Allergies can make you miserable. Sniffling, sneezing, congestion, itchy eyes, hives, and many other symptoms can ruin your day and make it tough to live your life. While there is no cure for allergies, there are treatments that can ease your symptoms and prevent you from experiencing many negative reactions. One of the most effective is allergy injections.
What are Allergy Injections and How do they Work?
An allergy is your body’s immune response to a foreign substance. Common allergy triggers include pollen, pet dander, and various types of foods. If your body identifies these allergens as a threat, it will respond with a reaction that is designed to attack the allergen. This response can cause inflammation in your airways, skin, digestive system, or other areas. That causes symptoms such as a runny nose, itchy eyes, sneezing, and other problems. Allergy injections are designed to diminish these reactions. They work by gradually exposing your body to small amounts of the substances you are allergic to. These small amounts don’t trigger a reaction, but they help your body create desensitization to the allergen. Allergy shots also contain steroids that help relieve symptoms of allergies and suppress inflammation throughout the body to provide you with relief. Over time, you will start to see significant improvement and fewer allergy symptoms.
How do I Know if Allergies are Causing My Symptoms?
Sometimes it can be difficult to tell if symptoms are caused by allergies or by an illness or other issue. One way is know is that allergies often follow a pattern. For instance, they may show up at certain times of day or times of the year. These symptoms tend to last longer than those caused by a cold or other illness. If you get itchy eyes or a scratchy throat every spring, for instance, you may have an allergy to tree pollen.
In addition, allergies do not usually cause a wet cough and they do not cause a fever.
Who Should Get Allergy Injections and When Should They Start?
You may want to consider getting allergy injections if you have tried allergy medications without success, if you are unable to take allergy medications due to interactions with other medications you are taking, if typical allergy medication causes bothersome side effects, and for other reasons.
Talking to a professional, such as the team at Vigam Medical Spa and Laser, can help you understand if allergy injections are right for you. We will do a full consultation and give you all the information you need. We will also help you decide when the best time to start the injections will be, depending on your allergies and your lifestyle.
Are there any Risks or Side Effects?
There are limited risks or side effects associated with allergy injections. In some cases, you may experience itching or swelling in the injection area. There is also a chance that your body could have a minor allergic reaction to the injection, since it contains the substance your body is allergic to. You’re unlikely to have a serious reaction, but we recommend staying in office for about 20 minutes following the injection just to make sure all is well.
How Often Do You Need to Get Allergy Injections and What Happens if you Stop Getting Them?
The kind and frequency of allergy injections will depend on your situation. We can help you determine a schedule that works for you. You can stop getting allergy injections if you’d like without any major side effects. However, your symptoms may return if you do this.
At Vigam Medical Spa and Laser, our team of experts can work with you to create a treatment plan that best meets your needs. We offer allergy injections that suppress inflammation and help you find relief from allergies. You don’t need to suffer or put your life on hold just because you have allergies. Trust our team to help you get through it and get back to living the life you want. For more information or to book an appointment, please contact us online or give us a call at 971-246-5665.