ALLERGY SEASON WILL ALWAYS BRING ITS SHARE OF CHALLENGES - BUT IT’S ALSO A TIME WHEN COMMUNITY PHARMACY SHINES
patients, or those on other medication, careful selection is key - and that’s where pharmacy support becomes essential.
Starting Early One of the most important messages pharmacists can try to get across is: start before the symptoms begin. If a patient waits until they are sneezing non-stop, they are already behind. Preventative treatment, such as beginning antihistamines or using a corticosteroid nasal spray a few weeks before pollen levels peak, can make all the difference in reducing the severity of the reaction.
Each spring, we can post reminders on our social media and in the shop window to encourage people to ‘get ahead of the pollen’.
Tailored Support in the Pharmacy At our pharmacies, we can offer more than just over-the-counter treatments. We can provide tailored advice, track patterns of allergy symptoms and even support those managing multiple allergy types. For instance, some
customers also struggle with pet dander or dust mite allergies that linger year-round.
We could also begin to offer hay fever management packs - customised bundles that include antihistamines, eye drops, nasal sprays and a small leaflet of tips for avoiding triggers. It is a simple idea, but it could help patients better understand and manage their symptoms proactively.
Another crucial service that pharmacies provide is medicine reviews. Hay fever treatments can interact with other medications, or may not be suitable for people with certain conditions like high blood pressure. Having that safety net of professional oversight is something no online retailer or supermarket shelf can offer.
Encouraging Proper Diagnosis One of the challenges we can sometimes observe is customers incorrectly self-diagnosing or mistaking cold and flu symptoms for allergies, or vice versa. Red, itchy eyes and a blocked nose can also result from viral infections. But allergies
tend to persist longer and lack the sore throat and general malaise of colds.
We can take time to ask the right questions: When did your symptoms start? Are they worse outdoors? Do they happen every year? With this information, we can better pinpoint the cause and recommend treatment accordingly. In some cases, we can refer patients back to their GP or for further allergy testing if we suspect more complex allergic responses.
Community Education and Awareness As part of the ongoing effort to support local health, some pharmacies have run small awareness campaigns - both in-store and online. Hosting informal “Allergy Awareness Days” in spring where patients can get a free consultation, sample different treatments or learn simple lifestyle tips: like showering after being outdoors, avoiding outdoor exercise in peak pollen times and keeping windows shut during high pollen days. This might seem small, but for many, especially young families or older adults without easy access to a GP, it’s a lifeline. We’re not just selling medicines - we’re helping people take back control of their health.
Final Thoughts Allergy season will always bring its share of challenges - but it’s also a time when community pharmacy shines. As pharmacists, we all play a small but significant role in helping people breathe easier, sleep better and enjoy the outdoors again.
ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT MESSAGES PHARMACISTS CAN TRY TO GET ACROSS IS: START BEFORE THE SYMPTOMS BEGIN
pharmacyinfocus.co.uk 39
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48
