Blister plaster sales almost double as Wimbledon fans seek relief - alongside hay fever sufferers

By LETTICE BROMOVSKY AT WIMBLEDON Published: 00:49, 8 July 2026 | Updated: 00:51, 8 July 2026 Wimbledon fans have been battling more than just nerves during this year's Championships - with blisters, hay fever and sunburn emerging as the unexpected opponents off court. Figures from the on-site pharmacy reveal that Compeed blister plasters have become the must-have purchase of the tournament, with sales soaring compared with last year as spectators spend longer days walking around the famous grounds in summer footwear. A total of 298 units of Compeed were sold during the first week of this year's tournament, compared with just 161 across the entire two-week event last year. Amira Hussein, pharmacist at John Bell & Croydon - the West End pharmacy operating at Wimbledon for the fifth year - said the demand had been striking. 'Everyone is having blisters,' she said. The surge comes as Wimbledon continues to become as much a fashion event as a sporting one, with fans, particularly influencers and content creators, arriving in increasingly elaborate outfits designed to capture the perfect photograph. From flowing summer dresses and tailored suits to eye-catching accessories, many spectators now treat a day at the All England Club as a chance to create social media content, posing among the famous flower beds, outside Centre Court and on Henman Hill. Daisy Tomlinson holds a tennis racket during her day out at Wimbledon  Made in Chelsea personality Ashley James was a guest of Evian at The Championships this week  The changing nature of the Wimbledon crowd has sparked debate in recent years, with some traditionalists questioning whether the focus on taking photographs and creating online content is distracting from the tennis itself. Social media stars with hundreds of thousands of followers have been asked to attend the prestigious tournament by luxury brands such as Evian and Swarovski. Others have shared videos of themselves sipping Pimms, enjoying strawberries and cream and sitting in premium seats to watch some of the most highly-anticipated matches. Among the stars attending The Championships this year are Made in Chelsea personality Ashley James, social media star Daisy Tomlinson and 'corporate girl' influencer Jemima Grace. But disgruntled fans said the prestigious tournament has 'essentially turned into a backdrop for people to take photographs' for social media - with influencers coming solely for the 'vibes'. Others claimed the tickets which are handed out to creators, usually to promote brands on their social media accounts, should instead be given to British tennis lovers who missed out in the public ballot. But for many visitors, dressing up has become part of the experience - even if their fashionable footwear is leaving them needing emergency repairs. The green and floral surroundings that make Wimbledon one of the world's most recognisable sporting venues have also proved a challenge for allergy sufferers. More than 100 people a day have been visiting the pharmacy with hay fever symptoms including itchy eyes, sneezing and irritation, seeking relief through antihistamines and eye drops. During the first week alone, 200 units of antihistamines were sold, compared with 250 across the whole tournament last year Sunburn has also become a common complaint among fans spending hours outdoors During the first week alone, 200 units of antihistamines were sold, compared with 250 across the whole tournament last year. The problem has been intensified by Wimbledon's hot spell, with temperatures reaching around 30C throughout the second week and sunny conditions creating difficult conditions for those affected by grass pollen. Sunburn has also become a common complaint among fans spending hours outdoors. But the only sun cream available at the on-site pharmacy is Wimbledon sponsor La Roche-Posay, with 1,200 units of sun care products - mostly sun cream - sold during the opening week. At the pharmacy the small bottles are selling for a steep £27.50. However because of the heatwave that has hit SW19 - the club has also been handing out around 500,000 free samples of the sun block to people in the queue and in the grounds. Despite this many people have been spotted sporting quite rosy sunburns from the hours spent watching the sport.