UK households urged to shower twice a day until Monday

UK households are being urged to shower twice a day until Monday as another bout of hot weather sweeps across the country.

The Met Office has said the week ahead will be mostly dry and increasingly warm, with heatwave conditions being reached by Friday, July 11, for parts of England and Wales, and in parts of Scotland over the weekend. Temperatures are forecast to reach 28C in parts of England on Wednesday, climbing to 30C on Thursday and 32C by Friday, with the hot and humid conditions set to persist into the weekend. The hot weather will bring with it unpleasant conditions for hay fever sufferers with "high" levels forecast for almost the entire UK on Wednesday, followed by "very high" alerts in some areas heading into the weekend.

Friday is expected to be the worst day for pollen with the Met Office issuing "very high" alerts for North East England, Yorkshire and Humber, North West England, West Midlands, South West England, London and South East England, Wales and Northern Ireland. The national forecaster says there is still "uncertainty" over the timing of cooler air arriving from the West, but this is expected to "influence conditions early next week".

As there is no cure for hay fever, experts recommend taking preventative measures to manage symptoms when pollen levels are high and advise showering twice a day to remove particles from skin and hair.

Pollen particles are very sticky and can cling to you when you're outside, so by showering in the morning and at night this removes the pollen from your body and prevents it from spreading around your home, which can make symptoms worse indoors.

It's especially beneficial to shower before going to bed, particularly if you have been outside during the day, to ensure any pollen particles aren't transferred to your bedding as this can trigger symptoms and result in a disturbed night of sleep.

But if you're leaving your windows and doors open during the night to allow some cool air to flow inside, then it's also important to shower again in the morning to remove any particles that may have drifted in.

Most people shower in the morning, according to a survey by the Sleep Foundation. But hay fever advice tells people to shower when they get home from work, so for most people that will mean taking two showers per day.

Forefront Dermatology says: "If you have hay fever that is triggered by outdoor allergens, it is extremely important to shower immediately after being outside.

"When pollen levels are high, pollen can become intertwined with your hair and rest on your skin. Showering will help eliminate those allergens, preventing a nighttime attack."

Allergy UK adds: "On high pollen days, shower, wash your hair and change your clothes, especially your outer layer of clothing, when you arrive home.

"Keep windows closed - this is most important in the early mornings when pollen is being released, and in the evening when the air cools."