WHAT’S the worst part of suffering from hay fever?
Is it the tickly throat and blocked nose, the thunderous sneezing and coughing?
As warmer weather brings with it a higher pollen count, many of us are also sporting itchy, streaming eyes.
If you’re itching and wiping your peepers or applying anti-histamine eyedrops, chances are the skin around them can become dry, inflamed and very sore, according dermatologist Dr Eva Melegh.
There’s also the risk of developing skin conditions such as eye eczema or blepharitis during hay fever season, as well as styes and conjunctivitis, she said.
If that wasn’t enough, your everyday makeup routine might also be making your eyes sorer and your hay fever even worse.
Dr Melegh broke down five mistakes you might be making daily and gave tips on how to soothe your sore eyes.
You might not feel like yourself until you’ve slapped on a coat or two of mascara in the morning.
But if you suffer from hay fever, you might be making your itchy, watery eyes worse by wearing it during the day.
“Mascara is by its nature a sticky and durable substance that clings to the eyelashes. But once pollen is in the air its clingy consistency means pollen sticks to it too,” Dr Melegh explained.
She recommended you avoid wearing it, at least during the daytime.
“Eyelash tinting can be a less sticky alternative for the hay fever season,” Dr Melegh suggested.
Allergies to eye cosmetics, beauty products and sun creams are very common, but are even more of a risk in eyes already inflamed and hyper-sensitive from hay fever, Dr Melegh explained.
To guard against a flareup of contact dermatitis – which would only add to your misery if you’re already suffering from hay fever symptoms – the dermatologist suggested you apply an extra layer of protection on your sensitive and irritated eyes.
She recommended using a light, calming eye gel, such as the Hydrosil Dry Eye Gel, on your eyelids and around your eyes before you apply your sun cream and makeup.
This’ll make your skin less reactive and irritated – you can also apply these kinds of products at night to calm the inflamed skin around your peepers.
Most makeup removers contain solvents to break down your mascara and foundation.
Dr Melegh said: “These solvents can be quite drying at the best of times but if the skin around the eye is already irritated and damaged, they can cause inflammation and stinging too and can trigger eye conditions such as blepharitis.”
Rather than wreaking further havoc on your eyes, she recommended you use a natural oil first, followed by a gentle cream cleanser to removed loosed makeup residue.
Pollen counts are at their highest in the early evening meaning that hay fever symptoms often get worse towards the end of the day, Dr Melegh said.
So you might want to think about rinsing your eyes out with saline water when you get home.
You can easily but this at a pharmacy – but go for the individual ampules, as that ensures the water is uncontaminated each time you use it.
“This can help reduce inflammation from allergens and may help avoid block hair follicles that may lead to styes,” Dr Melegh said.
Sunglasses can help protect eyes from pollen dust to a degree.
When it comes to shielding your eyes from it , the larger they are the better.
Wraparounds sunnies and visor and sporting styles will be the most effective barriers to pollen particles, Dr Melegh said.
“Make sure you frequently wipe your sunglasses down with a clean cloth to remove pollen build up on the lenses and frames,” she added.
