HAYFEVER BOTOX
Antihistamines not cutting it? Kenalog no longer available? There is a medically led alternative — and it works at the source, not just the symptoms.
HAYFEVER BOTOX - KENALOG ALTERNATIVE - SAFER, BETTER
HayTox — also known as Aller-Tox or Hayfever Botox — uses botulinum toxin type A administered as a targeted nasal spray to interrupt the overactive nerve signals that cause hayfever symptoms at source. Not a tablet you take every day. Not a systemic steroid with a list of side effects you cannot reverse. A precise, medically administered, clinically evidenced treatment that targets the nasal passages directly and lasts months.
15 min
250 British pounds
HAYFEVER TREATMENT
One in four people in the UK has hay fever, equating to around 16 million people. And if you live in Wales, your chances of suffering are higher than anywhere else in the country — Wales records the highest search rate for hay fever treatment of any UK nation, driven by high rainfall, extensive grassland and one of the longest pollen seasons in Britain.
For years, many severe hayfever sufferers relied on one treatment above all others: the Kenalog injection. That option is now gone.
Licensed Kenalog was formally discontinued in the UK, with remaining stock exhausted by June, 2025.
The MHRA has also been actively pursuing clinics that continued to promote it - even before it's discontinuation, because it was never licensed for hayfever treatment in the first place — and its risks, including immune suppression and serious systemic side effects, mean it should never have been a first-line option (you can see our blog we wrote on that subject previously)
If you are one of the thousands of people in Cardiff and South Wales now searching for a Kenalog alternative that actually works, you have found it.
WHY KENALOG IS GONE
And why that's a good thing!
Kenalog (triamcinolone acetonide) was never licensed for hayfever treatment in the UK. It is a powerful intramuscular corticosteroid that works by suppressing the immune system — and once it is injected, nothing can be done to stop it spreading systemically over the following weeks, even if serious side effects occur. Risks include immune suppression increasing infection vulnerability, weight gain, mood changes, insomnia, high blood pressure and osteoporosis with repeated use, with unpredictable duration and effects that cannot be reversed.
Allergy UK has never endorsed it.
The NHS removed it from prescribing - years ago.
And now the licensed product has been discontinued entirely (thankfully). Some clinics bulk-bought remaining stock — but that is a finite supply of an unlicensed, high-risk treatment, and the MHRA is watching.
HayTox / Aller-Tox is not Kenalog, does not work like Kenalog, and is not a corticosteroid. It is a different treatment for the same condition — and a safer, more appropriate one.
WHAT IS HAYTOX / ALLER-TOX / HAYFEVER BOTOX?
What Is HayTox / Aller-Tox / Hayfever Botox?
HayTox, Aller-Tox and Hayfever Botox are all names for the same treatment: the use of botulinum toxin type A, diluted in sterile saline and administered as a fine nasal spray, to reduce the overactive nerve and glandular activity in the nasal passages responsible for triggering hayfever and rhinitis symptoms.
The Aller-Tox name refers specifically to a method developed and taught through specialist UK medical training, and is the protocol used at Sebastian Rose. The treatment targets the autonomic nerve fibres and secretory glands of the nasal mucosa — reducing sneezing reflexes, mucus overproduction and nasal congestion at the source, rather than blocking histamine reactivity after symptoms have already begun.
There are no needles involved in the treatment. It is administered via a medical atomiser nasal spray device.
THE CLINICAL EVIDENCE
This is not a social media treatment.
Botulinum toxin for rhinitis has been studied in randomised controlled trials for more than two decades. A systematic review and meta-analysis covering nine randomised controlled trials and 340 patients found that compared with placebo, botulinum toxin produced statistically significant improvements in total nasal symptom scores, with beneficial effects demonstrated beyond 12 weeks and evidence of continued improvement up to 24 weeks.
A peer-reviewed literature review published in Current Allergy and Asthma Reports concluded that intranasal botulinum toxin type A administration appears to be a safe and effective treatment method for decreasing rhinitis symptoms with a long-lasting effect.
T
he Aller-Tox method, published in the PMFA Journal, reports patient relief of up to two months per treatment using the nasal spray protocol — with many patients achieving relief for two to four months from a single session.
WHAT IT TREATS
Seasonal allergic rhinitis (hayfever) — triggered by grass, tree and weed pollens between March and November. Perennial allergic rhinitis — year-round symptoms from dust mites, pet dander, mould or other persistent allergens.
Non-allergic / vasomotor rhinitis — chronic nasal symptoms triggered by temperature change, strong smells or humidity. Idiopathic rhinitis — persistent nasal symptoms without a clearly identifiable allergic cause.
If antihistamines, corticosteroid nasal sprays or other conventional treatments have failed to give you adequate control, you are likely an ideal candidate.
TREATMENT, RESULTS, & WHAT TO EXPECT
Treatment takes 15 minutes. Use a saline or eucalyptus nasal spray 30 to 60 minutes beforehand to clear the nasal passages. The botulinum toxin solution is delivered via medical atomiser into each nostril. No needles. You may experience brief pressure or mild sneezing immediately after treatment, which settles quickly.
Do not blow your nose for as long as possible after treatment.
Avoid all nasal sprays for 24 hours.
Antihistamines can be continued alongside treatment if preferred.
Results begin within a few days and most patients experience relief for two to four months.
Patients with severe symptoms may benefit from a top-up at four weeks.
IS IT RIGHT FOR ME?
You may be a strong candidate if: antihistamines and nasal sprays have not given you adequate relief; you previously relied on Kenalog and are now searching for an alternative; you have seasonal or perennial allergic rhinitis or chronic non-allergic rhinitis; or you want a targeted medical treatment rather than daily medication throughout the season.
A consultation is required at least 48 hours before treatment as botulinum toxin is a prescription-only medicine. This is a legal requirement and is carried out as part of your standard appointment.
Not suitable during pregnancy or breastfeeding, for those with neuromuscular conditions, or with known hypersensitivity to botulinum toxin.
Book your hay fever treatment at Sebastian Rose Medical Aesthetics, Cardiff today.
MORE FAQ'S
Is HayTox a replacement for Kenalog?
Not a like-for-like replacement — it works differently. Kenalog suppressed the immune system systemically via intramuscular corticosteroid injection. HayTox uses botulinum toxin applied locally to the nasal passages, with no systemic steroid exposure. It is a safer, licensed and medically appropriate alternative for patients who previously relied on Kenalog and are now looking for effective hay fever relief.
Kenalog has been discontinued — what are my options now?
Licensed Kenalog was discontinued in June 2025. HayTox / Aller-Tox is the most clinically evidenced medical alternative currently available in private aesthetics practice. It is backed by multiple randomised controlled trials, has a well-established safety profile, and is administered by qualified medical professionals using prescription-grade botulinum toxin.
How is this different from antihistamines? Antihistamines block histamine after your immune system has already reacted. HayTox works upstream, targeting the nerves and glands that produce symptoms before they occur. It does not suppress your immune system — it acts only locally within the nasal passages.
Does it involve needles?
No. Treatment is administered via a medical atomiser nasal spray. No injections.
How long does it last?
Two to four months for most patients. Severe cases may benefit from a top-up at four weeks. We also find many patients get lasting effects the entire hayfever season from a single treatment.
When should I book?
Ideally two to four weeks before your pollen season begins. Grass pollen peaks May to July in Wales — March or April treatment is ideal. Can also be administered during the season if symptoms have already started.
What are the side effects?
Generally mild and temporary — brief nasal discomfort, sneezing immediately after treatment, minor nosebleed, mild headache. A full risk discussion forms part of your pre-treatment consultation.
