Last update date: April 10, 2023
Hay fever occurs in one in two Japanese people. As someone with an allergy, it's a very difficult season from February to April every year.
The graph below is a quote from the Taisho Pharmaceutical website, and is a pollen calendar for the Kanto area.
According to this calendar, cedar pollen is still flying around in early April, when this blog was written. Apparently, you may be suffering from hay fever until late May.
The Kanto area, including Tokyo, has a view that there are few buildings and nature, but in fact, it is an area in Japan where a large number of pollen is flying around in large numbers. A large amount of cedar pollen has come from the Tama area in the 23 wards of Tokyo, and the peak of scattering continues for about three months from February to April. There is also a lot of cypress pollen, and this peak lasts longer than in other areas, from March to mid-May. The Kanto area has more grass pollen than other areas, and it also scatters for a longer period of time.
If you fail to deal with hay fever, your symptoms may worsen, so I take the following measures:
- Fexofenadine tablets
It is a histamine H1 receptor antagonist, represented by the product name "Aregra," and is used for allergic rhinitis, urticaria, and pruritus associated with skin diseases. - Prescription with allershut
A special cream is attached near the entrance to the nose and block pollen with the nose - Ventilation vents
Filters are used to prevent pollen from entering the room to ventilate the aluminum sash and wall ventilation vents. - Wearing a mask
The COVID-19 pandemic has passed and the mandatory masks have been lifted outside, but during hay fever season, it is best to wear a mask when you go out as much as possible.
Details of each solution are as follows:
Fexofenadine tablets
Fexofenadine tablets (FexofenadineHydrochloride) is a histamine H1 receptor antagonist, represented by the product name "Aregra," and is taken twice a day in adults (ages over 15). The photo shown is a generic drug and the active ingredient is the same as Allegra.
I have also tried allezione (active ingredient epinastine hydrochloride), a second-generation antihistamine that can only be taken once a day, but it didn't have much effect on me, so I thought it was. Since then, I have been choosing Allegra-based medicines.
Allegra-based fexofenadine tablets are said to be less likely to make you sleepy, but in reality, when you take them, you may feel a little sleepy due to side effects.
Prescription with allershut
Allershat is a product name jointly developed by Humakiller and DR.THEISS of Germany.
A special cream is attached near the entrance to the nose and blocks pollen with the nose.
The high density filter effect of the cream prevents pollen, PM2.5, yellow sand, and house dust.
This cream (contents: purified long chain hydrocarbons) does not contain any fragrances, coloring or preservatives, and is harmless to the body, so you can use it with confidence.
To use, apply approximately 1cm of cream on your cotton swab or fingertips to the left and right nostrils (up to about 1cm from the entrance) and apply it evenly.
The effect lasts for about 4 hours, but in my case I use it when I have severe hay fever symptoms and don't seem to be able to sleep.
Aluminum sash window ventilation vents and wall ventilation vents
In my apartment, I used filters to prevent pollen, PM2.5, yellow sand, and sea sand (as it is located in the Shonan area) from entering my room, and filters were used to cover the ventilation vents on the aluminum sashes and the ventilation vents on the walls.
After leaving the filter for about three months, it appears that the filter has become quite dirty with sea sand and other substances, so I plan to replace it again.
The most important thing to be careful about is that it is difficult to do, but it seems that it is best to thoroughly remove pollen that has stuck to your clothes and hair before opening the front door when you get home.
