Summer is approaching and for hay fever sufferers that can spell misery as the pollen count rises.

More people suffer from hay fever than ever before. Last year 36 per cent of young people aged 12 to 14 were said to be affected compared with 12 per cent in 1965.

Suggested reasons for this rise include air pollution and global warming.

Hay fever, or seasonal allergic rhinitis, is caused by breathing in pollen or getting it in the eyes.

It can kick in from early spring to late summer, depending on exactly which pollen the sufferer is allergic to.

Perennial allergic rhinitis is similar but occurs all year round and is caused by dust mite droppings, pets' skin flakes or animal hair.

Some 3.4 million people in the UK have asthma and it is increasing among children.

It often runs in families and triggers can include colds and flu, cigarette smoke, cold, dry air and pollution.

Skin conditions can also be triggered around the home. An estimated one in 12 adults and one in eight children have eczema at some time in their lives.

The cause of nickel rash is not known but it is believed to be aggravated by anything which touches the skin, such as jewellery, make-up, cosmetics or household products.

Rick Havemann and his wife Meradith, from Brighton, launched their online natural products and skin care company Avea after sons Damian, eight, and Richard 14, developed eczema. Meradith suffers from sensitive skin.

They also launched The Allergy Site alongside the Avea site.

Rick said: "If you have allergies and they worry you to the extent they interfere with life, go to the doctor and insist you get treatment. The most important thing you can do is go and be tested for allergies."

For more information visit www.allergyfoundation.com, www.theallergysite.co.uk and www.stuffynose.co.uk For details of Avea products go to www.eco-home.co.uk Dolphin House Shop, in New Road, Brighton, sells natural body care products and the Dolphin House children's clinic next door uses complementary therapies. For more details, call the shop on 01273 721720 or the clinic on 01273 324790.

For an up-to-date pollen count, log on to www.pollenuk.co.uk