Key Summary
- 44 percent of shoppers rely on store staff; training is essential to distinguish hay fever from the common cold.
- Over half of UK adults (53 percent) are seeking natural OTC options, positioning the Olbas essential oil-based range as a trusted recommendation.
- Expansion of the range includes the Olbas Anti Allergy Nasal Spray, designed to create a protective barrier against allergens.
Hay fever can have a significant impact on people’s lives and is a common condition that they seek support and advice from their pharmacy whether this be by self-referral or being referred by a GP or NHS 111 within the Pharmacy First service. The opportunities this gives to help patients through competent and confident advice and treatment are both significant and professionally rewarding.
Tailored and appropriate treatment to consider includes an antihistamine, nasal spray, eye drops and, of course a pack of tissues. This can help build the pharmacy’s OTC business. The skills and knowledge that the pharmacy team requires and the precautions that need to be taken to manage the disease are all areas to cover.
Rachel Realf, Olbas Brand Manager, said: “Hay fever can have a significant impact on people’s daily lives, affecting sleep, concentration at work or school, and the ability to enjoy time outdoors with family and friends. With around 16 million people in the UK impacted each spring and summer, it is one of the most common seasonal conditions seen by pharmacists.”
“For pharmacists, this creates a real opportunity to make a difference, by providing clear, practical treatment advice and reminding patients that their local pharmacy is an easy and reliable place to turn for help.”
Tailored treatment and complete solutions
Hay fever isn’t the same for everyone, and neither is the way it should be treated. Some patients mainly struggle with sneezing and a runny nose, while others are more troubled by congestion and blocked sinuses, itchy eyes or a scratchy throat.
Taking a few extra moments to ask about how long symptoms have been going on, how severe they are, what might be triggering them and whether the patient is taking any other medication, can make all the difference in the recommendation.
As 53 percent of UK adults want more OTC options made with natural ingredients, more consumers are interested in effective, natural remedies. This is where pharmacists can confidently recommend trusted brands to help ease their patients’ symptoms, such as Olbas, which offers the nation’s favourite decongestant oiliii, and combines natural ingredients to ease blocked noses and congestion quickly and effectively. Many shoppers are also looking for products that feel gentler or offer added benefits. Options like Olbas Shower Gel offer menthol vapours as part of a daily shower routine.
Keeping a well-rounded range of trusted, family-friendly products on shelf helps pharmacies cater to different needs and preferences. The Olbas Inhaler stick provides instant relief for busy lifestyles, while Olbas Breathe Easy Patches offer a gentle, long-lasting solution which is also ideal for overnight use. Children can also find relief in Olbas for Children and our Breathe Easy Patches, helping to manage their symptoms both day and night. The range is also expanding this spring with the introduction of Olbas Anti Allergy Nasal Spray, which helps both relieve symptoms and create a protective barrier in the nose to reduce contact with allergens. Suitable for adults and children over six, it provides another convenient option for managing symptoms throughout the day.
Training pharmacy teams is also essential, as 44 per cent of OTC shoppers rely on advice from store staff when making purchasing decisions. With many patients seeking quick, OTC solutions, counter staff must feel confident, with the right skills and knowledge, to ask appropriate questions and knowing when to involve the pharmacist.
Dr Roger Henderson, NHS GP and Olbas spokesperson, said, “Hay fever is a common allergic reaction to pollen, which usually heightens as the weather gets warmer. It is said to affect one in five people and generally peaks from March until the end of the summer in September. Hay fever and the common cold share many similar symptoms, such as a runny nose and sneezing. However, there are ways of telling the difference between them.”
“A cold can include a sore throat, coughing, and in more severe cases, a fever. The difference with hay fever is the impact it has on your eyes. When suffering with the seasonal allergy, it is likely that your eyes will become itchy and be watery.”
“If sufferers are unsure, it’s best to keep an eye on it for a week or so. If symptoms don’t go away there is a chance that they have hay fever and getting advice from a pharmacist would be beneficial.”
Olbas products are distributed by Lanes Health, a family-owned business based in Gloucester, established in 1930.
