Q: I am a 38 years old male. I developed allergy to pollen grains of congress grass three years back. Congress grass is found in abundance where I live and because of this, my body itches and I also develop cracks with pus in them. On doctor's prescription, I started taking Polaramine tablet, which did help initially but cracks have started appearing on my body again. Is there any permanent solution for treating allergy

A:Grass pollen allergy is often responsible for hay fever, with nose, eye and sometimes chest symptoms. It may also cause eczema, but that would be unusual in the absence of eye and nose symptoms. If you have eczema, it is important to avoid using soap or detergent on the affected skin, to keep skin well moisturised with, for example, aqueous cream, (which can also be a soap substitute), and to treat acutely inflamed areas with a mild steroid such as hydrocortisone cream. Scratching adds to the problem by damaging the skin, and antihistamines like polaramine can be helpful, particularly at night.