What are allergies?
The immune system, comprised of a complex and vital network of cells and organs, protects the body against various microorganisms such as viruses, bacteria, and fungi. It also destroys these alien substances if they enter the body and cause infection.
However, the immune system may sometimes misidentify certain substances as harmful and overreact to their presence in the body. These substances may not always be problematic and are called allergens. Some examples can include pollen, dust, and mold. When the body encounters a particular allergen, the immune system makes antibodies.
These antibodies then find the allergen in your body. They are found in the respiratory or gastrointestinal tract, skin, and mucus membranes. The allergen-fighting antibodies attack the allergen and alert the immune system to local infection. It activates the body's inflammatory response. A chemical called histamine is released, manifesting allergy symptoms.
Who is an allergist?
Allergists are physicians who have undergone special training to equip themselves with the skills and education needed to diagnose, treat, and manage allergies, asthma, and immunologic disorders. The broad spectrum of conditions an allergist treats varies from very common to rare and encompasses various organ systems in the body. In the United States, aspiring allergists require at least nine years of training after their undergraduate degree, including:
- Four years of medical school
- A three-year residency
- A two-year fellowship to be certified by the American Board of Allergy and Immunology or the American Board of Pediatrics
What allergies and common conditions do allergists treat?
Allergists treat common chronic health conditions such as asthma. As their name suggests, they are also experts in tending to various types of allergies. Allergists treat these conditions by identifying the root cause of your symptoms and providing effective treatment options to manage them. Some common reasons people see allergists include:
- Hay Fever: This condition can be characterized by watery eyes, runny and stuffy nose, and itching of the roof of your mouth, nose, eyes, etc. It is also called allergic rhinitis and can be seasonal. For instance, the symptoms mentioned above may surface only in spring or summer and can be caused by pollens from trees, grasses, weeds, or airborne mold spores. In contrast, symptoms of perennial allergic rhinitis are experienced all year round.
- Skin allergies: These issues include contact dermatitis, hives, and eczema. They can occur when the skin comes in contact with certain types of metals, medicines, insect stings, animals, or chemicals. Plants like poison ivy and oak can trigger allergic reactions and cause contact dermatitis, resulting in itchy red rashes. Your allergist may recommend antibiotics, antihistamines, or injectable biologic therapy to treat your skin allergy.
- Food allergies can result in mild symptoms due to food sensitivity or even severe reactions. Some common food groups causing food allergies include milk and dairy, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, shellfish (crustaceans), wheat, soy, and sesame. Signs of a food allergy can appear on the skin or in the gastrointestinal tract. Vomiting, stomach cramps, nausea, diarrhea, trouble swallowing, shortness of breath, and tongue swelling may indicate a food allergy.
Treatments for allergies
Typical allergy treatments include allergen avoidance, medications, and immunotherapy. After identifying your allergen or allergy triggers, your allergist may suggest you avoid exposure to specific stimuli to prevent allergic reactions and reduce symptoms.
Depending on your allergy, the allergist may prescribe medications to help reduce your immune system reaction and ease the symptoms. They also suggest over-the-counter (OTC) drugs such as nasal sprays or eye drops. Your allergist may recommend allergen immunotherapy for severe allergies or those not entirely relieved by prescribed medications.
The treatment involves a series of purified allergen extract injections administered over a few years. In case of some pollen allergies, your allergist may suggest sublingual drugs. In this form of immunotherapy, your allergist will place a pill under your tongue until it dissolves.
In severe allergic reactions, your allergist may use an emergency epinephrine shot to reduce symptoms until you get emergency treatment.
When should you visit an allergist?
If you have a food allergy, you might not experience dramatic symptoms like those from peanut or shellfish allergies. Instead, you might experience itching in the mouth, face, or throat and soreness. An allergist's opinions may help when trying to diagnose minor food allergies and intolerances using your frequent and explained symptoms.
You shall benefit from visiting an allergist near you if you experience chronic snoring, insomnia, or chronic sinus or ear infections. Many allergies cause significant sinus cavity inflammation, making breathing difficult while sleeping. The swelling may also block your sinuses, keeping them from draining and creating a perfect environment for ear or sinus infections. Suppose you regularly experience ear or sinus pain or have trouble sleeping and snore a lot. In that case, an allergist can help you.
You may also have to visit an allergist if your OTC allergy medications have failed to work. Suppose you already have hay fever or another seasonal allergy diagnosis and find that common OTC allergy medications do not control your symptoms. In that case, an allergist may prescribe stronger medications to help you mitigate the symptoms.
What happens at a typical first visit to an allergist's office?
When you visit an allergist for the first time, they will inquire about your symptoms and when they are most common. The doctor may also benefit from notes on symptoms and possible triggers. Specifically, if you have a food allergy, your doctor will likely ask you to maintain a detailed journal tracking your food consumption. During the allergy evaluation, they may also want to know if you have stopped eating the suspected food.
