Can You Get Hay Fever in Winter? Why Allergy Symptoms Last Into Autumn and Winter

Find out about hayfever

If you are asking can you get hay fever in winter, you are not alone. Plenty of people in Cardiff and across Wales are still sneezing, sniffing and rubbing itchy eyes long after the pollen season has finished.

This guide explains why allergy symptoms can carry on when pollen is low, how to tell them apart from a cold or chest infection, which simple home steps can help, and when to speak to a pharmacist or GP.

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Can You Get Hay Fever in Winter?

Strictly speaking, hay fever is an allergy to pollen, and pollen levels in the UK are usually low in November. But the symptoms of hay fever (sneezing, an itchy or runny nose, blocked sinuses and itchy, watery eyes) are the same ones caused by other indoor allergens. The medical name for all of these is allergic rhinitis (inflammation of the lining of the nose caused by an allergy).

So the short answer is: you cannot usually get true pollen hay fever in the depths of winter, but you can absolutely get hay fever-like symptoms in winter. Allergy UK describes allergic rhinitis as being triggered by pollen, house dust mites, mould spores and pet dander, and says year-round symptoms are usually caused by indoor allergens.

Some people have both: a pollen allergy in summer and a dust mite or mould allergy that never really goes away. For them, the cold months simply feel like a different kind of hay fever.

Why Hay Fever Symptoms in Winter Carry On

When the heating goes on and the windows stay shut, our homes become warmer, damper and less well ventilated. That suits several common allergens very well.

House Dust Mites

These microscopic creatures live in bedding, carpets, soft furnishings and clothing. It is their droppings, not the mites themselves, that cause the allergic reaction. A hospital allergy leaflet from Evelina London notes that symptoms can be worse in late autumn and winter, when central heating and closed windows create the warm, damp conditions mites prefer.

Mould

Mould grows in damp areas such as bathrooms, kitchens and around windows with condensation. Breathing in mould spores can trigger symptoms in some people, and it can aggravate asthma too. With wet Welsh weather and clothes drying indoors, November is a prime time for damp.

Pets

Proteins in the skin flakes, saliva and urine of cats, dogs and other pets can trigger allergic rhinitis. In winter, pets and people spend more time indoors together, so exposure goes up.

Dust mite symptoms often appear at night or first thing in the morning, because so much exposure happens in bed. If your nose is worst when you wake up, that is a useful clue to mention to your pharmacist.

Allergy, Cold or Chest Infection: How to Tell the Difference

Allergic rhinitis is easily mistaken for an unusually long-lasting cold, particularly in winter when colds are everywhere. Asthma + Lung UK sets out some helpful differences:

  • Duration: allergy symptoms can last a few weeks or even months, whereas a cold or chest infection usually improves after one to two weeks.
  • Mucus: with an allergy, mucus is usually clear. With a cold or chest infection you might cough up green or yellow phlegm.
  • Itching: an itchy nose, eyes or roof of the mouth, along with repeated sneezing, points towards allergy.
  • Temperature: a high temperature, body aches or feeling properly unwell point towards an infection rather than an allergy.

These are guides, not rules. The Welsh Common Ailments Service formulary notes that nasal discharge in allergic rhinitis can sometimes be yellowish, so colour alone is not a reliable test. Patterns also help: allergy symptoms tend to start within minutes of exposure and can be triggered by particular places, such as a dusty bedroom, a damp room or a friend’s house with a cat.

If you have a cough, wheeze, chest tightness or breathlessness, do not assume it is just an allergy. Allergic rhinitis can make asthma worse, so these symptoms deserve proper advice.

Practical Home Steps That Can Help

You can’t remove every allergen from your home, but small, regular changes can make a real difference. These tips come from the Welsh Medicines Advice Service patient leaflet used with the NHS Wales Common Ailments Service, plus general advice from NHS and allergy charities.

Bedroom and Bedding

  • Wash bedding and furry toys every week at 60°C or above.
  • Consider allergy-friendly covers for pillows, duvets and mattresses.
  • Replace feather and down pillows with synthetic ones if dust mites are a problem.

Cleaning

  • Dust with a damp cloth rather than a dry duster, which just moves dust around.
  • Vacuum with a HEPA filter (a high-efficiency filter that traps tiny particles).
  • Focus on the rooms where you spend most time, especially the bedroom and living room.

Pets

  • Keep pets out of the bedroom.
  • Wash pet bedding regularly and clean furniture they have been on.
  • Groom pets outside and wash them regularly if possible, ideally done by someone who is not allergic.

Damp and Mould

  • Open windows briefly each day, even in cold weather, to let moist air out.
  • Use extractor fans when cooking and showering, and wipe condensation from windows.
  • Try to dry washing outdoors or in a ventilated room rather than on radiators.

If you rent and have persistent damp, tell your landlord or housing provider in writing. Damp is a housing problem as well as a health one.

