With Irish summer season in full swing, new nationwide research has exposed a gap in how Irish adults prepare for seasonal allergies, leaving hundreds of thousands vulnerable to having their summer plans ‘hijacked.’
The study, conducted by consumer research agency Bounce Insights among 250 Irish allergy and hay fever sufferers, reveals a distinct pattern of “reactive suffering.” Rather than preparing in advance, 37% of Irish adults admit they only purchase or start taking seasonal allergy medication when they feel the very first physical symptoms arrive.
An additional 32% wait even longer, delaying treatment until their symptoms become “severe, disruptive, or unbearable.” This lack of preparation is actively costing Irish people their summer experiences.
The research shows that 69% of respondents have had long-awaited summer activities (such as outdoor concerts, sports matches, festivals, or family BBQs ) negatively impacted by sudden, unexpected allergy flare-ups.
For 16% of the respondents, the experience was so severe that it completely ruined their day and forced them to leave early, while 53% stayed and endure high levels of physical discomfort.
The packing paradox
The study highlights a major blind spot when it comes to packing for outdoor activities. While Irish outdoor enthusiasts and festivalgoers are highly diligent about packing rain gear or ponchos (only 36% are likely to forget them ), nearly half (49% ) admit that allergy and hay fever medication is the absolute number one essential they are most likely to accidentally leave behind.
This is closely followed by sunscreen (47% ), reusable water bottles (44% ), and sunglasses (44% ).
This lack of foresight is coming at a high personal cost, actively disrupting Ireland’s highly anticipated outdoor plans and shared summer moments.
Sleepless nights, allergy anxiety and ruined beauty
The impact of being unprepared extends beyond outdoor events, actively disrupting daily routines and wellbeing:
Sleepless nights: A significant 57% of sufferers state that nighttime allergy symptoms (such as congestion or itchy eyes ) rob them of restorative sleep during peak pollen season. 11% report that they regularly lose sleep, while 46% have their sleep moderately disrupted.
Public discomfort and embarrassment: Allergy symptoms are also causing social anxiety. 24% of sufferers have felt embarrassed in public because others assumed they were sick or contagious. Furthermore, 30% reported feeling acute embarrassment during intimate or quiet settings, such as social gatherings, dates, or quiet cinema trips, while 12% have suffered embarrassment during crucial professional moments like work meetings or presentations.
The ruined beauty routine: For the allergy sufferers who wear makeup, summer pollen is also causing a major disruption to their daily grooming and beauty routines.15% of makeup-wearing sufferers state their makeup is constantly ruined (including runny mascara and foundation being rubbed off around the nose ). 17% actively stop wearing eye makeup or heavy foundation altogether on high-pollen days just to avoid the mess. 13% find themselves spending half their day constantly reapplying makeup to cover up a red, irritated nose and watery eyes.
The pharmacist’s perspective
To help Irish adults navigate the delayed pollen surge and reclaim their summer, Paula Reilly, MPSI, Pharmacy Owner, Baxter’s Totalhealth Pharmacy, Longford, is urging a shift from a “reactive” mindset to “proactive” prevention.
“In my pharmacy, I see the exact same trend play out every year,” says Paula Reilly. “People tend to view hay fever as a minor nuisance and wait until they are already sneezing, congested, and suffering from red, itchy eyes before they seek help. But by that point, the allergic inflammatory cascade is already in full swing, making it harder to get under control.”
“With pollen counts rising, Irish sufferers need to realize that modern, second-generation antihistamines are designed to work most effectively when taken proactively. By taking a once-daily shield before heading outdoors, symptoms can be prevented from developing in the first place, ensuring you can enjoy outdoor concerts, family days, and sports events uninterrupted.”
For those seeking relief, the pharmacy remains the trusted hub for advice: 68% of Irish sufferers state they prefer to purchase their allergy relief in-store at a local pharmacy so they can ask the pharmacist or pharmacy team for direct, expert advice.
Managing Delayed Summer Allergies: Q&A With Pharmacist Paula Reilly, MPSI
Q1: How is the summer season affecting people this year?
Paula Reilly: “In summertime, we see sudden, concentrated explosion in pollen counts. The key thing to understand is that grass pollen is the main trigger for 58% of Irish allergy sufferers, which means freshly cut lawns, beer gardens, parks, and school sports days are currently high-risk zones.”
Q2: The new research shows that 37% of people wait until they feel symptoms before taking action, and 32% wait until symptoms are unbearable. Why is this “wait-and-see” approach a mistake?
Paula Reilly: “In my daily practice, I see this constantly. Customers walk in with streaming eyes and a completely blocked nose, wanting an instant fix. When you wait until you are already suffering, your body has already released a massive flood of histamines into your system.
“It can be much to reverse that inflammatory process than it is to prevent it. I always advise starting your allergy prevention early in the season, or at the very least, taking your medication first thing in the morning before you step outside.”
Q3: The survey showed that nearly half (49% ) of Irish people accidentally forget to pack their allergy medication for weekends away or festivals. What are your top tips for “pollen-proofing” a summer trip!
Paula Reilly: “It’s the classic packing paradox, as people remember their rain ponchos because Irish rain is highly visible, but they forget that pollen is an invisible hijack. My top tips are:
Pack a ‘summer prep kit’: Put your allergy medication, sunscreen (SPF 50 ), and a reusable water bottle in a dedicated bag before you pack anything else.
Check the pollen forecast: Treat the pollen forecast the same way you treat the weather forecast. If it’s a high-pollen day, take your medication before you leave home.
The nighttime routine: Pollen clings to your hair and skin during the day. If you suffer from nighttime sleep disruption (which affects 57% of Irish sufferers ), make sure to shower and wash your hair before bed to prevent transferring pollen onto your pillows.”
Q4: The research shows that seasonal allergy symptoms disrupt the beauty and grooming routines of nearly half of Irish makeup wearers, with many giving up on makeup entirely on high-pollen days. What is your advice for those trying to “pollen-proof” their look?
Paula Reilly: “This is a very real, frustrating issue that I hear about in the pharmacy all the time. Constant sneezing, a streaming nose, and itchy, watery eyes make it almost impossible to keep makeup in place, leading to a raw, red nose and smudged mascara. My top tips for protecting both your skin and your look are:
Create a physical barrier: Before you apply any makeup, dab a tiny bit of clear barrier balm (like petroleum jelly ) just inside the rim of your nostrils. This acts like a ‘pollen trap,’ catching the allergens before you breathe them in and preventing the tickle that starts the sneezing cycle.
Switch to waterproof: Switch your daily mascara and eyeliner to waterproof formulas during peak summer. This prevents the dreaded ‘pollen smudge’ when your eyes start to water.
Q5: With 68% of people stating they prefer to buy their allergy medication in-store at a pharmacy, what is the value of having that face-to-face conversation?
Paula Reilly: “Every individual’s allergy profile is slightly different. By coming into the pharmacy, we can ask the right questions: Are your symptoms mainly nasal, or are your eyes the biggest issue? Are you taking other medications? Do you need a non-drowsy formula because of your job?
“We can help tailor a solution, whether that’s a once-daily tablet, a specific nasal spray, or eye drops to ensure you get safe, targeted, and rapid relief rather than just guessing off a supermarket shelf.”
