An allergy is your body’s reaction to an allergen or protein in your environment. These are usually harmless, but an allergic person’s immune system believes that they’re harmful, and produces a special type of antibody (‘IgE’) to attack them. This leads other blood cells to release further chemicals including histamine, which together cause the symptoms of an allergic reaction.

Histamine is a natural chemical that is released by white blood cells and triggers an allergic reaction.

An allergen is the name given to any substance that can trigger an allergy. There are thousands of different allergens all around us, and almost any substance can provoke an allergic reaction in someone who is very sensitive.

What are the most common allergens?

The most common causes of allergies are: for more information on the times of year when you may experience allergic reactions to these different allergens.

What’s the most suitable treatment for my allergy?

The most effective way to beat hay fever and other allergies is to steer clear of enemy allergens! Of course, this isn’t always practical. So it’s fortunate that there are lots of hay fever remedies like BENADRYL® to help relieve your allergy symptoms and help you carry on life as normal. BENADRYL® can be your first line of defence. That’s because it includes a variety of effective treatments that offer relief from hay fever symptoms. To find out more about the BENADRYL ® range click .