How to Fight ALLERGY FACE®

By Sarah Parker Ward

As if the nation’s 50 million yearly allergy sufferers didn't have enough to deal with already – between sinus pressure and runny noses leaving them uncomfortable and feeling sick – they also have to deal with looking sick, too (talk about adding insult to injury). And there's a term for that allergy-sufferer look: ALLERGY FACE^®.

What is ALLERGY FACE^®?

ALLERGY FACE^® is the term for those beauty challenges that are the result of allergy symptoms, like a red nose, general puffiness in the face and watery eyes. It’s not uncommon, and it certainly isn’t pleasant.

Coping with ALLERGY FACE^®

If you’re fighting ALLERGY FACE^® beauty challenges, know that minimizing exposure to your allergy triggers is the best method for managing your seasonal allergies and reducing the severity of ALLERGY FACE^®. But you don’t want to barricade yourself inside, either, so if you wake up one morning to discover these symptoms, use these tips:  

• Facial Puffiness: Place cucumbers or green tea bags that have been steeped and then chilled around your eyes to help soothe dryness and inflammation. Consider using a gentle eye cream afterward to further help with dryness.
• Watery Eyes: Gently rinsing your eyes and eyelashes with water will remove the pollen from them, and wearing sunglasses outdoors will serve as a shield to help prevent pollen from getting in your eyes.  
• Red Nose: When your allergies are at their peak, you may have an irritated, red nose from blowing. Help make that redness disappear by applying a moisturizing oil, then a neutralizing concealer all around the red areas. Follow that up first with your usual concealer, then a dash of powder – and voila, you’re ready to roll.

While ALLERGY FACE^® isn’t an allergy symptom itself, it can be a consequence of common allergy symptoms, like irritated eyes and a runny nose. The best way to treat those? An antihistamine for allergies, like ZYRTEC^®.

With the exception of ZYRTEC^®, the links provided in this article are for educational purposes only. No sponsorship or endorsement is implied. Information was used from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

©Johnson & Johnson Consumer Inc. 2016