Air purifier for hay fever - worth it or not?

[WellThatsMeScrewed]

Has anyone got experience of air purifiers to reduce the impact of hay fever at home?

I don’t actually get it but all my family do and are currently all miserable (also the constant sniffing is driving me mad!).

Every year I wonder about an air purifier but never taken the plunge as they are expensive.

Has anyone used them and does it make a difference?

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MNHQ

Didn’t make any difference to DH, keeping windows shut, washing hair when back in from walks etc…not drying washing outside did…a bit.

@BadAtMaths2 my DH does all this, I’ve never met anyone who gets hay fever as bad as him and fear our DC are going the same way. Did wonder if it would not help as otherwise think it would be more popular!

We have a small cheap one in the hayfever sufferers bedroom. Windows and doors are kept closed in there and the purifier is on from early evening through to the next morning. This works well as a pollen free sanctuary.
Are your family using medication? Honestly medication is by far the best way to control symptoms. If the usual otc isn’t strong enough there’s the new prescription strength otc fexofenadine which is better.

DH has a Dyson one and a cheapy from Maplin’s. He says they make a difference. He also has the worst hayfever I’ve ever known.

They make a difference to me, as they keep me awake all night. <selfish>

Does he do a saline rinse before bed? Vaseline up the nose also helps before going out and about, and although not overly practical, where possible changing clothes and showering when coming in from outdoors (or before bed at least).

DH does all the tricks and is on super strong antihistamine that you can only get from Dr. Nothing works, it’s like we lose him mid may to end of June.

I think we’ll get one, it’s not as if we are going to loose anything by trying I guess. Well apart from money! But maybe it will make the house smell less or dog

If he's already tried everything else I'd be prepared that it probably won't help but if you can afford one then worth a go.

O0 we also use the Kenalog injection, used to be available on the nhs now only private gp, lasts 3-6 months depending how lucky you are!

The injection is the way to go.

Interesting. Where do you get the injection privately? Can you get it from a chemist/clinic or do you have to find
private GP?

Our GP has refused to give it to DH in the past due to long term side effects - bone density? And his dad’s GP (different part of England) stopped giving them for the same reason.

Private gp. Not that expensive for the benefit you get. You need to do your own research, I was never quite sure whether it was discontinued on nhs due to cost or possibility of side effects? It’s a steroid injection. Never heard about bone density.

The gps stopped giving them as they are no longer available on nhs

It is for several weeks a year, worth a try.

If you do as a op suggests (one room, air purifier on high all day, door and windows shut) it does help, IME. As in, it doesn’t solve the problem but that plus a shower / hair wash plus medication definitely helps with getting a decent night’s sleep.

I've got an air purifier in my bedroom when my hayfever gets bad.

It was well worth the money. At my worst points, I keep my door and window shut and run it pretty constantly so that when I go into my room, I can breathe. When the hayfever isn't so bad, I keep the door and windows shut, but just run it at night.

I've also had a pollen screen on my window, which helps a bit.

I would definitely recommend it. The first one we bought was a cheap one and it did not make a difference. Now, we have l'evoit-pet and it works. I always put it on every night for a couple of hours before my son goes to sleep and it makes a difference. Of course, it is just another tool, not a substitute for medication, Omega 3, etc.

They don't help me or dcs. Fexofenadine is the game changer and you can get it otc now, and kids can take it.