Allergies impact 50 million Americans each year, causing symptoms from mild discomfort to severe reactions. If you’re seeking lasting relief, allergy shots might be the answer.
Dr. Lisa Hutto, an expert in Allergy & Immunology in South Carolina, helps patients achieve better health by addressing allergy symptoms at their roots. With personalized care and treatments like immunotherapy, her team delivers lasting solutions to improve quality of life. Schedule an appointment today for lasting allergy relief.
Now, let’s explore how allergy shots work and why they’re an effective option for managing allergies.
The Science Behind Allergy Immunotherapy
Allergy shots, or allergen immunotherapy, help your immune system manage its reaction to specific allergens. This immunotherapy treatment works in two phases: an initial build-up phase and a maintenance phase, typically lasting up to five years. Allergy injections contain small amounts of allergens, allowing your body to build tolerance over time. This process reduces allergic reactions, provides significant improvement during allergy season, and lessens the need for allergy medicines.
A skin test may be performed to identify specific allergens before starting. While allergy shots are effective for many, sublingual immunotherapy, such as allergy drops, is another option for some. Both methods can lead to noticeable improvement, though delayed reactions or, in rare cases, serious reactions may occur.
How Allergy Shots Work
- Initial Phase: Small doses of allergens are administered regularly to start building tolerance.
- Build-Up Phase: Gradual increases in allergen doses help your body adapt over time.
- Maintenance Phase: Once an effective dose is reached, injections are given less frequently to maintain tolerance.
This step-by-step process helps reduce sensitivity and improve long-term allergy management.
How Allergy Shots Build Immunity Over Time
During this initial phase of allergy shot treatment, you receive allergy shots 1 to 3 times per week with gradually increasing doses of the allergen. This phase typically lasts 3 to 6 months and helps your immune system adjust to allergens, reducing allergy symptoms over time.
Once you reach the maintenance dose, you move to the maintenance phase. During this stage, shots are given every 2 to 4 weeks to maintain and strengthen your tolerance. This phase lasts 3 to 5 years, providing long-term relief from seasonal allergies or other triggers.
Factors Influencing the Success of Allergy Shot Treatment
- Patient Adherence: Following the prescribed schedule and not stopping allergy shots prematurely ensures steady progress in decreasing symptoms.
- Communication with Healthcare Provider: Informing your provider about any adverse reactions, such as a local reaction at the injection site like a dime-sized itchy spot, allows for adjustments to the treatment plan.
Success Rates and Effectiveness of Allergy Shots
- Pollen Allergies: Allergy shots are effective in reducing symptoms by up to 85% for individuals suffering from seasonal allergies caused by pollen.
- Dust Mite Allergies: Clinical trials show up to 70% reduction in allergy symptoms after consistent immunotherapy for dust mites.
- Allergic Rhinitis: Within the first year, 85% of individuals with allergic rhinitis experience reduced symptoms and a decreased need for medication, thanks to allergy shots.
Allergy immunotherapy provides long-term solutions by addressing the root cause, reducing reliance on allergy medications, and offering extended relief from allergies years after treatment.
Who Benefits Most from Allergy Shots
Allergy shots, also known as subcutaneous immunotherapy, are ideal for individuals with severe allergies, including food allergies, stinging insect allergies, or persistent asthma symptoms. They are especially effective for those experiencing common reactions like a stuffy nose, nasal congestion, or more severe allergic reactions such as allergic asthma or severe reactions to triggers like pet dander.
Allergy shots are also beneficial for reducing the body's reaction to allergens, helping individuals rely less on long-term medication. For those with severe seasonal allergies or a history of worsening allergy symptoms, this therapy has proven to be highly effective in managing the following allergies and providing relief from common triggers.
Key Considerations for Determining Eligibility
- Allergy Severity: Consider people whose allergies significantly impact daily life, including those who develop asthma or experience new allergies despite treatment.
- Treatment Goals: Set clear expectations about how allergy shots can relieve symptoms and whether the benefits outweigh allergy shots cost.
- Age and Health Conditions: Evaluate the suitability for children, adults, or those with specific conditions, like cardiac disease.
- Commitment: Allergy shot treatment requires time and regular visits, particularly during the buildup phase and ongoing maintenance therapy.
Whether you're starting allergy shots or considering stopping allergy shots, understanding the risks and benefits, such as treating adverse reactions and achieving lasting relief, is crucial. Consistent treatment can lead to fewer medications and improved outcomes over time.
Why Choose Dr. Lisa Hutto
Dr. Lisa Hutto specializes in providing personalized allergy shot treatments, carefully customizing plans to suit each patient’s unique needs. Her expertise ensures that every allergy shot targets specific allergens while taking individual health conditions and lifestyles into account. From start to finish, she prioritizes tailored care to help patients find lasting relief.
Don't wait to regain control of your life—schedule an appointment with Dr. Lisa Hutto and our practice today. Contact us now to begin your path to living allergy-free!
