What are allergies? An allergy is when your body reacts unexpectedly to something you came in contact with. This could be something you eat or touch or breathe.

What are symptoms of allergies? People can have allergic reactions that range from mild to severe. This includes runny noses, itchy eyes and itchy skin. They can cause hives and make asthma and eczema worse.

What is an allergen? An allergen is a substance that in some people causes allergic symptoms. They can also form a memory in people’s bodies that will cause an allergic reaction the next time the body comes in contact with the particular allergen.

How do you know you have allergies? You may have a good idea if the same thing happens to your body when you come in contact with something. If you start sneezing when you’re around dogs or break out in hives every time you eat shrimp, you probably have allergies. A doctor can test you for allergies by applying skin tests or testing your blood.

What is a hive? Hives (also known as urticaria) occur when here is a release of histamine in the body. Hives look like swollen, red bumps, patches, or welts. They can appear on the skin suddenly. They vary in size and can run into each other, casing large plaques. Hives can cause itching, but may also burn or sting. They appear anywhere on the body. You see them on the face, trunk, arms and legs. They can also occur in the mouth and tongue which can impair breathing. Hives can last several days before fading.

How are allergies tested? There are two main methods of testing for allergies. The first is by looking for specific antibodies in the blood that show contact with specific allergens. The second is to do skin testing where the allergen extract is applied directly to the skin.

What is skin testing? An allergist places drops of allergens (things that cause allergies) under your skin. This exposes them to your blood stream. If you are allergic to the particular allergen, your skin will react. Skin testing can test for allergies from plants, animals and food.

How can you treat allergies? The best way is to avoid whatever is causing the allergy. There are also medications when avoidance isn’t possible. A group of medications called “antihistamines” are used to counteract the inappropriate histamine release from cells when your allergies kick up. There are also anti-irritation or anti-inflammatory medications that can be applied directly to inflamed body surfaces such as the lining of the nose or the surface of the eyes.

Are you able to reach an age where the risk of allergy is zero? No, you can develop allergies at any point in your life. You can develop them even when you have been exposed to the allergen many times before.

Do allergies run in families? Yes. A child with one parent having allergies has a 25 percent chance of developing them and a child with two parents having allergies has an 85 percent chance of developing them.

Are people with allergies at a higher risk for other diseases like asthma and eczema? Yes, there seems to be a link between allergies and other disorders such as asthma and eczema.