Summer means beach days, evening strolls and picnics in the park – but it can also bring a few unwelcome extras, like sunburn, insect bites and hay fever.
The good news? Most of these common summer issues are easy to treat. Your local pharmacy team is on hand with advice and remedies, and you can usually just pop in – no appointment needed.
Sunburn
Signs: Red, hot, painful skin; sometimes blistering.
What you can do:
- Stay out of the sun until skin heals
- Drink plenty of water
- Apply aftersun or soothing lotions (e.g. aloe vera)
Your pharmacy team can help with:
- Aftersun products and moisturisers
- Over the counter pain relief
- Advice on when to seek further care
Insect bites and stings
Signs: Itching, redness, swelling; sometimes pain.
What you can do:
- Avoid scratching
- Apply a cold compress
Your pharmacy team can help with:
- Antihistamines
- Bite and sting creams
- Advice if swelling is severe or infected
Lyme disease
Lyme disease is a bacterial infection that can be spread to humans by infected ticks. It’s usually easier to treat if it’s diagnosed early.
Visit the NHS website to learn what to do if you suspect Lyme disease.
Hay fever
Hay fever affects up to 1 in 5 people in the UK at some point in their lives. A lot of people find their symptoms are at their worst in the summer, but there are three different types of pollen that can cause hay fever from March to September.
Signs: Sneezing, runny nose, itchy eyes, congestion.
What you can do:
- Stay indoors when pollen counts are high
- Keep windows closed where possible
- Wear wraparound sunglasses to protect your eyes from pollen while outdoors
- Shower after being outdoors
Your pharmacy team can help with:
- Antihistamines
- Nasal sprays
- Eye drops
Pharmacy First
The Pharmacy First service gives you access to prescription-only treatment for some conditions – without needing a GP appointment.
Conditions covered include:
- Impetigo (aged 1 year and over)
- Infected insect bites (aged 1 year and over)
- Earache (aged 1 to 17 years)
- Sore throat (aged 5 years and over)
- Sinusitis (aged 12 years and over)
- Urinary tract infections (UTIs) (women aged 16 to 64 years)
- Shingles (aged 18 years and over)
If needed, pharmacists can also refer you to a GP or another healthcare professional.
Find your nearest pharmacy