Can anyone explain why ever time I get in bath or shower my hayfever gets a billion times worse? And other hayfever questions

[tinseloatcake]

And why we are on this perplexing subject, at what point can I use contact lenses again if I put some eye drops in? Is it hours, weeks or days? I can't find the answer to either of these questions.

Might be pollen dust etc coming out of your hair? Might be worth sticking on a shower cap and see if it makes a difference.

I can't explain it but wanted to say I used to have this too. For me it seemed to be the difference between the shower and ambient temperature. Am much better these days but I used to have heavily blocked nose/sinuses and permanent drop/stuffy nose. I think it stopped when ENT took a hammer like syringe to my sinuses. They were so thick he said I was such a rare case he asked if his students could come in and see.
My nose/sinus life is a million times better since.

Cholinergic urticaria? You can be allergic to changes in temperature.

This happens to me in the shower (rarely have a bath in summer so can’t vouch for that) - I always assumed it was unlocking pollen on skin/hair but it could have another explanation.

I would try rinsing out your nose with a saline nasal cleaner before taking a shower to remove any pollutants from your nose.

Could it be your shower gel/shampoo?

It could be your shampoo or soap.
When the air is moist, it traps pollen in it. When it's dry and warm the pollen floats higher in the air and is less of a problem. That's why pollen is worst in the morning and evening and on muggy days.

Why wouldn't you be able to use contact lenses? I don't get itchy eyes if I wear contacts, I assume they must act as a barrier to the pollen irritating them.

Oh OP I hear you. I am SUFFERING.

Why is mine worse when I 1) lie and bed and 2) sit on the train??

I was extremely smug this year as I thought I had escaped hayfever, I’ve been a half dead snotty mess since Tuesday. I think the players enjoyed the snotty messness at our rugby match on Saturday.

I find my nose is worse in the shower, but the steam loosens mucus, the same thing happens if I have a cold.

I use antihistamines, but I think the nasal barrier spray to be quite effective, it does ‘slide’ slightly, so you do need to check your nostrils through the day or you can see a fine white smear at the bottom of them, looks somewhat dodgy.

@JorisBonson

Why is mine worse when I 1) lie in bed

Dust mite allergy?
Change your pillow every now and then (and no washing them doesn’t help)

I'd assume it has to do with the warm water increasing blod circulation to tissues, which would exacerbate the symptoms. I experience this too, but always feel much better after i have showered and allnthe pollen trapped in my hair and clothes has gone.

@SteppedOnBloodyLego Only happens during hayfever season!

My hay fever is better after a shower (as long as I wash my hair).

Inexplicably, it is worse upstairs than downstairs in my house.

On contact lenses - the drops I have now say wait 15 mins at least. But I don't know if that's all drops of course.

Is it definitely hayfever OP? Because increased body temperature causes a mast cell response in people who have mast cell activation disorder and this covers a much wider range of triggers than just pollen. It might be worth having a look and seeing if you have any of the other triggers.

God I bloody hate hay-fever...touch wood my eyes have been OK so far but I sound like I've got raging flu and the itchy throat....

Tbh I usually end up wearing my glasses for a few weeks at some point as I'm constantly having to use antihistamine drops, moistened drops, eye baths and cold packs.

I had to mow the lawn yesterday...found another use for face masks!

JorisBonson

Only happens during hayfever season!
Then it might be pollen on your bed linen etc? Try to keep your windows shut and wash you bed linen at 90’ temp and change it often
Also do you take shower/wash your hair before you go to bed? It might be pollen in your hair that gets into your eyes/nose when in bed.

Possibly you have both - dust mite and pollen allergies - look up “allergy bucket” concept; if you are allergic to both during hayfever season, your “allergy bucket” gets full and you start to react to dust mites too.
Whilst being relatively fine during winter

Is it because you open your windows to let the steam out, and the pollen gets in?

Fascinating - I assume it must be the warm water and circulation thing as many of the others don't apply - the window is always open, I am not always washin lg my hair.

And bravo for the person who told me about the eye drop instructions re contacts. I've got some that say 15 mins on them too. I was concerned it was going to be 24h or weeks or something. 2 pharmacists have just said flat no when I asked. Helpful!

💯 Successful thread.