This year more than ever, it seems like my allergies will not quit! It’s probably because working from home lets me spend more time outside than ever, and I’m definitely taking advantage. And while I definitely am enjoying that perk, I am less enjoying what allergies are doing to me. My friends and I were actually texting about this a few weeks ago, and trading tips and tricks of what has worked best for us to alleviate the symptoms. So I thought I’d share mine, and I’d love to hear any you have for me too!
Ditch the contacts
Dry, itchy eyes are one of the worst parts about allergies for me. They just feel like they’re scratchy all the time, and it’s so annoying. This summer, I’ve been wearing glasses instead of contacts almost every day, and I think it’s helped a bit in relieving some of that dryness. It’s not a perfect fix, but it’s a start, and a break for my eyes.
Use eye drops
Sometimes, just swapping out contacts for glasses still isn’t enough for me. So when my eyes are still super dry, I add in some eye drops. I don’t go for any of the brightening/whitening ones, just the basic ones like this. It’s basically instantaneous relief (but of course… be careful if you’re wearing mascara!).
Picking the right treatment
Over the years, I have made my way through all of the different over-the-counter treatments – Allegra, Claritin, Zyrtec, Xyzal. For me, Xyzal seems to work best at dealing with all over allergy symptoms, but sometimes you have to try a few different ones to find the right one for you! Keep in mind what you’re looking to help, too – if a runny nose is your biggest concern, a nasal spray like Flonase will probably be better than a pill.
Close the windows
This is a sad one, I think, because a cool breeze through the windows on a hot evening can feel so nice. But I’ve noticed that I wake up with such a stuffy nose if I sleep with the windows open! So if you’re noticing your allergies are especially bad one day, make sure you’re not bringing them inside, too.
