What’s Transdermal Allergy Immunotherapy & How Does It Work?

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Transdermal Immunotherapy: A Solution For Allergies

When it comes to chronic conditions such as allergies, prevention is better than seeking a cure.

Transdermal immunotherapy is a long-term solution for managing your allergies and preventing symptoms from flaring up. The goal when using immunotherapy for allergies is to reduce the symptoms and frequency, reduce the cost of long-term medications, prevent the development of asthma, and improve the patient’s quality of life.

With ShotFree Allergy, we’re not in the business of quick fixes. If that’s what you’re looking for, then you may be more interested in taking over-the-counter allergy medication to reduce your symptoms during a flare-up. But if you are looking to manage your symptoms overall, consider immunotherapy.

Looking to take a deeper look at the allergy treatment options available and determine which one will work best for you? Let’s dive right in!

Anti-Allergy Medication vs. Transdermal Immunotherapy

Anti-Allergy Medication

There are tons of anti-allergy medications that can treat mild to severe symptoms once your body has come in contact with an allergen. These symptoms include coughing, sneezing, itchy eyes, and sinus congestion.

The most common anti-allergy medications include antihistamines in the form of Claritin, Benadryl, and Zyrtec. These are effective for treating symptoms caused by indoor and seasonal allergies. Decongestants are also used as a remedy for sinus congestion. A common OTC brand is Sudafed, which can be taken for both a cold and allergies. Oftentimes, antihistamines and decongestants are combined for even more effective results.

Less popular are corticosteroids, which can be used to reduce inflammation, along with mast cell stabilizers to block the release of histamines, and leukotriene modifiers that can stop inflammatory chemicals from being released and causing a worse reaction to an allergen.

Again, all of these work better as a method of relief rather than prevention. If these medications aren’t working to stop your symptoms, transdermal immunotherapy is a better alternative.

Transdermal Immunotherapy

Transdermal immunotherapy, also known as TdIT, is the latest approach to managing allergy symptoms. Immunotherapy is the process of desensitizing the immune system to the specific allergen that causes a reaction in your body. In comparison to anti-allergy medication, immunotherapy is meant to be taken on a regular basis — not only as needed.

Traditionally, allergy injections and oral drops were the main approaches for targeting allergies with immunotherapy. However, these don’t always work. Mainly because they are difficult to take. For example, injections are painful and must be done several times per week for several years in order to prove effective. On the other hand, oral immunotherapy has a strong, unpleasant flavor, making it difficult to convince children or picky adults to consume it on a regular basis.

The introduction of transdermal immunotherapy in the form of topical application has provided allergy sufferers with an effortless way to stay on top of their immunotherapy treatment. Topical creams are easier for both adults and children to apply at home. This ensures correct dosing and a reduced chance of improper application, which can ruin the entire course of treatment if not done properly.

What Types of Allergies Does Transdermal Immunotherapy Help?

Transdermal immunotherapy can be used for perennial, seasonal, and pet allergies. Mild and moderate allergies respond very well to immunotherapy. While severe allergies that lead to anaphylaxis require medical attention aside from immunotherapy.

1. Perennial Allergies

Dust mites, mold, cockroaches, and mice are common causes of perennial allergies. You may experience a reaction to these allergens at any point throughout the year, including fall and winter. Preventing perennial allergies can be somewhat difficult as most of these allergens are found indoors. Along with immunotherapy, keeping your home clean is an easy way to keep these allergens at bay.

2. Seasonal Allergies

Also referred to as hay fever, seasonal allergies can make you feel miserable when they’re in full swing. Airborne pollen from ragweed, nettle, and other plants are released during the spring and fall season. Avoiding these allergens is as simple as not going outside, especially when pollen counts are high and there are strong winds to spread the pollen. Immunotherapy is one of the most recommended strategies for managing seasonal allergies.

3. Pet Allergies

Your pet’s dander, urine, and saliva are what cause your pet allergies — not their fur! You can develop an allergy to any animal that sheds dander such as horses, rodents, rabbits, and birds. The main part of managing allergies with pets is keeping your home extremely clean by removing these allergens as much as possible. You will also want to keep some distance between you and your pet until the transdermal immunotherapy does its job.

Who is a Good Candidate for Transdermal Immunotherapy?

Children over six years of age and adults suffering from perennial, seasonal, and pet allergies can benefit from transdermal immunotherapy. Allergies that are mild to moderate will see positive results and a reduction in symptom reactions.

Those with severe allergies and a history of anaphylaxis are not recommended to use this type of therapy. In addition, conditions such as a history of stroke, cardiovascular disease, and severe asthma should seek treatment from a specialist. While we want you to live allergy-free, we want to make sure you’re safe and healthy first!

Our Solution for Managing Allergies

So, you’ve made it this far and you know that you:

1. Suffer from seasonal, perennial, or pet allergies - not food, drug, or any other type of allergy

2. Are looking for a way to reduce your symptoms and the severity of them

3. Want to avoid injections and oral treatments

If that’s the case, we’re ready to help you get started on fighting against those allergies! Schedule an appointment with us to be connected with one of our providers. From there, they will work with you to create a topical formula to treat whatever allergies are bothering you. Click the button below to schedule!

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