If you experience sneezing, coughing, and itchy and watery eyes every time you’re around pets or go outside, you know how inconvenient allergies can be.
The same is true if you always have to avoid certain foods, especially if they’re common ingredients like peanuts or eggs. You may be wondering, is there a way to grow out of allergies?
Unfortunately, the answer isn’t as simple as you may want. But keep reading to learn what allergies you or your children may grow out of.
What Are Allergies?
To begin, you should have an understanding of what an allergy is. An allergy is a response your immune system makes to a foreign substance that’s not usually harmful to your body.
The foreign substances are called allergens. These allergens are the food, pollen, or pet dander that cause the allergic reaction.
Your immune system works to keep you healthy by attacking anything it thinks is dangerous. Depending on what you’re allergic to, this could cause inflammation, sneezing, and many other symptoms.
However, understand that there are times this system also weakens. Thus, it’s best to adopt practices to enhance your immune system so that it could adjust to its environment. When it comes in contact with pet dander, it should realize it’s harmless in most people.
But for those with allergies, your immune system will think it’s an outside invader and attack it, causing those symptoms to occur.
So is there a possibility of growing out of allergies? Perhaps, but not with every type of allergy.
Seasonal Allergies
Allergies usually develop when you’re a child or young adult, but they can develop in later years too. Seasonal allergies, in particular, can develop as you age because of your increased exposure to environmental allergens.
Keep in mind, in some regions of the United States, spring allergies may start in February and may persist until summer. In fact, tree pollination starts out at the beginning of the year, followed by grass pollination during summer and spring. Note, though, that grass pollination in tropical areas may happen throughout the year.
Meanwhile, a gentle winter climate may trigger plants to pollinate in advance. A rise in mold and plant growth may likewise occur during a rainy spring, thus, prompting allergy symptoms to continue until fall. One of the common causes for fall allergies is ragweed, which blossoms and releases pollen around the months of August to November.
Besides ragweed, other plants that set off allergies are Russian thistle, tumbleweed, sagebrush, and burning bush. Though timing shifts across locations, climate factors likewise influence allergy symptoms. For instance, you’ll discover airborne allergens on the ground during days without wind, and when there’s a temperate and windy day, pollen levels soar.
For the most part, It is possible to outgrow seasonal allergies, as a tolerance can build up over time. This is developed when you are exposed to low-levels of the allergen consistently.
This is similar to how allergy shots work, as they expose you to a small amount of the allergen to decrease your body’s response.
This process does not occur for everyone, and you may live with seasonal allergies your whole life. If this is the case, you may be wondering how to get rid of seasonal allergies, or if there’s any way at all.
Indeed, there are many ways to decrease your allergy symptoms, besides naturally growing out of them. You can get tested, so you know exactly what causes your allergic responses.
Then, you can either get prescribed allergy medicine, get allergy shots, or take over-the-counter meds daily, or explore herbal remedies for allergies.
There are many natural ways to reduce your symptoms, from keeping a clean home to being mindful of the weather, so don’t fret if you still have allergies today.
Pet Allergies
Unfortunately, it is not very common to grow out of pet allergies, though it does occur. Some people will grow up being allergic to dogs, and eventually, that goes away. However, it can return, and there is no real explanation for why.
Just because you’re around dogs and cats all the time does not mean that you will outgrow your allergy. Outgrowing pet allergies cannot be planned because there is no scientific evidence behind it yet.
Like seasonal allergies, being able to manage your pet allergies may be your best bet. Understanding what makes you allergic to them is a great first step. No animal is ever truly allergen-free, even if their breed is called hypoallergenic.
Even if they don’t shed often, there are other parts of them that you could be allergic to. Pet hair may trigger an allergic reaction, but the primary allergy your body responds to is the protein that animals secrete.
These proteins can be found in their saliva, skin, urine, and in other secretions as well. So though you may try to avoid pet hair, that might not help your allergies completely.
It’s important to note that pet allergies can be severe, and they shouldn’t be taken lightly. They can cause hives and be detrimental to someone with asthma.
To treat it effectively, allergy medicine should be considered. You should also implement air purifiers in your home and try to keep a “pet-free” space that you can return to if you have an allergy attack.
Food Allergies
Growing out of food allergies is most common for young children. The most common types of food allergies in children are cow’s milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, soy, and wheat.
A study suggests that sixty to eighty percent of children will outgrow their milk or egg allergy by age sixteen. It also shows that twenty percent of children will outgrow their peanut allergy, and five percent will outgrow their shellfish allergy.
If your child experiences a food allergy at a very young age, they’re more likely to grow out of it. If they have milk, egg, or soy allergies, they’re more likely to outgrow it than with other food allergies.
However, if the allergic response is more severe, they are less likely to outgrow it than if it was mild.
Adults can also outgrow food allergies, but it is much less common. If you think that you or your child outgrew a food allergy, it is best to consult with your doctor.
Your doctor will perform a food test, where they will administer small doses of the food allergen for a given period and monitor the response.
Even if the allergy is proved to be outgrown, it is always best to be cautious and keep medicine like Benadryl handy in case of any flare-ups. Realize that some food allergies may result in hives, itching in the mouth, inflammation of the face, lips, throat, and tongue. However, some allergies may ignite an extreme reaction called anaphylaxis. This medical condition is life-threatening and may trigger an individual to suffer a shock.
Can You Grow Out of Allergies?
Yes, it is possible to grow out of allergies, but you cannot plan on it happening. There is no real reason why people grow out of certain allergies, while others suffer through them their entire lives.
However, there are many ways to manage your allergies so you can live comfortably regardless.
Do your research and implement measures to relieve your symptoms, and you will no longer have to be bothered with all the inconveniences allergies bring.
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Also published on Medium.
