Some people may benefit from taking a cheap medication until Christmas is over. It follows reports that people find themselves coughing, sneezing and coming out in rashes once the decorations go up.

Millions of UK households have natural Christmas trees, with estimates suggesting up to 10 million 'real' pine trees are sold annually in the lead up to the festivities. Bringing a live tree indoors during the winter and decorating it for Christmas may end up bringing back a serious problem that most thought they were rid of after summer.

People may find themselves with symptoms like sneezing, itchy eyes, and rashes once they have their festive centrepiece all set up - especially those who suffer from hayfever and other allergies. Real trees harvested for Christmas often collect outdoor allergens.

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Allergy UK claims that around 16 million people in the UK suffer from some form of hay fever. Nearly half of hay fever sufferers also have asthma or other allergies.

Unless people thoroughly wash off their purchase before setting it up at home, there's a high chance that those natural allergens may be circulating in your home and being inhaled daily. These reactions are usually mild but can leave you feeling under the weather.

Dr Kas Ahmed, who appeared in the latest series of The Traitors in January 2025, told BBC Morning Live viewers about the common problem. He said: "If you are someone who suffers from hay fever, bringing the outside in can cause you to suffer from different symptoms as well.

"So, for example, with your Christmas trees, if you have a fresh Christmas tree, bringing it from the outside inside can cause all sorts of issues if you suffer from allergies." Whilst the tree itself is not in season for releasing pollen, it may carry hitchhiking pollens from grass as well as dust and mould.

Dr Kas went on to claim: "If you are someone who uses antihistamines in summer time, same for hay fever or something like that, then in winter time using the same antihistamines either in your own house, if you’ve got a fresh Christmas tree, or if you’re going to see someone, (use) that same antihistamine in the morning before you go there, just to try and reduce your risk of having those allergy-like symptoms."

There are several options available for people to try, as our bodies eventually build up a tolerance to certain doses of antihistamines. At the time of writing, there is a range of affordable options to see people through the festive season.

Boots is selling Bells Hayfever and Allergy Relief 10mg Tablets in packs of 30 for £2.75, working out at 9p per pill. Alternatively, Superdrug is offering its own-branded one-a-day Allergy and Hayfever Cetirizine Tablets in packs of 30 for £5.79, roughly 19p per pill.

If your usual antihistamines are not working, try switching to a different type of medicine (such as changing from Loratadine to Cetirizine). If symptoms do not get better, or become worse, speak to a doctor.