FAQs About Allergy Shots
Allergies affect adults and children, and they can cause sneezing, watery eyes, a runny nose, and itchy skin. Some reactions are mild, but others disrupt daily life in serious ways. Allergic responses occur when your immune system overreacts to a substance it mistakenly perceives to be harmful. An allergist is a doctor who specializes in diagnosing and treating these reactions. They diagnose and treat allergies and can help you formulate a plan to manage your symptoms. Here is more information about allergies and allergy shots, or immunotherapy:
Diagnosing Common Allergies
An allergist diagnoses allergies through skin tests and blood tests, and these methods reveal what substances trigger your allergic symptoms. During a skin test, a small amount of an allergen is placed on your skin, and the doctor observes the area for signs of a reaction. Blood tests measure antibodies in your system to identify triggers.
Allergies fall into different categories, and the two main types involve environmental and food triggers. Environmental allergens surround us at home and elsewhere. Certain food items can cause reactions, as well. Knowing which group affects you helps your allergist build the right plan.
Common allergens include:
- Environmental: Pollen, dust mites, mold, and pet dander
- Food: Peanuts, tree nuts, milk, eggs, and shellfish
Some allergens can be treated with allergy shots, medication, and allergen avoidance.
Understanding Allergy Shots
Allergy shots are a treatment known as immunotherapy, and they work by training your immune system to get used to the substance over time. Each shot contains a tiny amount of the allergen, so your body slowly learns to tolerate it. The doses are small at first, but they increase gradually over a period of weeks as your tolerance grows. Once your body is tolerating the allergen, the shot doses stabilize.
Here are some benefits of immunotherapy:
- This treatment targets the root cause of allergies, not just the symptoms.
- The shots retrain your immune system, which may lead to fewer reactions over time.
- They can help with environmental allergens like pollen and dust.
Getting the Shots
The process begins with a buildup phase, and you receive shots once or twice a week during this stage. Doses rise steadily for a period of weeks while your allergist monitors how your body responds. The timeline for the phases of immunotherapy varies from person to person.
A maintenance phase follows the buildup stage, and shots become less frequent during this time. You may visit your allergist once or twice a month. Your doctor adjusts the plan based on your progress, which helps keep the treatment effective.
Finding Allergy Relief
Immunotherapy can help your body stop reacting to allergens, and many people enjoy relief long after treatment ends. Most patients stay on the maintenance phase for three to five years. The benefits continue for some people even after the shots stop completely.
Learn More About Allergy Shots
Allergies cause a wide range of symptoms, and an allergist can diagnose your triggers through skin and blood tests. Allergy shots offer a long-term solution because they train your immune system to tolerate allergens. To learn more about allergy shots, consult an allergist near you.
