IF hay fever makes it impossible to concentrate at work, you can take comfort from the fact that you are certainly not alone.

A new survey by leading charity Allergy UK has found that more than 90 per cent of hay fever sufferers’ symptoms affect their work, school or daily routine and that more than 80 per cent reported a negative effect on their mood.

The report, titled The Impact of Hay Fever, was carried out in two parts during the spring and summer of 2015.

Part one investigated the impact that hay fever has on the daily life of respondents and part two set out to discover whether HayMax allergen barrier balms effectively reduced their symptoms.

Holly Shaw, Nurse Adviser at Allergy UK, said: “Allergies are very much an individual entity and people are very different.

“What we’re allergic to largely depends on how we’re made up but we do know that a large proportion of people suffer with hay fever and many find it difficult to work and engage in normal activities.”

The medical term for hay fever is seasonal allergic rhinitis and it is estimated to affect around 18 million people in the UK.

The report said that 35 per cent of people surveyed said they considered their symptoms “severe” and a massive 85 per cent saying it seriously affects their sleep.

In part two of the study, nasal barrier balm HayMax was put to the test with more than 80 per cent of people claiming it helped to reduce symptoms.

Max Wiseberg, airborne allergies expert and founder of HayMax, said: "Natural allergen barrier balms applied to the base of the nose and around the eyes throughout the day can trap some pollen before it enters the body, which can be very effective at helping to prevent and lessen symptoms.”