Hay Fever Worsens: Solutions When Remedies Fail

Hay fever can be annoying at the best of times. But this year, many people are reporting their usual symptoms are worse than ever before - with their normal go-to remedies doing little to provide relief.

Here's what you can do if you're finding that nothing seems to be helping your itchy eyes, sneezing and runny nose this year.

There are several reasons why hay fever is so bad right now. Climate change and pollution have lengthened and intensified pollen seasons , so trees and grasses now release allergens earlier and for longer. Urban smog may even make pollen grains more potent.

In the UK, 2025's unusually dry and warm spring has worsened conditions, leading to earlier and more intense tree pollen release. Birch pollen, which affects around 25% of UK hay fever sufferers , peaked sharply this year due to the high temperatures and low rainfall - two factors which increase pollen production and dispersal . The lack of rain has also prevented pollen from being cleared from the air, prolonging exposure and symptom severity .

Another issue is timing. For full relief from hay fever symptoms, allergy medicines (especially steroid nasal sprays) should be started one to two weeks before pollen appears. So in the UK, steroid nasal sprays should ideally be started in early March for tree pollen or late April for grass pollen. Starting them late can make them seem ineffective .

You can also develop new sensitivities, even as an adult . Pollen that didn't bother you years ago might start causing symptoms now. Grass and birch pollen are among the most common types of seasonal pollen that start bothering people in adulthood.

Managing symptoms

If you're finding allergy pills alone just aren't cutting it this year, the best thing you can do to reduce symptoms is cut your pollen exposure wherever possible.

Before going outdoors, check the local pollen forecast. Avoid exercising outside during peak pollen hours (usually mid-morning on dry, windy days).

If you do go outside, wear a face mask (such as an N95 mask) when pollen counts are high. After coming inside, remove your shoes at the door, change your clothes and take a shower to wash off pollen.

Inside, you can use a HEPA air purifier or high-MERV filters in your heating or cooling system. These will capture airborne pollen particles, which may help to reduce the severity of your symptoms during high-pollen seasons. On high-pollen days, keep windows and doors closed. You might also want to vacuum with a HEPA-filter vacuum and wash bedding often to remove any pollen.

While these steps won't cure allergies, they can sharply reduce your total exposure. This gives medications a better chance to work.

While non-drowsy antihistamines such as loratadine, cetirizine and fexofenadine are common first-line treatments, research suggests fexofenadine may provide more consistent symptom relief for people with moderate to severe seasonal allergies compared to other types of antihistamines. However, each person will respond differently - so use whichever type provides you the most relief. Allergy tablets work best when taken daily and pre-emptively, ideally before peak exposure each morning.

Nasal steroid sprays, such as fluticasone, are often more effective than antihistamines for nasal congestion. These should be started one to two weeks before the allergy season begins and used consistently.

Allergy wipes and saline nasal rinses may also help reduce pollen exposure - though evidence of their benefit have only been shown in small studies, so larger, high-quality trials confirming their effectiveness are still needed.

Some people may also decide to try at-home remedies for their symptoms. However, the science behind whether they really work is mixed.

Take local honey , for example. The idea is that it exposes you to local pollen and helps build tolerance. In reality, the pollen that triggers hay fever is usually windborne and not present in honey. Studies haven't shown eating it reduces allergy symptoms. At best, it may soothe a sore throat, but it's not a proven remedy.

You may have better luck by targeting your gut. Some research suggests a more diverse gut microbiome may help moderate allergic reactions. A recent meta-analysis also found that probiotic supplements can offer a small but measurable improvement in hay fever symptoms. Still, results vary by probiotic strain and treatment length . Probiotics should be seen as a complement to - not a replacement for - conventional allergy management.

Longer-term fixes

When symptoms stay severe, allergy immunotherapy - which helps desensitise a hay fever sufferer to pollen - can help. This works like an allergy "vaccine". You receive tiny, gradually increasing doses of your specific allergen either by regular injection or as a daily under-the-tongue tablet or drop. This trains your immune system to tolerate the pollen and shifts your immune response by making your body better able to block allergens while simultaneously dampening the allergic response.

In one study, around 90% of patients who underwent a full course of immunotherapy had major relief from symptoms - and this effect often lasted many years. The trade-off with immunotherapy is commitment: a typical course lasts 3-5 years under a specialist's guidance. But for people with chronic hay fever, immunotherapy can dramatically improve their quality of life.

Researchers are also refining immunotherapy to make it faster and more efficient. One method , which only requires a few small injections into a lymph node, can reduce symptoms by up to 40% within a season.

Technology is also reshaping allergy care. Smart monitors and mobile apps can now track pollen and pollution in real time, while AI tools are being developed to identify specific pollen types from air samples. These tools could soon provide personalised alerts to help people avoid triggers before symptoms start.

Pollen seasons are getting longer and stronger, so allergies can feel worse than in the past. But the good news is that science is keeping pace. By combining smart exposure-reduction strategies with the right medical treatment, most people can significantly reduce their hay fever misery.

The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.