Hay Fever Symptoms in Winter: When to See a Pharmacist or GP

You can often manage allergic rhinitis without seeing a GP. In Wales, the NHS Common Ailments Service lets pharmacists assess allergic rhinitis and, where appropriate, suggest treatment, with no appointment needed in many cases. Our pharmacists can talk through your symptoms, work out whether an allergy is likely and discuss options with you.

Speak to a Pharmacist If

  • Your sneezing, blocked nose or itchy eyes have lasted more than a couple of weeks.
  • You suspect dust mites, mould or pets but are not sure.
  • Home measures are not enough and you would like to discuss treatment options.
  • You have used the treatment your pharmacist advised for 2 to 4 weeks and are not getting better.

Contact Your GP or Call NHS 111 Wales If

  • You have a high temperature.
  • You feel breathless, or you have asthma and it is getting worse.
  • You keep getting nosebleeds or have pain in your nose.
  • You are not sure what is causing your symptoms.
  • Your symptoms are worse after 5 days of the treatment your pharmacist advised.
  • You cannot sleep or go about your everyday life as usual.

If you have eye symptoms that are getting worse, a local optometrist registered with Wales General Ophthalmic Services (WGOS) can provide a free NHS eye examination.

Call 999 if you or someone else has swelling of the lips, face or throat, severe difficulty breathing or collapses after exposure to something they are allergic to. That is not hay fever; it could be a severe allergic reaction.

Treatment Options and What to Expect in a Consultation

Treatment for allergic rhinitis is usually stepwise. It starts with avoiding triggers where you can, then moves on to medicines that calm the allergic reaction in the nose and eyes if needed. These can include antihistamines, steroid nasal sprays and, for some eye symptoms, allergy eye drops. Which option, if any, suits you depends on your symptoms, other health conditions and any medicines you already take, so it should be discussed with a pharmacist or prescriber rather than self-selected.

Medicines treat the symptoms but do not cure the allergy, and they can have side effects. Your pharmacist will explain what to expect and how long to give a treatment before deciding whether it is working.

If symptoms are severe, keep coming back, or the cause is unclear, a GP may arrange tests or refer you to a specialist. Specific allergy tests are mostly used for year-round symptoms when the trigger is uncertain.

It helps to bring a few notes to your consultation:

  • When your symptoms started and whether they are worse at night, in the morning or in certain rooms.
  • Any pets, damp or mould at home.
  • Whether you have asthma or eczema, or a family history of allergy.
  • Any medicines you have already tried.

Why Choose Wellness Pharmacy for Hay Fever Advice in Cardiff?

Whether it is pollen in June or dust mites in November, we are here to help you work out what is going on. As an independent pharmacy on Newport Road in Old St Mellons, we know our community in east Cardiff and take the time to listen.

  • Pharmacist-led advice on hay fever and year-round allergic rhinitis.
  • Assessment of whether prescription treatment is suitable for you, where home measures and pharmacy medicines are not enough.
  • Honest signposting to your GP, NHS 111 Wales or an optometrist if something needs a closer look.
  • Convenient and local, with NHS Wales services and private clinics under one roof.

If your ‘hay fever’ hasn’t gone away this winter, pop in and see us or book a consultation. We will be happy to help.

Book now for a consultation with our pharmacists

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the symptoms of hay fever?

Typical symptoms are sneezing, an itchy, runny or blocked nose, and itchy, red or watery eyes. Some people also cough or feel itching on the roof of the mouth. The same symptoms occur with allergies to dust mites, mould or pets, so they can continue in winter.

What causes sudden allergy attacks?

Allergic symptoms usually start within minutes of breathing in something you are sensitised to, such as dust stirred up when changing bedding, a pet’s dander or mould spores in a damp room. Spotting where and when symptoms flare can help you identify the trigger. If you have swelling of the lips, face or throat or struggle to breathe, call 999 straight away.

Can allergy cause dizziness?

A very blocked nose and sinuses can sometimes leave you feeling light-headed or off balance, and pressure in the ears may add to this. Dizziness has many other causes though, so it should not be put down to allergy without checking. See your GP or call NHS 111 Wales if it is sudden, severe, keeps coming back, or comes with chest pain, breathlessness or weakness.

What are some common allergies in autumn?

In autumn and winter, the most common triggers are house dust mites, mould spores and pet allergens, all made worse by heating, damp and closed windows. Pollen is usually low by November. If you have symptoms for more than a couple of weeks, our pharmacists can help you work out whether an allergy is likely.

Medical Disclaimer

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always seek the advice of your GP, pharmacist, or qualified healthcare professional before starting, stopping, or changing any treatment. A qualified prescriber must assess individual clinical suitability. Wellness Pharmacy only supplies prescription treatments following a full clinical assessment.

Thomas HarriesWritten byThomas HarriesPrescribing Pharmacist and OwnerView full clinician profile →

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Written by (Prescribing Pharmacist and Owner).