You don’t need to suffer from the sneezing, itching, irritated eyes, and runny nose caused by allergies. At ABC Medical Center in Dallas, Texas, board-certified family medicine physician Ricardo Martinez, MD, has years of experience helping patients find allergy relief with testing to identify your allergen and effective immunotherapy to diminish symptoms. Whether your allergies are mild or severe you can get help by calling your nearest office or booking an appointment online.
Allergic rhinitis, or hay fever, is one of the most common allergies, but there are many types of allergens:
Many substances can cause a skin reaction, or allergic dermatitis, including poison ivy, soap, latex, and certain chemicals.
Pollen from trees, grasses, and ragweed cause seasonal hay fever. Year-round allergic rhinitis is caused by molds and dust mites.
Bees, wasps, hornets, yellow jackets, and fire ants cause most insect allergies.
Although many medications can cause an allergic reaction, penicillin is the most common.
Food allergies are often associated with children, but they can appear for the first time in adults. The most common food allergens in adults are peanuts, tree nuts, fish, and shellfish.
Symptoms that develop when you have an allergic reaction include:
Talk to the team at ABC Medical Center if you have any of these symptoms.
Before you can receive treatment, your provider at ABC Medical Center needs to identify your specific allergens. Two types of tests are used to diagnose allergies:
During a skin test, your provider places a small amount of your suspected allergens on your skin and gently pricks the area under each allergen. If your skin reacts, you’re allergic to the allergen placed in that spot.
When you have an allergy, your immune system produces antibodies called immunoglobulin E (IgE). High-than-normal levels of IgE in your blood show you have allergies. Since IgE antibodies are different depending on the substance they react to, this blood test helps narrow down your allergens.
If you have a food allergy, you must eliminate that food from your diet. Otherwise, treatment for other allergies depends on the severity of your reaction.
Mild allergies may be relieved by finding ways to reduce your exposure to the allergen and treated with over-the-counter antihistamines.
Immunotherapy is an effective option for moderate to severe allergies. During immunotherapy, your allergen is introduced into your body either with an injection or using sublingual tablets.
Treatment begins with a very small amount of your allergen. Then, on a regular schedule, the amount is gradually increased. Over time, your body builds up a tolerance to the allergen, which significantly diminishes or eliminates your reaction.
To get relief from allergies, call ABC Medical Center or use online booking to schedule an appointment.
