It’s now peak pollen season and I’m seeing more and more cases of pollen allergies at both allergy testing clinics in Bournemouth and in London.
April, May and June are particularly difficult months for many allergy sufferers because this is when tree pollen is often at its peak. In the UK, tree pollen typically appears from late March to mid-June, followed by grass pollen from mid-May to July, and weed pollen later in the summer.
Here’s an image of how pollen affects different allergy sufferers throughout the year. As you can see, currently we are affected by multiple trees including Ash, Birch, Cottonwood, Oak and London Plane.
Remember that you can also check the pollen count depending on your postcode, using our pollen count checker.
In London and a lot of large cities, the pollen problem can feel even worse because of the city’s mix of street trees, traffic pollution, warm spring weather and built-up residential streets where pollen and plant debris can collect on cars, windowsills and pavements.
Furthermore, London also has a large number of London Plane trees, and we’ll delve more on why this can post a problem over the next two paragraphs.
Why is there so much pollen in London in the spring?
Spring in London brings a combination of tree pollen sources. Common triggers include birch, plane, oak and other urban trees. Birch pollen is a well-known cause of hay fever symptoms, especially in April, May and June, while grass pollen starts to become more important from early June onwards.
As I previously mentioned, London streets are also lined with London plane trees. These trees are iconic across the capital because they tolerate pollution well and provide shade, but in late spring they can release irritating material into the air.
This is where the story gets more interesting: not everything that feels like “pollen allergy” is caused by pollen alone.
What is “Chelsea cough”?
What is “Chelsea cough”?As a Londoner, you may heard the term Chelsea cough. While not a formal diagnosis, it is an informal London term often used to describe the dry, tickly cough and throat irritation some people experience in late spring, particularly around areas with lots of London plane trees.
These London Plane trees are not native to Britain, but their hybrid resilience has made them one of the capital’s most common street trees.
The culprit here is not just pollen, but tiny hair-like fibres called trichomes. These can come from plane tree leaves and seed structures. When airborne, they may irritate the eyes, nose and throat. The London Society describes these as spiky trichome fibres that can cause eye irritation in late spring and early summer.
That widespread planting means more exposure to their spring pollen and irritating trichomes. This is one reason they are often linked with the so-called “Chelsea cough”.
That distinction matters because trichomes are more of a physical irritant, whereas classic hay fever is an allergic immune response to pollen. So, someone might get a cough, scratchy throat or irritated eyes around plane trees even if they do not normally think of themselves as having hay fever and are not truly allergic to tree pollen.
Pollen allergy vs trichome irritation: is there a difference?
With a typical pollen allergy, your immune system reacts to pollen particles. This is called a true allergic reaction.
This reaction can trigger systemic symptoms such as:
- Sneezing
- Runny or blocked nose
- Itchy, watery eyes
- Itchy throat or ears
- Cough caused by post-nasal drip
- Worsening asthma symptoms in some people
Trichome irritation can feel slightly different and it may cause:
- A dry, tickly cough
- Scratchy throat
- Eye irritation
- A sensation of dust or fibres in the air
- Symptoms that are worse when walking under certain trees that are high in trichomes such as the London Plane tree
Of course, the two can overlap and one can have a combination of symptoms, often making it harder to diagnose and pinpoint the exact culprit.
In London during spring specifically you may be exposed to tree pollen, plane tree fibres, air pollution and dust at the same time.
If you are unsure what you might be allergic to, we offer allergy testing in both our London and Bournemouth clinics with Dr Salagean. If you are further afield, you can also order our ALEX2 testing kit which is a validated allergy test to 295 different allergens. We still recommend that you interpret the results together with a GP or allergist so they can pick up on any results that may be positive due to cross-reactions.
To book an in person or virtual consultation, please contact us.
Why do cars and pavements get covered in yellow dust?
During peak spring pollen season, pollen and plant material can settle on outdoor surfaces. That is why you may see yellow-green dust on hard surfaces in London. This may include car windscreens, bonnets, pavements, tables, benches, etc.
Seeing lots of pollen on the road like this does not always mean the pollen count is dangerously high, but it is a visible sign that plant material is in the air and settling locally.
Dry, breezy days can make symptoms worse because particles remain airborne for longer. Wind breeze can also agitate any pollen particles or trichomes that had previously settled on the ground, and of course it can also increase its release from the trees themselves.
Rain can temporarily clear pollen from the air, although more unsettled weather can sometimes break particles into smaller fragments that are easier to inhale.
How can I reduce my pollen symptoms in London?
There is no way to avoid pollen completely, but small changes you can do on a daily basis can help reduce exposure. I wrote a more detailed grass pollen survival guide last year, and similar tips apply to tree pollen as well.
Here are some suggestions
- Firstly, check the pollen count on days when you plan to be out long. If pollen count is high, consider adjusting your plans.
- Keep windows closed during high-pollen periods. This is usually the case in the early morning and evening.
Wear wraparound sunglasses if your eyes are affected. This has a high impact on particularly windy days, like we just had this week!
- Shower and change clothes after spending time outdoors.
- Wipe down your pets after walks, as pollen can stick to fur and their paws!
- Avoid drying clothes outside on high-pollen days as this can attract pollen and stick to them. Same goes for bedding.
- Use a saline nasal rinse or spray to clear pollen from the nose after trekking outdoors.
- Consider a non-drowsy antihistamine, antihistamine eye drops, or a steroid nasal spray if symptoms are persistent. Some examples are Fexofenadine, Loratadine or Cetirizine tablets. You can also buy nasal sprays over the counter. If your symptoms are still not controlled, speak to your GP or an allergist.
- For people with asthma, pollen can be more than just annoying. If pollen triggers wheeze, chest tightness, breathlessness or night-time coughing, it is worth reviewing your asthma plan and treatment.
When should you consider allergy testing?
If your symptoms come back every spring, affect your sleep, interfere with work and studies, or do not respond well to standard hay fever treatments, allergy testing may help identify your main triggers.
Testing may be useful if you are unsure what your symptoms are caused by. Is it just tree pollen? Or is it a combination of tree and dust? Or are you allergic to pets too?
We can help you both identify your true allergic, provide a treatment plan and also offer you immunotherapy for allergies. Immunotherapy is a way of treating your allergies, so in the future your immune system doesn’t reach as much, thus making you less allergic. This can greatly improve your symptoms and quality of life.
