect way to begin your routine. Suitable for sensitive skin, it cleanses and soothes damaged and fragile skin while leaving the skin feeling comfortable. It’s so gentle, in fact, that it can be used all over the body, scalp and face and is suitable for the whole family – even babies.

We recommend La Roche-Posay’s Toleriane range for sensitive, allergy prone skin. It is the first skincare range to be given the Seal of Approval by Allergy UK due to its minimalist, hypo-allergenic formula. Toleriane Dermallergo Cream has a formula enriched with soothing ingredients such as neurosensine, glycerin, shea butter and La Roche-Posay's Thermal Spring Water and instantly soothes and moisturises sensitive skin. This cream is clinically proven to hydrate skin and reduce signs of sensitivity such as dryness, tightness, and itchiness. Toleriane Dermallergo Cream reinforces the skin barrier function and provides up to 48 hours hydration for immediate relief. Approved by dermatologists and Allergy UK, the gentle formula helps reduce redness and itchiness associated with dry or allergy prone skin. Its nourishing yet lightweight texture leaves skin feeling comfortable. Specifically formulated for sensitive to ultra-sensitive skin prone to dryness, tightness, redness, and itchiness. Also suitable for use on allergy-prone skin.

The Toleriane range for sensitive and allergy prone skin also includes Toleriane Dermo-Cleanser, Toleriane Ultra Dermallergo Serum and Toleriane Dermallergo Eyes.