Hayfever & Allergic Rhinitis
Specialist rhinology care for the nasal symptoms that antihistamines and sprays leave behind.
Hayfever is commonly managed as an allergy, and for many sufferers, antihistamines and nasal sprays provide adequate control. But for a significant proportion of patients, the symptoms persist: chronic nasal obstruction, a constantly runny nose, facial pressure, and post-nasal drip that continue well beyond pollen season. When this happens, the problem is often as much structural as it is immunological, and it requires a rhinologist, not just an allergy specialist.
At Hillser Clinic, our consultant ENT surgeons assess and treat the nasal dimension of hayfever and rhinitis. Beyond allergen desensitisation or immunotherapy pathways, we offer a thorough clinical assessment of your nasal anatomy and function, followed by targeted treatments, both procedural and non-procedural, that address the physical causes of your symptoms.
Recognising the symptoms
Rhinology-led care may be appropriate if you experience any of the following:
Persistent nasal obstruction that is not adequately controlled by antihistamines or sprays
A chronically runny nose or post-nasal drip that continues outside of pollen season
Facial pressure or congestion that significantly worsens in spring and summer
Disrupted sleep caused by nasal obstruction
Symptoms that have been present for several years without satisfactory resolution
Hayfever as a nose problem
When the body reacts to pollen, the inflammatory response causes the turbinates, the soft tissue structures lining the nasal passages, to swell. With repeated seasonal exposure, this swelling can become chronic, leaving the turbinates enlarged even when allergen levels are low. The nerves supplying the nasal lining can become overactive, driving persistent runny nose and congestion independently of allergen exposure. Where a deviated septum is also present, the margin for any swelling is reduced further.
These physical changes do not resolve with antihistamines, because they address the histamine lead response, not the structural anatomy of the nose. A rhinology assessment identifies whether these mechanisms are contributing to your symptoms and what can be done about them.
How we assess you
Your initial consultation with one of our consultant ENT surgeons includes a detailed review of your symptoms and a clinical examination of the nose. Individual factors including symptom history, nasal anatomy, and previous treatment responses all influence the approach, and each of these is assessed carefully at consultation.
Treatment options
Treatment is tailored to your anatomy and symptom profile following assessment. Options available at Hillser Clinic include:
ClariFix® Cryotherapy
ClariFix targets the overactive posterior nasal nerve: the nerve responsible for driving persistent runny nose and congestion in chronic rhinitis. Using controlled cryotherapy delivered via a slim probe in clinic, it disrupts the nerve signals at source, providing lasting relief without surgery or general anaesthesia. ClariFix is effective for both allergic rhinitis and non-allergic rhinitis, and is particularly suitable for patients whose primary symptom is a chronic runny nose or congestion that has not responded to medication.
Read more about ClariFix cryotherapy.
Turbinate Reduction
Where chronically enlarged turbinates are identified as a cause of nasal obstruction, radiofrequency turbinate reduction offers a minimally invasive, in-clinic solution. Using precisely controlled energy, the procedure reduces the volume of turbinate tissue to restore comfortable airflow, with minimal discomfort and a quick recovery.
Septoplasty
A deviated nasal septum is common in the general population and is often well-tolerated until hayfever or rhinitis narrows the available airway further. Where the septum is identified as a contributing factor to your obstruction, septoplasty corrects the deviation and can be combined with turbinate reduction in a single, day-case, procedure where appropriate.
Read more about our rhinology treatments.
Medication review and optimisation
Not all rhinitis requires procedural treatment. Your consultation will include a review of your current medication regime, and your surgeon will advise on whether a change of spray, antihistamine, or adjunct treatment is likely to make a meaningful difference before any procedural option is considered.
Why choose Hillser Clinic?
Consultant-led expertise – all assessments and treatment decisions are led by senior ENT surgeons with specialist experience in rhinology and nasal function.
Advanced techniques – access to in-clinic diagnostic endoscopy and the full range of surgical and non-surgical rhinology treatments, tailored to your individual findings.
Integrated care – where appropriate, medical management, procedural treatment, and onward referral are coordinated as part of a joined-up care pathway, not treated in isolation.
Safety and clinical excellence – procedures are performed by consultant surgeons at accredited facilities, with your safety, outcomes, and long-term nasal health at the centre of every decision.
FAQs
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Hayfever is a form of allergic rhinitis triggered by outdoor allergens — most commonly grass, tree, or weed pollen — and tends to follow a seasonal pattern. Allergic rhinitis is the broader term, which also includes perennial (year-round) forms triggered by indoor allergens such as house dust mite or pet dander. Both conditions involve the same inflammatory mechanism and can produce the same nasal symptoms: congestion, runny nose, sneezing, and post-nasal drip. At Hillser Clinic, we assess and treat the nasal consequences of both.
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Antihistamines block the histamine response to allergen exposure, and intranasal corticosteroid sprays reduce mucosal inflammation. Both are effective for many patients. However, they do not address structural changes that repeated inflammation can cause — including chronically enlarged turbinates or hypersensitive nasal nerves that continue to drive symptoms independently of allergen exposure. If you have been using medication consistently without achieving adequate control, a rhinology assessment can identify whether a structural or procedural intervention is likely to make a difference.
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No. You do not need prior allergy testing or a GP referral to book an initial consultation. Your doctor will take a full history and perform a clinical examination at your first appointment, and will advise on whether further investigations — including basic allergy testing — are appropriate as part of your assessment.
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ClariFix is a minimally invasive in-clinic treatment that uses controlled cryotherapy to target the overactive posterior nasal nerve responsible for driving chronic runny nose and congestion. It is effective for both allergic rhinitis (including hayfever) and non-allergic rhinitis, and is particularly suitable for patients whose primary symptom is a persistent runny nose or congestion that has not responded to sprays or antihistamines. Most patients experience a significant and lasting improvement following a single treatment session.
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Yes. Repeated seasonal inflammation can cause the turbinates — the soft tissue structures lining the nasal passages — to become chronically enlarged over time. This means that nasal obstruction and congestion can persist even outside of pollen season, even when antihistamines are providing some relief from other symptoms. In some patients, this chronic turbinate hypertrophy is a more significant driver of their symptoms than the allergic response itself, and it requires rhinological treatment rather than allergy management.
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We typically offer consultations within a few days of enquiry. Please contact us via the website or by email to check current availability.
For more on these topics, read our articles on why a blocked nose persists despite antihistamines and the difference between hayfever and allergic rhinitis.
If hayfever or persistent rhinitis is affecting your breathing and quality of life, a specialist assessment is the right first step. Our consultant ENT surgeons will identify the nasal causes of your symptoms and guide you through the most appropriate treatment options.
Book your consultation today with Hillser Clinic and take the first step towards clearer breathing.
