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What Are Allergies?

Allergies are an overreaction of the immune system to a substance that is usually harmless. This substance is called an allergen. Allergens can be found in the air, in foods, or on the skin. When the immune system encounters an allergen, a defense reaction is triggered, which leads to the typical symptoms of an allergy.

Symptoms of Allergies

The symptoms of an allergy can vary from person to person. Some of the most common symptoms are:

• Sneezing and a runny nose

• Itchy eyes and skin rashes

• Coughing and difficulty breathing

• Stomach pain and nausea

• In severe cases, an allergy can lead to anaphylactic shock, which can be life-threatening.

Ways to Diagnose an Allergy: Skin Prick Test, RAST Test and More

If you suspect that you have an allergy, you should see a doctor. An allergist can use various tests to determine which substances the body reacts to allergically. The skin prick test is one of the most commonly performed tests. Small amounts of possible allergens are applied to the skin and lightly pricked with a needle or a prick device. If redness and swelling occur at the puncture site after a few minutes, this may indicate an allergy. Blood tests can also measure allergen-specific IgE antibodies. You may know these tests under the older name RAST. However, a blood test does not automatically confirm a positive skin prick test. Both results need to be interpreted alongside the symptoms and medical history, because reacting to an allergen in a test does not always mean it causes problems in everyday life. Other tests, such as patch tests for certain contact allergies or supervised provocation tests, may be useful in specific situations.

Types of Allergies

There are many different types of allergies. Here are some of the most common:

• Hay fever: An allergic reaction to pollen, typically occurring in the spring and summer.

• Food allergies: An allergic reaction to certain foods such as peanuts, dairy products, or fish.

• Skin allergies: An allergic reaction to substances applied to the skin, such as latex or certain cosmetics.

• Animal allergies: An allergic reaction to animal hair or dander.

• Insect venom allergy: An allergic reaction to insect stings or bites.

Tips for Avoiding Allergy Symptoms

Here are some tips that can help you avoid allergic reactions:

• Hay fever: Avoid being outdoors during pollen season, especially during high pollen concentrations. Close windows and doors to keep pollen out and use an air conditioner to clean the air.

• Food allergies: Read food labels carefully to make sure they do not contain any allergenic ingredients. Also, inform restaurant staff or friends if you have a food allergy to avoid inconvenience.

• Skin allergies: Avoid substances you're allergic to when choosing skin care and household products. Keep in mind that a product labeled "hypoallergenic" can still contain something that causes a reaction.

• Animal allergies: Avoid or reduce contact with animals you react to. Keeping pets out of the bedroom and cleaning the home regularly may help reduce allergen exposure, although it can be difficult to remove allergens completely.

• Insect sting allergy: Be careful when walking barefoot outdoors, especially in grass, and take precautions around bees and wasps. If you have had a severe reaction to a sting, ask your doctor about emergency medication.

Tips for Alleviating Allergy Symptoms

The treatment of allergies depends on the type and severity of the symptoms. Some allergies require individual treatment and advice from a doctor. For persistent hay fever, nasal corticosteroid sprays can also be particularly helpful, while severe allergic reactions require completely different treatment.

Common treatment options include:

• Antihistamines: Medications that block the effects of histamine, which is released during allergic reactions.

• Epinephrine (adrenaline): The first-line emergency treatment for anaphylaxis. People at risk of severe reactions may be prescribed an auto-injector. It is not a treatment for ordinary hay fever symptoms.

Antihistamines as Effective Treatment Option for Allergies

While individual and specific treatment is necessary for many allergies, there are effective medications that can provide relief for symptoms of some allergies, such as hay fever, animal allergies or dust mite allergies. A recommended option is antihistamines.

Antihistamines can be used locally, for example as eye drops or nasal sprays, or taken as tablets. Which is most suitable depends on your symptoms. For persistent nasal congestion, corticosteroid nasal sprays are also an important treatment option and may work better than oral antihistamines alone.

Antihistamines work by preventing histamine from docking to specific histamine receptors. Histamine is a messenger substance released during allergic reactions that causes symptoms such as redness, swelling, itching, sneezing and runny nose. Antihistamines can alleviate these symptoms.

The duration of use of antihistamines depends on the type of allergy. Systemic antiallergic drugs in tablet form can be used during the pollen season for hay fever. They are also suitable for year-round use in animal or dust mite allergies. How long eye drops and nasal sprays can be used depends on the product, so it is best to follow the instructions or ask your doctor or pharmacist.

And please don't confuse these treatments with ordinary decongestant nasal sprays. Some of those should only be used for a few days, because prolonged use can cause rebound congestion.

Older first-generation antihistamines such as diphenhydramine often caused drowsiness due to their stronger sedative effect, which could lead to impairments in daily life. However, there are now more modern second-generation antihistamines such as cetirizine or loratadine, which have only a slight influence on histamine binding sites in the brain and make you less drowsy and thus better tolerated. Cetirizine can still make some people drowsy, so pay attention to how you react and follow the instructions for the particular medication.

Fear of Medication Dependence?

There are some people who generally reject medications and do not want to be dependent on them. However, with an allergy, it would be important to make a sensible assessment. For example, if you suffer from hay fever, animal or house dust mite allergies, second-generation antihistamines can be an effective treatment option. These are generally well tolerated when used as directed, including when longer treatment is necessary. Still, if you need medication regularly, it makes sense to check with a doctor that it is the right choice for you.

Long-Term Relief of Allergy Symptoms Through Hyposensitization

Antihistamines and nasal sprays can relieve symptoms, but they don't make the allergy itself disappear. For certain allergies, one longer-term option is hyposensitization, also known as allergen immunotherapy. The patient receives carefully controlled amounts of an allergen over a longer period, usually through injections or treatment under the tongue. The aim is to reduce sensitivity to that allergen and improve symptoms. This treatment takes time and needs to be supervised by a specialist.

Every case of allergy is different, so it is advisable to consult with a doctor or allergist to decide if hyposensitization is suitable for you.

Spirulina: A Natural Alternative for Relieving Hay Fever Symptoms?

Spirulina is a type of cyanobacterium sold as a dietary supplement. It is certainly not a miracle cure. A small study published in 2008 found improvements in some hay fever symptoms, but that is nowhere near enough to establish Spirulina as an effective treatment. Larger and better studies are needed before we can draw reliable conclusions.

Of course, Spirulina should not be considered a substitute for medical treatment. If you want to try it, keep in mind that supplements can vary in quality and may not be suitable for everyone. It makes sense to discuss them with a healthcare professional, especially if you take other medication.

Closing Words

Allergies can be a difficult and unpleasant problem, but with the right diagnosis and treatment, they can often be controlled.

I have tried various methods to alleviate my hay fever symptoms. The most effective for me is taking cetirizine before bedtime during the pollen season. When the pollen count is particularly high, I shower multiple times and change my clothes. I find higher humidity to be more comfortable. Unfortunately, Spirulina did not personally help me.