Over 50 million Americans have allergies. An allergy is a sensitivity to something in your environment, and it could be triggered by almost anything from pollen in the air to a chemical in household products.
When you have an allergy, coming in contact with your allergen causes an immune system reaction. Symptoms can include itchiness, hives, nasal congestion, watery eyes, and more, which can make life unpleasant.
The good news is that you have lots of options for managing your allergies and symptoms. And if your allergies are severe, it might be time to consider low-dose allergen immunotherapy (LDA).
Brian Lamkin, DO, and our team at The Lamkin Clinic offer this safe and effective treatment to increase your body’s tolerance to allergens and reduce your allergy symptoms. Here’s everything you need to know about LDA and why it could be better than traditional immunotherapy methods.
Immunotherapy works by gradually exposing your body to specific allergens to reduce your allergic reaction. The treatment goes by a handful of names, including allergy shots, desensitization, or biologic therapy, but they all refer to the same process.
Immunotherapy treatment involves receiving a series of injections that contain tiny amounts of your allergens. The doses are highly regulated, and this controlled exposure allows your body to build up a tolerance to the allergen.
As you build a tolerance, your immune system doesn’t react as strongly to the substance, and your allergic symptoms subside. In some cases, immunotherapy can eliminate allergy symptoms.
If you’re considering immunotherapy, you can choose between LDA and traditional immunotherapy. Dr. Lamkin recommends LDA to many of our patients because it’s more effective than traditional immunotherapy.
Traditional immunotherapy typically requires getting three or more allergy shots at least once a week for about one to two years or longer. While injection frequency gradually decreases, the method requires significant commitment and a lot of needle sticks.
With LDA, you can get the benefits of immunotherapy without the hassle of traditional treatments. The biggest benefits of LDA are:
One of the best benefits of LDA is that it doesn't require as many injections or office visits. LDA treatment requires only one injection every two months initially. As your treatment progresses, injections will be even less frequent.
Additionally, LDA treats more allergens at once than traditional immunotherapy. Traditional methods build tolerances to environmental allergens over time, but Dr. Lamkin can use LDA to treat food allergies, chemical sensitivities, and environmental allergies.
Immunotherapy is a tested, proven method to help manage your allergies. It addresses the cause of allergy symptoms by reducing your body’s reaction over time.
If you’re tired of relying on allergy medication that only masks your symptoms, it’s time to find out if LDA is a good option for you. Book an allergy consultation with Dr. Lamkin at The Lamkin Clinic in Edmond, Oklahoma. Call us at 405-285-4762 or request an appointment online now.
