Itchy eyes, runny nose, sneezing ... This is the other side of the coin when summer returns for the millions of French people who are allergic to pollen. Especially since this year is particularly virulent, explains at the microphone of Europe 1 the allergist Édouard Sève. "The winter was pretty mild, we had a little rain in the spring, but here we have a lot of sun. So there are a lot of pollens flying everywhere, we are really in the red." An alert to grasses that affects almost the entire territory.
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Avoid going out at noon
The situation is all the more unpleasant for sensitive people as it will last "at least until July 14," said the specialist. So to protect yourself from the irritation of the mucous membranes caused by these tiny grains which spin freely in the air, only one solution: "Limit exposure." To do this, the specialist recommends "to avoid going out at noon, since it is the time of day when there is the most pollen in the air".
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Close windows, do not garden, take a shower on the way home
It is also necessary to "close the windows of your home during the day", but also "limit gardening". As for the mower, it is better to leave it at the bottom of the garage, since by passing it we will lift all these particles. Another recommendation: avoid "drying your laundry in the garden, pollen sticking with humidity", or "take a shower as soon as you get home to be sure you don't have any on your clothes or in the hair. " Little extra tip: the mask against the coronavirus can also prove to be an effective ally.
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Drug treatment
If despite all the symptoms of an allergy occur, the vice-president of the union of allergists recommends a drug treatment, "antihistamines, eye drops, nose drops, or even asthma treatments if the bronchi are taken". And it is only if the symptoms persist that one must "possibly think of a desensitization".