How allergies are treated
Allergies can be treated with a range of different medications, including antihistamines, corticosteroids and immunotherapy.
Antihistamines
Antihistamines work by reducing the histamine levels in your body. When you come into contact with an allergen, the body produces histamine. It is histamine that leads to the symptoms of allergies such as a runny nose, itchy eyes, sneezing etc.
Nasal Spray
Nasal sprays, such as Fluticasone, contain corticosteroids, which help to reduce inflammation in the nose. This helps to reduce sneezing, a runny nose, and other nasal irritation.
Immunotherapy for allergies
Immunotherapy can take the form of tablets or injections. It retrains your immune system over several months by exposing you to small amounts of the allergen over time so you can build up a tolerance.
What to do when allergies affect your eyes
Allergies can cause itchy or watery eyes. Both antihistamine eye drops and oral antihistamines can help to alleviate these symptoms.
What to do when allergies make you tired
Both allergies and antihistamines can make you tired. If you experience tiredness due to allergies, you may want to avoid taking antihistamines, which can cause drowsiness. If you experience drowsiness as a side effect of antihistamines, you should avoid driving or operating machinery.
Can allergies go away naturally?
Some people do grow out of allergies as they get older, but this does not apply to everyone. Approximately 80% of children with an allergy to eggs, milk or wheat will have outgrown their allergy by age 16. A skin prick test or a blood test can help you to find out if your allergy has resolved.
Can allergies be cured?
Currently, there is no cure for allergies, but allergies can be treated. Treatments such as immunotherapy, which reduce your body's sensitivity to allergens, can help reduce your allergy symptoms more permanently.
What can you do about allergies without antihistamines?
Depending on the type of allergic reaction you experience, you may find that steroid nasal spray, eye drops, or immunotherapy are effective treatment options. Nasal sprays work well for nasal symptoms, eye drops can help to alleviate eye irritation, and immunotherapy can work for a wide range of allergies. However, immunotherapy is a long and expensive process, so it is usually only recommended for people with severe allergies that cannot be treated by other means. If you want to avoid medications altogether, the best option is to try to avoid the allergen as much as possible.