Will you always sneeze through pollen season or panic at the sight of peanut butter? The truth is, you might–or you might not. The length and severity of allergy symptoms varies widely from patient to patient, even in those who share the same trigger. Some allergies fade over time while others get progressively worse. Symptoms can stop and then start again, or even change entirely as you age. You can even develop new allergies later in life to things that have never troubled you before.
So what does that mean for your allergy future? Read on to learn how allergies can change over time and what you can do to shorten (and even defeat) those stubborn allergy symptoms.
Understanding Allergies
Allergies occur when your immune system overreacts to a food or foreign substance (such as pollen, pet dander, peanuts, or shellfish) that would normally be harmless to your health. This reaction releases histamine and other chemicals that cause symptoms ranging from mild annoyances like sneezing and itching to life-threatening issues like shortness of breath and anaphylaxis.
Most allergies develop during childhood, but they can begin (or increase) at any age. Experts aren’t sure why some people develop allergies and others don’t, but most believe that complex factors including genetics and environmental changes play a key role in allergy development.
The Persistence of Allergies
The question of whether allergies are permanent is a complex one. For most patients, it depends on the type of allergy and age of onset, among other factors. For example, food allergies that begin in childhood tend to get better with age; up to 80% of children will outgrow an allergy to milk, eggs, or wheat before they reach adulthood. But only 20% of children will outgrow a peanut allergy, and almost all allergies to tree nuts, shellfish, and fish will be lifelong. Most adult-onset food allergies will be chronic conditions that don’t improve without treatment.
Environmental allergies and hay fever are less commonly outgrown and are usually chronic. Repeated exposure to allergens like pollen, dust, and pet dander can decrease the severity of allergy symptoms, but reactions commonly recur later in life. Certain environmental allergies can even develop for the first time well into adulthood, indicating that our allergic responses evolve over time.
Allergy Treatments
Traditional allergy treatments like antihistamines, nasal sprays, and epinephrine provide temporary relief from symptoms, but they don’t address the underlying immune response. Many OTC medications also have troubling side effects like drowsiness, dizziness, stomach upset, and blurred vision. These methods are often the first line of defense but can fall short for those with severe or persistent allergies.
Sublingual Allergy Drops: A Long-Term Solution
This is where sublingual allergy drops come into play. These drops are a form of allergy immunotherapy, a treatment designed to gradually desensitize the immune system to allergens and ultimately reduce allergic reactions. Compounded in-house and administered under the tongue in the comfort of your home, our allergy drops are convenient, painless, and effective at treating hundreds of common food and environmental allergies–for some patients, in as little as 3 months. By slowly altering the body’s immune response to known allergens, our sublingual allergy drops provide lasting relief and a life free of severe allergy symptoms.
Are Allergies Permanent?
The truth is, only time will tell how long your allergies will last. While some people outgrow their allergies, others find them persisting or even beginning later in life. But don’t start counting down the clock just yet! Sublingual allergy drops represent a promising avenue for long-term relief, and in some cases they can lead to a significant reduction or even elimination of allergy symptoms over time.
If you’re seeking a long-term solution to your allergies, consider exploring the potential of our sublingual allergy drops. Contact our team for more information and take the first step towards a life free of allergy symptoms.