Allergic rhinitis (nasal allergies) – what’s the treatment?  

Nasal allergies such as hay fever don’t have to stop you living your life. Here’s how to get on top of them.

What are the signs of allergic rhinitis?

What are the causes and who’s most affected?

When to see a doctor 

How is it diagnosed?

How is it treated?

Managing your symptoms with self-care

Are you tired of dealing with streaming eyes, a runny nose and sneezing? These are signs of allergy so find out what might be triggering your symptoms, and how to get relief.

Allergic rhinitis is no picnic. Having a runny or itchy nose, constant sneezing, red, watery eyes and an itchy throat while you’re trying to work, socialize or simply go for a walk can be tough and can get you down. 

The word rhinitis means “inflammation of the nose,” so it makes sense that the condition is caused by breathing in something you’re allergic to – be it pollen, dust mites, mold spores or animal fur. 

Allergic rhinitis is sometimes called [hay fever](https://www.livehealthily.com/health-library/conditions/hay-fever), although in some areas this term means having a pollen allergy and does not include dust mites or mold, for example. 

Allergic rhinitis is often easily treated with self-care measures and/or medication from a pharmacist or doctor. 

Take a look at the typical causes of the condition, and treatments to help you manage your symptoms.


## What are the signs of allergic rhinitis?

Similar to a [cold](https://www.livehealthily.com/health-library/conditions/common-cold), symptoms include:

- eyes that are itchy, red and watery 
- sneezing
- an itchy roof in your mouth 
- [coughing](/health-library/symptoms/cough)
- a runny or blocked nose that may be itchy
- phlegm (mucus) in your throat (postnasal drip).

These symptoms usually show up within a short time of being in contact with something you are allergic to, so you might be able to pinpoint this from a cold.  

Itching of the nose and the eyes aren’t typical symptoms of the common cold, so this is another sign it could be allergic rhinitis. 


Get help with this

## What are the causes and who’s most affected?

Allergic rhinitis happens when your immune system has a reaction to a tiny allergen in the air inhaled through your nose or mouth, such as: 

- dust mites in your home
- mold spores
- wood dust, flour dust and latex
- animal hair, usually from pets, such as dogs and cats
- pollen from weeds, grass or trees (also known as [hayfever](https://www.livehealthily.com/health-library/conditions/hay-fever)).

Although harmless to most people, to others these allergens are seen as a threat, prompting the immune system to release chemicals to protect the body. 

The chemical histamine causes irritation and inflammation in mucous membranes in  your nose and throat to eject the intruder, triggering your symptoms.

Allergic rhinitis can happen at any time of the year depending on your triggers. 

Warmer weather usually brings on pollen allergies, while winter time, when you’re more likely to spend time indoors with windows closed, can be a breeding ground for indoor allergies such as pet hair, mold spores and dust mites. 

While anyone can develop allergic rhinitis, it’s more common in those who have: 

- other medical conditions, such as [eczema](https://www.livehealthily.com/health-library/conditions/eczema-atopic) and [asthma](https://www.livehealthily.com/health-library/conditions/asthma)
- a family history of allergies, such as hay fever.


## When to see a doctor 

You should be able to manage allergic rhinitis yourself with [self-care](/health-library/conditions/rhinitis-allergic#self-care) and [treatments available from your pharmacist](https://www.livehealthily.com/health-library/conditions/rhinitis-allergic#treatment).

But you should see a doctor if: 

- your symptoms get worse
- you also have asthma, which is becoming worse
- treatments from the pharmacy haven’t helped
- symptoms are getting in the way of sleep and everyday life.


## How is it diagnosed?

Your doctor will run through a physical exam with you plus talk to you about your family’s allergy history and your lifestyle (i.e. do you have pets, or times when symptoms occur for example) to identify triggers. 

Keep a note of everything so that you don’t forget to mention it at your appointment. 

They may then run you through a series of tests to rule out other conditions such as asthma and find your allergic rhinitis triggers. These can include:

- __a blood allergy test__ – to test for antibodies that cause allergies 
- __a skin prick and/or intradermal test__ – testing for reaction in small areas on your body by exposing you an allergen.


## How is it treated?
You can often treat the symptoms of allergic rhinitis with [self-care]((/health-library/conditions/rhinitis-allergic#self-care)) at home – the main thing is to avoid your triggers as much as possible.

A pharmacist can also help ease your symptoms with: 

- __antihistamines__ to reduce symptoms such as sneezing, itching and runny noses
- __salt water nasal sprays__ to rinse the inner part of your nose
- __decongestant nasal sprays__ or drops to unblock your nose (nasal sprays shouldn’t be used for longer than a week)
- __eye drops__ for red, itchy and watery eyes.

If lifestyle changes, self-care or medicines from a pharmacist haven’t worked, your doctor may prescribe you antihistamines or a steroid nasal spray. 

If these haven’t helped, you may benefit from: 

- __leukotriene inhibitors__ – this medicine blocks a chemical called leukotriene that your body releases (alongside histamine) when you’re having an allergic reaction to something. Talk to your doctor about whether it’s right for you and potential side-effects
- __immunotherapy__ – it’s a series of injections, or tablets, containing a small amount of the allergen, such as grass or dust mites, which may help your immune system develop immunity to it.


## Managing your symptoms with self-care

While it’s not always easy to avoid your allergies completely, there are self-care strategies you can put in place to limit your exposure. 

If mold spores and dust mites are to blame, try deep cleaning or using a dehumidifier to help reduce moisture, which encourages their growth.

If your allergy is pollen-related, keep windows/doors closed where possible during the warmer months to avoid letting pollen in. 

You could also try: 
- avoiding touching your face and/or rubbing your eyes
- buying bedding and materials that are hypoallergenic
- washing pets every 2 weeks, grooming them outside often, and regularly cleaning their bedding 
- dusting your home regularly and vacuuming with a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter
- wearing sunglasses that wrap around your face to protect your eyes from pollen
- joining support groups to connect with others going through similar experiences, such as the [Allergy Support Hub](https://allergysupporthub.com.au/who-we-are/); plus check out helpful resources for people with allergies, such as the [Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America](https://aafa.org/about-aafa/aafa-affiliated-asthma-allergy-support-groups/) and [Allergy UK](https://www.allergyuk.org/resources/allergic-rhinitis-and-hay-fever-fact-sheet/).


error

 There was an error when submitting your feedback – have a screen break then try again in a few minutes.

Oh no, something’s gone wrong

ANY COMMENTS OR SUGGESTIONS?

initial

This isn’t helpful

This isn’t relevant

Something is wrong

This isn’t accurate

Please select one.

loading

success

We're listening – we use your feedback to improve your experience, and make our content more helpful.

Thank you for your feedback

References

Amelia Glean

Jo Wheatley

Dr Tamer T Malak

Article information

All of Healthily's articles undergo medical safety checks to verify that the information is medically safe. View more details in our <a href="/safety" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">safety page</a>, or read our <a href="/legal/editorial-policy-principles" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">editorial policy</a>.