A lot of people with allergies have known about their symptoms and triggers since childhood. Others might start developing allergies later in life, without having dealt with complications in their youth. This leads to one very important question: Can adults develop allergies even if they didn’t have allergies as a child?
Can Adults Develop Allergies?
Those who have had allergies in childhood sometimes experience those allergies disappearing by their 20s or 30s. Unfortunately, the reverse can also happen, and it is possible to develop an allergy in your later years even if you have never had symptoms before now. You might want to schedule an appointment with your allergy specialist in NYC if you want to set up a custom treatment plan for the new allergies that have shown up in your adult life.
Why Some Adults Get Allergies
The most common scenario involves people developing allergies in childhood but losing them later in life. It is not completely known why certain adults can develop allergies at an older age, especially if that allergy did not exist in childhood. Some adults experience allergies to certain substances and ingredients previously fine for them.
Adults might get allergies because:
- You did not have any exposure to that ingredient when you were a child and your body does not know how to handle it as an adult.
- You moved to a new region with different allergens in the air.
- Or you are getting a new pet.
- A new sickness or illness has reduced your immune response.
Let’s talk about some of the most common allergies that adults develop:
Food Allergies
Food allergies are very common in both children and adults. In fact, almost 11% of American adults have some kind of food allergy. Most food allergies involve fish, peanuts, tree nuts, fruits, and vegetables. In most cases, children develop severe food allergies at early ages that subside as they get older.
If your childhood was like this, it is more likely that this allergy will come back in your 20s or 30s. It is more uncommon for someone to develop a severe food allergy without having a past of that same allergy in childhood.
Seasonal Allergies
If you moved to a new location where you aren’t used to how the seasons change, you might be affected by some of the pollens in the air. Ragweed, pollen, and plant particles often flow through the air during the spring and fall seasons. Make sure to stay inside and use an air purifier to keep your sinuses free from irritation.
Pet Allergies
Did you recently bring home a new furry friend? It’s pretty common to be allergic to pet dander, which typically comes from cats and dogs. There are certain non-allergenic breeds of both types of pets that you can adopt so you don’t have to sacrifice your little loved one for a day free of sneezes.
Getting the Best Treatments for Seasonal Allergies
Depending on the severity of your symptoms, you can pursue a number of different treatments for your adult allergies. Over-the-counter allergy medications could keep some of the more immediate symptoms at bay, and your doctor can prescribe stronger antihistamines to reduce the swelling that happens in your respiratory system.
If you are interested to learn what particular allergies you have, you can opt for a skin-prick test with the doctor. You may need to have an emergency treatment like an EpiPen or an asthma inhaler in case of a future allergy attack.
Keep Track of Your Allergies with Our Allergy Testing Services
Curious about adult allergies? Worried about a new set of symptoms? Get in touch with us at the office of Dr. Mayank Shuklsa and sign up for allergy testing in New York to find a viable treatment option. Your local experts can help you find comfort and relief before things get too bad.
