Allergic reactions caused by exposure to dust mites, pets, mold spores or everyday items like candles or cleaning products can trigger watery eyes, runny nose, congestion or an itchy throat – with medications and changing your home environment being key remedies.
Speak to an allergist about available treatments – medications, allergy shots and immunotherapy therapies.
Medications
Allergy medications can provide effective relief from common indoor allergens. Common medications used for allergy treatment include antihistamines, which work by decreasing histamine’s effects; decongestants relieve congestion; corticosteroid sprays treat inflammation in the nose; as well as combinations combining an antihistamine and decongestant.
As your first step, the first step should be visiting an allergist for diagnosis. They may order a skin test to identify substances you’re sensitive to by pricking your skin with a small probe containing extracts from substances being tested; if a welt develops around this prick, this indicates you could possibly be allergic.
Once diagnosed, your physician will discuss treatment options. Avoidance of allergens that trigger reactions is generally the best approach; this may prove more challenging for people who are allergic to cat or dog dander, dust mites, cockroaches and mold spores among other common indoor allergens.
Vacuuming carpets, using a HEPA air cleaner and washing bedding in hot water at least once every week should help eliminate allergens from your environment. Other remedies may include dehumidifiers in damp rooms as well as avoiding contact with animals that trigger allergic reactions.
Allergy shots
Allergy shots, known as immunotherapy or subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT), are an effective long-term therapy designed to alleviate allergy symptoms by desensitizing your immune system against allergens that trigger them. Therapy typically lasts three to six months before reaching its maintenance phase – you’ll initially receive injections once or twice every week (in what’s known as the build-up phase), before gradually decreasing their frequency until your body adapts and symptoms subside.
Your doctor will gradually increase the doses of allergens you’re sensitive to over time, with minimal reactions such as redness and swelling at injection sites or, in extreme cases, anaphylaxis requiring hospitalization for medical care. As such, doctors often ask their patients to remain in their office for at least 30 minutes post-shot so that they may monitor for adverse reactions and adjust dosage if any arise.
Allergy shots can be an effective and safe solution to indoor allergies, but require both time and financial commitment to achieve results. Before initiating allergy shots, it’s essential that you consult with your physician regarding potential benefits and risks. Should immunotherapy become necessary after consultation with the physician, most or all costs may be covered depending on your insurance provider coverage plan.
Skin tests
If you’re having allergy symptoms but can’t pinpoint their source, skin tests may help identify possible allergens. For these tests, a doctor or nurse will apply small amounts of allergen extracts onto the surface of your arm or back and use a process known as “prick/scratch testing” to put them under the skin’s surface; then monitor for redness, swelling (hives) or any other response from within 45 minutes of testing.
If you are allergic to an allergen, your body responds by producing IgE antibodies at the site of exposure on your skin. When these antibodies bind with mast cells they release chemical mediators like histamine which cause blood vessels in your skin to dilate and create the distinctive wheal reaction – the larger its diameter indicates increased likelihood that you are allergic.
There are three primary kinds of skin tests: prick/scratch/patch. While prick/scratch and patch tests are typically performed, an intradermal skin test with needle injection may also be administered to test allergies to substances like insect venoms or medications like penicillin. Since medications can affect test results significantly, be sure to inform your provider.
Cleaning
Cleaning itself may aggravate symptoms for people suffering from allergies. Sweeping and vacuuming stir up dust, pet dander, pollen and mold spores into the airstream so they are easier to inhale; chemicals in cleaning products may also trigger reactions in some individuals.
At home, it is possible to make it less allergenic without making major lifestyle adjustments. Simply adhering to a regular cleaning schedule that declutters to minimize dust traps and washes bedding weekly in hot water can go a long way toward decreasing indoor allergens. Furthermore, keeping humidity levels below 50% will limit mold growth, while an air cleaner that filters mold and allergens before they enter ductwork as well as operating your furnace with its blower set on recirculate can further decrease allergy triggers.
If your allergy symptoms linger, consult with a doctor immediately. He or she may recommend a skin test or refer you to an allergist who can identify triggers and create an effective treatment plan. If symptoms remain unknown, antihistamine and decongestant combinations such as ZYRTEC-D can provide temporary relief from sneezing and congestion symptoms; or use AAAAI’s Find an Allergist/Immunologist service to locate one in your area.
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