Environmental Avoidance

One of the most effective ways to manage allergies is to avoid exposure to allergens. Environmental avoidance involves making lifestyle changes and taking precautions to minimize your contact with substances that trigger allergic reactions. Common environmental allergens include pollen, dust mites, mold, pet dander, and insect stings.

• Pollen: Keep windows closed during peak pollen seasons, use air purifiers, and stay indoors during high pollen counts.
• Dust Mites: Use allergen-proof bedding covers, wash bedding in hot water, and reduce humidity in your home.
• Pet Dander: Bathe pets regularly, keep them out of certain rooms, and wash hands after contact.
• Mold: Use dehumidifiers, fix leaks, and clean moldy areas with mold-killing products.

Medication Management

Medications are commonly used to treat allergy symptoms and provide relief from discomfort. These medications are typically available over-the-counter or by prescription, and your allergist can help you find the right option based on your symptoms and severity.

• Antihistamines: These medications block histamine, a substance your body produces during allergic reactions. They can relieve symptoms like sneezing, runny nose, and itchy eyes.
• Decongestants: These medications help reduce nasal congestion by narrowing blood vessels in the nasal passages.
• Corticosteroids: Nasal sprays can help reduce inflammation and control symptoms like nasal congestion and inflammation in the airways.
• Leukotriene Modifiers: These medications block chemicals that cause allergy symptoms, particularly nasal congestion or asthma-related issues.
• Eye Drops: Specialized eye drops help relieve redness, itching, and watering in the eyes due to allergies.

Allergy Immunotherapy

Allergy immunotherapy is a long-term treatment that can provide relief for those with severe allergies. This treatment involves gradually desensitizing the immune system to allergens through a series of allergy shots (subcutaneous immunotherapy) or oral tablets (sublingual immunotherapy). Over time, immunotherapy can reduce the body's allergic response to specific allergens and may provide lasting relief. Our office does not offer Allergy Drops since the long-term efficacy of this has not been established.

• Allergy Shots (Subcutaneous Immunotherapy): Involves regular injections of allergens, gradually increasing in strength over time to help the immune system build tolerance.
• Allergy Tablets (Sublingual Immunotherapy): Taken under the tongue, these tablets contain specific allergens and work similarly to allergy shots by desensitizing the immune system. Please note that there are currently FDA approved sublingual tablets to patients who are allergic only to grass, ragweed, or dust mite.
• Benefits: Immunotherapy can provide long-term relief, reduce the need for medications, and improve quality of life for allergy sufferers.

Venom Immunotherapy

Venom immunotherapy is a form of allergy treatment specifically designed for individuals who are allergic to insect stings, such as from bees, wasps, hornets, or yellow jackets. This treatment involves gradually desensitizing the immune system to venom through a series of allergy shots, which contain small amounts of the venom. Over time, the body becomes less sensitive to the venom, reducing the risk of severe allergic reactions or anaphylaxis in the future.

• Duration: Venom immunotherapy typically lasts 3-5 years, with maintenance shots given monthly. Patients with a history of severe reaction may be lifelong.
• Effectiveness: This treatment is highly effective in preventing severe allergic reactions to insect stings, with a success rate of around 97% in preventing future anaphylactic reactions.
• Long-Term Relief: After completing venom immunotherapy, many individuals experience long-lasting protection against severe reactions to insect stings.

Food Allergies & Biologics

Historically, avoidance of food allergen triggers was the only "treatment" for food allergies. More recently, there are alternative medications that may be used to make exposure to food allergens safer if it does happen.

• Oral Food Challenges: Our office offers oral food challenges as the "gold standard" for testing and delabeling food allergies for eligible patients.
• Biologics: Xolair (omalizumab) can help make accidental exposures safer.
• Palforzia: An FDA approved peanut desensitization therapy for peanut-allergic children.
• Emergency Medications: Expertise in education for how to use an EpiPen, Auvi-Q, Symjepi, or Neffy.
• On the Horizon: We are excited to let you know about other products in development.
• Our clnic does not currently offer oral immunotherapy for food desensitization.