Depending on your answers, the doctor shall perform procedures or tests to identify specific allergens. Standard tests include blood, skin, patch testing, pulmonary function tests, and nasal smears. Your allergist shall typically use tiny amounts of allergens to determine what triggers an immune response in your body. If needed, they shall perform a complete physical examination. Once the test results arrive, your allergist shall formulate a course of action and a treatment plan.
Allergies that are more prevalent in women
The different causes of allergies specific to women include the following:
You may already have or could have allergic reactions due to the makeup products you currently use, regardless of whether you wear makeup daily or occasionally. Everybody may not be allergic to the same makeup products, but some ingredients in a particular product may irritate when used regularly.
Using eye makeup regularly may cause some problems in the eyes. If you experience itching, redness, or watering in the eyes, consider changing your eye makeup to a water-based product to avoid the problem.
Base makeup like foundation, blush, or primer may also cause skin allergies. To help avoid this, try using different products, such as mineral-based products. Look for non-comedogenic and hypoallergenic makeup products, as they are comparatively safer for the skin.
Stay without makeup for extended periods and remove makeup before going to bed. It helps the skin rejuvenate and may help prevent common allergic reactions due to makeup.
- Allergy due to perfume or body spray
Some people may become mildly allergic to body spray or regular perfume. If you experience difficulty breathing or sneezing continuously after using a particular scent or product, consider changing the fragrance. It can also benefit your overall health.
However, changing the product may not help manage your nasal allergy if you already have a mild dander or pollen allergy. In such cases, use a vaporizer when at home or during nighttime. A vaporizer converts water into warm vapors that you can breathe to help clear most nasal allergy symptoms. It is cost-efficient, and its regular use can even improve skin health.
- Pregnancy-related allergies
A few people may acquire allergies during pregnancy despite not having a history of any allergy. Allergens like pollen, fungus, dust, and pet dander can cause pregnancy-related allergies. Also, minor allergy symptoms due to scents and makeup products that were unnoticeable earlier may become more severe and bothersome during pregnancy.
Therefore, avoid allergic makeup products during pregnancy or switch to more skin-friendly and natural makeup products. Use a vaporizer to manage nasal allergies.
Finding the best allergist near you in Plano, Texas
The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology reports that immunotherapy, commonly known as allergy shots, significantly helps reduce hay fever symptoms in about 85% of people with allergic rhinitis. Untreated allergies can cause irritability each time you expose yourself to an allergen. Undertaking allergist-guided immunotherapy may prevent discomfort.
Zocdoc helps you connect with the top allergists nearby to diagnose and treat your allergies. In the search query, enter your location (Plano, Texas), condition or specialty (allergist), and preferred appointment date.
Zocdoc's comprehensive healthcare directory helps you access Plano's top-rated, experienced allergists. Each profile displays the doctor's educational qualifications, board certifications, clinical interests, specializations, practice history, certifications, and spoken languages. It also informs you about previous patient ratings and reviews. You may further filter hundreds of allergist profiles based on your unique allergy case requirement and gender preference.
If you want to find a provider who accepts your insurance, add your insurance information (your provider and plan) on the Zocdoc search. It will help you see providers who accept your plan. You can find accurate results from in-network allergists near you. Check out Zocdoc's patient help center for more information and solutions related to insurance.
Once you select the best allergist to help with your case, you can click on the book appointment option, and Zocdoc shall assist you in instantly booking an appointment for your first session. With Zocdoc, you can also book video appointments and in-person visits. Look for the purple video icon on your allergist's profile, or filter the video appointment selection.
All bookings with Zocdoc are entirely free, fast, and secure!
Vital statistics on allergies in Texas
The Food Allergy and Research organization studied the frequency of food allergies in all 50 states of the USA, utilizing the healthcare data compiled and maintained by Food Allergy and Research Education (FAIR Health). The data on the rise in anaphylaxis and food allergy diagnoses compared the number of cases in 2009 and 2016. Texas showed an estimated 259% rise in the diagnosis of anaphylaxis and food allergy in seven years and ranked fourth among all 50 states.
The research also presented the top four foods that caused the most anaphylactic reactions in Texans between 2009 and 2016. Peanuts were the most significant allergen, causing anaphylactic reactions in over 0.0321% of Texas's population. The other three top allergens were eggs, tree nuts and seeds, and shellfish (crustaceans), which caused anaphylactic reactions in about 0.0164%, 0.0285%, and 0.0094% of Texas's population, respectively.
When the researchers studied the food allergy claims by age group, they found that most allergic reactions happen to Texans aged 5 to 13. The number stood at about 25%. The next age group in Texas most susceptible to allergies was 0 to 4 at around 20%. It was followed by the other age groups of 41 to 64 at 22%, 26 to 40 at 16%, and 14 to 18 at 8%. Those in Texas aged 65 and over were the least affected at 3%, followed by those aged 19-25 at approximately 6%.
Sources
WebMD
Mayo Clinic[1]
Mayo Clinic[2]
American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology
American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology[1]
Food Allergy Research and Education
Johns Hopkins Medicine
Cleveland Clinic
American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology[2]
American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology[3]
American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology[4]
Mayo Clinic[3]
National Center for Biotechnology Information
Women’s Health Research Institute
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