There's a lot to like about spring—farmers markets are back, the sun is shining, and you can ditch your heavy winter clothing in favor of something lighter and airier. But what about one of the season's less-than-pleasant side effects? Allergies. If you're one of the 7% of individuals in the United States who suffer from seasonal allergies, you're in for weeks of stuffy noses, watery eyes, and a lot of sneezing. Yes, it's time to go to the pharmacy and get some Benadryl. But there's another simple technique to relieve symptoms before going to bed: take a shower.
While it's true that taking an antihistamine is the best method to get rid of the sniffles (and for those with severe symptoms, that means taking them every day during allergy season, not just on Saturdays when you're at the park), it's not the only thing you should be doing. Because you need a strategy when it comes to those pesky symptoms that just won't go away. You want to avoid coming into contact with pollen as much as possible.
Here are some reasons why washing before bed can be beneficial: Throughout the day, pollen that is floating in the air during allergy season settles on your skin and hair. As a result, you might as well be sleeping in a green meadow when you go to bed at night (OK, not really but you get the idea). Any remaining allergens will be washed away with a brief shower before hitting the bed. Oh, and since this material likes to attach to your clothes, you might as well wash your outfit while you're at it. (However, don't put them outside to dry because that would accumulate even more pollen.)
One last piece of advice? When you go home, take off your shoes (psst…entirely it's fine to ask your guests to do the same) and close the windows (use a fan or A/C instead). Oh, what sweet relief.
