While the developing immune system of childhood means that the prime time for allergy development comes early in life, it remains possible that you could develop new allergies at any point in your life. Adult-onset allergies have both similarities and differences with those that develop in childhood.
There’s often little rhyme or reason for allergic reactions. That’s why you should visit Nizar A. Tejani, MD, when you discover a new allergic sensitivity. Dr. Tejani is an allergy specialist who can help you with a pinpoint diagnosis and treatment plan for your lifestyle.
Your immune system detects and acts on foreign substances or pathogens it considers harmful. It becomes sensitized upon first exposure and then builds its response to fight the effects of the invading substance.
In the case of a legitimate illness or infection, your body effectively fights off its effects once the response is built, usually after experiencing the illness or after being immunized against it. Allergies form in the same way, but with one crucial difference.
The substances that cause allergies, called antigens, are harmless. Except for the allergic response, these antigens don’t cause harmful effects.
It’s essentially a mistake your immune system makes. It creates antibodies for these antigens and then an inflammatory response with subsequent exposures to antigens, the allergic response that causes what you experience as allergy symptoms.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 25% of children develop allergies in childhood. Some grow out of allergies later in life, often in their 20s or 30s.
Less common is why some people develop allergies around this same age, the 20s and 30s. It’s not fully understood why these adult-onset allergies develop in some people.
The most common form of adult-onset allergy is to seasonal sources like pollen, ragweed, or other plant allergens that emerge in the spring or fall. Pet dander is also a frequent adult-onset problem.
Food allergies affect about 11% of adults in the United States, and about half of these people first develop symptoms as adults. Fish and seafood are common late-developing allergies.
While the cause of late-developing sensitivities isn’t always known, certain situations and triggers could precede your allergy development. These include:
You may have genetic factors that play a role, or your immune system may simply change as the years pass. Some medications or health conditions could also contribute to new sensitivities.
Call or click to book an appointment to investigate your adult-onset allergies with Nizar A. Tejani, MD, at his Stockbridge, Georgia, practice. Together, we can develop an allergy prevention strategy that fits your lifestyle. Schedule your visit today.
