Yasmina Kattou / Photo credit: ROMAIN DOUCELIN / HANS LUCAS / HANS LUCAS VIA AFP
modified to
2:18 p.m., April 8, 2024
25% of French people suffer from a pollen allergy and this figure could even double by 2056. And while the current period is generally the most delicate for allergy sufferers, according to specialists, here is a list of tips to adopt to suffer as little as possible.
They sting, itch, make you sneeze and, more generally, make 25% of French people go through hell. Pollens, to which nearly a quarter of the French population is allergic, are particularly numerous at the moment. This is even the most delicate period according to specialists who underline the preponderant role of birch pollen in these allergic reactions. Antihistamines are often insufficient and, according to forecasts, 50% of the population will be allergic in 2056. However, there are tips to suffer as little as possible.
When outdoors, it is recommended to cover all sensitive areas of your face. Particularly the eyes which must be protected by a pair of sunglasses, even if the sky is gray. This prevents pollen from sticking to the eyes.
Avoid scarves and headscarves
The surgical mask or the FFP2 represent two other credible solutions, according to Julien Cottet, vice-president of the French Society of Allergology. This is what he recommends to his patients. “The mask will ensure that pollen does not enter the nose or mouth. In this case, they cannot enter the respiratory tract, so there will be no rhinitis or asthma” , he explains.
On the other hand, it is better not to wear scarves or scarves which are pollen nests and increase the symptoms. You should also take precautions when returning home. “There needs to be a decontamination airlock where we say to ourselves ‘when I come home, my coat stays in the entrance, my scarf too. I’m not going to put them in the living room, I’m not going to put them take it to the room. I’m going to be careful not to spread pollen everywhere,’” continues Julien Cottet. Finally, it is advisable to wash your hair every evening so as not to spread pollen on your pillow.