What is a Board-Certified Allergist?

Board certified allergists are specialists who have met the highest level of nationally-recognized standards for education and expertise in the field of allergy, asthma and immunology. This formal and lengthy education process is necessary to cultivate the expertise required to provide the highest-quality of care for patients with allergies and asthma. By achieving board certification, allergists demonstrate their commitment to excellence and expertise in their field, which translates to state-of-the-art, evidence-based care.

What are the Benefits of Seeing a Board Certified Allergist?

Board certification tells you that your doctor has attained the highest level of expertise to treat your health issues.

How do you find a Board-Certified Allergist?

When you start searching for an allergist/immunologist, it’s important to make sure you find a doctor you are comfortable with and you can trust. Search online for information about the doctors you are considering and ask people you trust for names of physicians they recommend. Then visit Certification Matters and enter your doctor’s name to determine if he or she is board-certified. This is a service that allows you to see if a specific doctor is certified.

Can you detect allergies through a blood test?

Yes. When you become allergic to an allergen, your body creates special antibodies to fight against it. These allergic antibodies are called IgE antibodies. IgE antibodies are formed in the bone marrow and travel in the bloodstream before being deposited in the skin and other tissues where they remain for weeks to months. Although allergy skin tests are considered the gold standard for allergy testing, blood testing can also be used to measure IgE antibodies circulating in your bloodstream

What types of tests are there for allergies?

There are three main ways to get tested for allergies: Skin Tests – Skin tests are commonly used to identify many potential allergens, including airborne, food-related, and contact allergens. Blood Tests – If you are not a candidate for an allergy skin test, your allergist may suggest a blood test. Elimination Diet – To detect which foods are causing an allergic reaction, your allergist may recommend an elimination diet. This involves removing certain foods from your diet and determining if you're symptoms improve, and then adding the food back to see if you have a reaction.

Do allergy tests hurt?

The skin prick or scratch test and intradermal test may cause slight discomfort. If you are sensitive to any of the allergens being tested, your skin may itch where the allergen was placed.

How can you treat non-life threatening allergic reactions at home?

The first step is to avoid the allergen if you know what triggers a reaction. But if an allergic reaction occurs, there are several ways to treat them at home: Antihistamines – Helps treat minor allergic reactions regardless of the cause. Anti-inflammatory Medication – Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDS) can help temporarily reduce allergy symptoms. Saline Sinus Rinse – If your allergies cause sinus problems, it’s recommended to rinse your sinuses with saline to clear the allergens from your airways. Skin Allergy Treatments – If a skin allergy occurs, you can apply corticosteroid creams or calamine lotion to reduce symptoms, an ice pack can also help reduce inflammation and allergy symptoms.

How long does an allergy test take to administer?

Not very long. The skin prick and intradermal tests are performed in the allergist’s office and take about 20 minutes total. Your skin may start to show reactions to certain allergens such as foods, environmental allergens or insect venoms. Patch tests are used to identify if a chemical may be the cause of delayed skin rashes. The patches are applied and worn for about 48 hours and then removed. Blood tests results may take up to a week to return from the laboratory.

Are hay fever and allergic rhinitis the same thing?

Yes, allergic rhinitis is simply the proper medical term for hay fever. “Hay fever” is somewhat of a misnomer since allergic rhinitis is usually not caused by hay, nor does it result in a fever.

When is hay fever the worst in Jacksonville?

The mild temperatures in Northeast Florida mean that trees start producing spring pollen early in our area– in some years as soon as December. Unfortunately, the Jacksonville area does not really have a hay fever “off-season.” Our warm winters and early springs mean that allergic rhinitis sufferers may be exposed to pollen year-round.

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Thomas Lupoli, D.O.

Adult-Onset Allergies: Things You Need to Be Aware Of

With spring in full swing and summer on the way, we get to enjoy the benefits warmer weather and longer days. But with warmer weather comes allergies for many people. Even if you’ve never had allergies in the past, it’s possible to develop allergies as an adult. Adult-onset allergies, such as hay fever or food allergies, often appear in your twenties or thirties but can come on at any age. If you have dealt with a runny nose, scratchy throat, or continuous cold this spring, don’t count out spring allergies.

What Are Allergies?

Allergies develop when your immune system mistakes an otherwise harmless substance as a threat. Common allergens include pollen, animal dander, dust, mold, and food. When an allergen enters your body, your immune system cells release chemicals, such as histamines, which attack the allergen and cause allergy symptoms.

Common allergy symptoms include:

Itchy, runny nose
Itchy, watery eyes
Congestion
Skin irritation
Digestive system issues

Symptoms can range from mild to severe and in some cases, can cause anaphylaxis, a life-threatening allergic condition.

Why Am I Getting Allergies Now?

The exact reason for adult-onset allergies is hard to pinpoint as experts still don’t know exactly what triggers it. What we do know is allergies, such as allergic rhinitis (hay fever), are increasing rapidly in the U.S. and around the world.

Theories as to why increases in allergies are occurring include:

High concentrations of airborne pollutants
Diets
Less ventilation in offices or homes
Sedentary lifestyles

Another popular theory is the hygiene hypothesis which states a sanitary environment without exposure to bacteria increases the susceptibility to allergies. Sanity environments could be suppressing the natural development of our immune systems. With our homes and food being much cleaner than past generations, our immune systems may not be seeing the repertoire of environmental substances needed to develop a tolerance, so they overreact to allergens.

Am I at Risk?

If you had allergy symptoms as a baby or toddler (e.g., food allergy), they may fade during the teen years and return as an adult. However, this isn’t the case for all. Some people experience allergies for the first time as adults. As we age, our immune systems change too. Experiencing an illness, getting a pet, being pregnant, or moving to a new location with different allergens may launch an immune response and the development of allergies.

Managing Your Adult-Onset Allergy Symptoms

While no one likes the idea of developing allergies late in life, there are plenty of ways to cope with them and treat them. First, see an allergist for proper diagnosis of an allergen and to discuss proper treatment options for the type of allergen. Management may include avoiding the allergen, taking antihistamines, or immunotherapy (allergy shots) which is a way to retrain your immune system to stop reacting to allergens. Some allergies, such as food allergies or insect venom allergies, can be more serious than others. Be sure to discuss with your allergist the best options for managing and treating your specific allergies.

While allergies can be unpleasant no matter the age, the board certified allergists at the Allergy & Asthma Specialists of North Florida are here to help. Schedule an appointment today for allergy testing and to set up a treatment plan.

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