How do steroid nasal sprays work for hay fever?
Steroid nasal sprays work by reducing swelling and mucus inside the nose caused by hay fever. They contain a small amount of steroid that mainly acts in the nose with little effect on the rest of the body. They take several days or up to two weeks to reach full effect, so starting them one to two weeks before hay fever season gives the best results.
Key points:
- Steroid nasal sprays reduce swelling in the nose to ease breathing.
- They also cut down mucus production linked to hay fever.
- Full benefits build up over several days to two weeks.
- Starting early before pollen season maximises protection.
This text has been fact-checked for accuracy by medino's clinical team.