Anyone else’s hayfever get worse after washing face at night?

[BlisterNC]

Long-time hayfever sufferer here (comes and goes). I’ve noticed a weird pattern and want to see if anyone else gets similar...

Yesterday I spent the whole day outdoors in London. While outside, I only had very mild symptoms (just some sneezing, eyes and throat completely fine).
When I got home around 10pm, my nose became worse (more sneezing, runny and pulsing) also could feel pollen in throat. Eyes fine though. I then did my evening skincare routine, ensuring to flush out nose too (same old cleanser, moisturiser) and suddenly my eyes become incredibly red and sensitive, nose still stuffed.

I took an antihistamine and went to bed, but I woke up this morning with very swollen eyelids (can’t fully raise one eye).

Has anyone experienced washing face / skincare worsening symptoms… could it be trapping pollen or something? I don’t think it’s the products as they are gentle and have repurchased for ages.

Weirdly last week I was also out all day on the Saturday (field festival) but barely had symptoms, hadn’t taken antihistamines then or during the week. Maybe it’s a different type of pollen now

When my hay fever is at its worst I react to things that are otherwise fine, including skin care and food, and different types of plant cause different reactions. High histamine levels makes things weird even for things that don't seem at all connected, eg I have to reduce my insulin when it's birch pollen season.

Are you drying face clothes/ towels/ bedding/ pjs outside? If so, they will be full of pollen.

Are you thoroughly washing and rinsing your hands before you wash your face? And are you brushing your hair out before your skincare routine - my hair is like a sponge and just absorbs triggers that that are released when you fuss with it?

Thank you! That’s really helpful to know, I wonder if may be similar. I had noticed my eczema had become bit more reactive past few days (usually Protopic is amazing but wasn’t fully cutting it)

Also I have history of mild blepharitis on eyelids but usually very manageable with regular cleansing, can go in remission for ages and for flares I use special blep cleanser with tea tree oil. The worst of the eyelid swelling was on the upper eyelid where I’d recently had a bit of mild blepharitis

That sounds awful. Do you feel otherwise well and have these exact symptoms ever happened before? It wouldn’t be the skincare products you’re using if you’ve already been using them for a long time. Do you know if any of the ingredients have changed? I know pollen can be in tap water and there’s various kinds of pollen with most people only being allergic to 1 or 2. As you say, it could be trapped pollen under your eyelids so if you have Optrex I would give both eyes a good rinse out (make sure you use separate eye bathes / sterilise in between just incase it’s conjunctivitis in one eye). I would try to stay indoors today. Do you wear sunglasses when outdoors all day? It’s a good idea to wear ones with close fitting frames not only for UV protection but also they really help with preventing pollen irritating your eyes. Also, don’t forget the little dab of Vaseline in each nostril.

I don’t have a garden as in a flat so always dry indoors. I guess I could be accidentally transferring pollen on to my bed from my hair as I tend to wash it every other day

I wash my hair when I shower at night for this reason. Luckily I have short hair. I think the pollen gets into everything.

I do thoroughly wash my hands first thing because I’ve been on dirty tubes etc. I didn’t brush out or wash my hair yesterday so that could be something to consider, thank you! & I toss on my pillow so maybe pollen from hair stuck

Feel otherwise well thank you, in fact my actual eye balls are quite clear, not too red or watery. My skincare products never caused reaction for me before but I do remember in past on bad hayfever days eyes would get more irritated after doing night skincare routine.

Haven’t been sneezing much at all this morning. I think what pp @BlackAmericanoNoSugar mentioned could be relevant in my case, maybe when my histamine is high I become temporarily ultra sensitive to other things. I have history of mild blepharitis and eczema.

I do wear sunglasses when out, they’re not wraparound though so will be getting new pair. Thank you for all the tips! I’m surprised pollen can get in tap water

In past hour of sitting upright and applying cold compress my eyelid swelling has started to decrease 😊

I haven’t tread whole thread but hair is where most pollen is trapped and you’ll be rolling around in it all night if you don’t change your pillow slip after washing your hair.

I find my hay-fever is worse as the air starts to cool in the evenings. Possibly something to do with the pollen drifting down from the higher atmosphere or something
I did once walk under a weeping willow tree and the ends of the branch touched my scalp and it was itchy until I washed my hair.
I don't normally wash (shampoo and condition) my hair daily as it doesn't need it, but in the height of the hay-fever season I will just rinse it with clean water and dry it off between proper hair washing sessions.