Allergies can cause significant discomfort and inconvenience. Typically, they appear in childhood, but can allergies develop later in life? In this article, we discuss this question, allergy management, and treatment options.
Can Allergies Develop Later in Life?
An allergy occurs when your immune system mistakenly identifies some substances, such as pollen, pet dander, saliva, or fur, or certain foods, as a threat. Your body then produces antibodies and releases chemicals, such as histamine, which cause symptoms such as itching, congestion, hives, or breathing difficulties.
It is a common misconception that allergies develop only in childhood. In fact, you can develop allergies at any point in your life, even if you have never been allergic before. Let us look at what can trigger allergies in adults.
Environmental Changes and Exposure to New Foods
Moving to a new city or country can expose you to unfamiliar pollens, molds, pollutants, foods, and animals. Even after years of tolerance, repeated or increased exposure can eventually trigger an allergic response.
Medications
Repeated exposure to certain medications (for example, antibiotics, NSAID painkillers, opioids, anticonvulsants, and chemotherapy medications) can trigger new allergies, especially for people with a history of allergies. However, in many cases, such allergies are medication side effects and can go away when you stop using the medication.
Immune System Changes
Our immune system can change with age due to illnesses, aging itself, and hormonal changes. This alters the way our immune system responds to potential allergens, even if we had no prior response to them.
Certain Infections and Illnesses
Some people develop new allergies after recovering from certain bacterial infections. Typically, such allergies are respiratory or skin-related.
Stress and Lifestyle-Related Factors
Chronic stress, anxiety, lack of sleep, and insufficient nutrition can weaken and dysregulate your immune system, causing new allergies.
Common Allergies to Develop in Adults
Allergies that can develop in adults include:
- Seasonal allergies triggered by pollen from trees, grasses, or weeds
- Pet allergies
- Food allergies (most commonly to shellfish, tree nuts, and certain fruits)
- Skin allergies, such as contact dermatitis from metals, cosmetics, or cleaning products
Symptoms that Indicate That You Have an Allergy
The most common allergy symptoms include:
- Sneezing, nasal congestion, or a runny nose
- Itchy or watery eyes
- Skin rashes, hives, or eczema
- Digestive upset after eating specific foods
- Wheezing or shortness of breath
Allergy Management and Treatment Methods
If you notice new allergies, we recommend making an appointment with your doctor to diagnose the triggers and plan treatment. Allergy management and treatment methods include:
- Avoiding triggers to reduce inflammation and prevent worsening of the symptoms that can result from continuous exposure to allergens
- Antihistamine medications can relieve the symptoms temporarily. Some antihistamine medications can be taken only short-term during flare-ups, while others can be tolerated long-term.
- Nasal antihistamine sprays are effective for symptoms such as congestion and sneezing.
- Nasal sprays block histamine locally in the nasal passages and often work faster than oral antihistamines.
- Inhalers for allergy-induced asthma
- Allergen immunotherapy (shots or pills) exposes the immune system to a small, controlled amount of an allergen on a regular schedule. This continuous exposure can change the immune response to the allergen, making it more tolerable. Allergen immunotherapy can provide noticeable results, which can last for years.
Treat Allergies at West Texas Health
If you notice allergy symptoms, do not hesitate to make an appointment with an experienced allergy specialist at our health care center. At West Texas Health, we use modern diagnostic and treatment methods to provide reliable care to every patient. We are looking forward to your visit.
