Recent studies reveal that approximately 50 million Americans experience allergies each year, making allergies one of the most common chronic illnesses in the U.S. For many of these individuals, allergy immunotherapy, commonly referred to as allergy shots, provides a tailored and effective solution for long-term relief.
Dr. Lisa Hutto, an expert in allergy, asthma, and sinus treatment in South Carolina, helps patients manage their allergy triggers. With a focus on personalized care, Dr. Hutto and her team create tailored immunotherapy plans to improve your quality of life and reduce symptoms. Schedule your appointment today and take the first step toward relief.
Read on to uncover the step-by-step process of allergy shot treatments and how they can transform the way you manage allergies.
Step 1. Initial Consultation
Your journey begins with a comprehensive consultation. During this appointment, Dr. Hutto and her team will evaluate your medical history, conduct necessary tests, and identify your specific allergens, such as dust mites, grass pollen, or stinging insects. If you experience severe allergy symptoms, whether due to food allergies, insect stings, or seasonal allergies, this step helps lay the groundwork for your personalized allergen immunotherapy plan. This treatment typically includes two phases and involves administering small doses of allergens to help your immune system build tolerance.
By understanding your allergic symptoms, allergic rhinitis, or even asthma symptoms, they can tailor a treatment to strengthen your immune system and address multiple allergens.
Step 2. Build-Up Phase
During this phase, you will receive allergy shots, typically one to two times per week. These injections contain allergen extracts, starting with small doses and gradually increasing doses to help your body’s reaction adjust. This process, also called the buildup phase or hypo-sensitization, helps reduce severe symptoms over time. Whether dealing with hay fever, nasal congestion, or stinging insect allergy, each dose brings a noticeable improvement. The buildup phase usually lasts 3 to 6 months, depending on how your immune system handles the increasing doses. It's also during this phase that you may experience mild local reactions at the injection site, which are monitored closely.
Step 3. Maintenance Phase
Once the ideal maintenance dose is reached, you will transition to fewer regular shots, typically administered every 2 to 4 weeks. This phase is crucial for solidifying your tolerance to allergens like pollen, stinging insects, or food allergens. For pediatric patients or adults experiencing allergic rhinitis, subcutaneous allergen immunotherapy during this phase shows long-term promise.
By continuing to receive allergy shots, the immune system becomes more resilient to specific allergens. Whether you're navigating pollen season or dealing with severe symptoms like difficulty breathing, the maintenance phase is key to achieving lasting relief.
Step 4. Monitoring and Adjustments
Each injection is given under medical supervision to ensure safety and monitor for systemic reactions or anaphylactic reactions, which are rare but serious. These regular appointments allow your clinical immunology specialist to track your progress, adjust subsequent doses of allergen extract, and refine the treatment based on your body's reaction.
Monitoring is especially vital for severe conditions like allergic asthma or food allergies, ensuring both safety and effectiveness. If oral immunotherapy or sublingual immunotherapy (like allergy drops or allergy tablets) is part of your plan, adjustments are also made for optimal results.
Step 5. Achieving Long-Term Relief
Over time, most patients experience a noticeable improvement in allergic symptoms, such as a reduction in nasal congestion, stuffy nose, or abdominal pain tied to food allergies. Those with severe reactions to stinging insects or difficulty breathing during pollen season see lasting benefits.
Completing the full treatment plan is essential to building tolerance, reducing dependence on medications, and achieving relief for allergic conditions. Whether it’s hay fever, severe allergic reactions, or mast cell-related issues, allergen immunotherapy offers a proven solution for managing allergic conditions and improving quality of life.
Why Allergy Immunotherapy is Worth Considering
Long-term allergy relief is possible with subcutaneous immunotherapy or other treatments like oral or sublingual immunotherapy. With a customized immunotherapy plan, Dr. Lisa Hutto and her team specialize in helping you manage allergic asthma, seasonal allergies, stinging insect allergies, and serious food allergies.
By addressing allergic conditions at their source, they help reduce systemic reactions, improve your immune system's tolerance, and deliver lasting results. Whether you're dealing with new allergies or lifelong conditions, this approach offers a path to long-term improvement.
Take Control of Your Allergies Today
Allergy immunotherapy offers a proven way to reduce symptoms and achieve long-lasting relief, allowing you to enjoy life without the constant discomfort of allergies. Dr. Lisa Hutto and her team are dedicated to providing you with personalized care every step of the way.
Schedule an appointment with Dr. Lisa Hutto's practice today to start your customized allergy immunotherapy plan. We're here to help you take the next step toward a healthier, allergy-free life. Reach out now and take control of your allergies!
