Allergies can strike at any time, and it's even possible to develop brand new allergies as you age. Whether you’re dealing with environmental allergies, skin allergies, or food allergies, help is available. Dr. Mingliarti Tjahjana at One Health Medical Care in Reston, Virginia, is experienced in helping patients deal with their allergic reactions in the most effective ways possible. Get help with your allergies by calling Dr. Tjahjana’s office, or schedule your appointment online.
There are three main categories of allergies, including:
Environmental allergies
Environmental allergies are the most common type. They may include allergies to dust, pet dander, pollen, smoke, and nearly any other substance that may be present in your environment.
Food allergies
Food allergies are also fairly common today. It's possible to be allergic to nearly any type of food, but some of the most common food allergies include nut allergies, dairy allergies, and grain allergies.
Skin allergies
Skin allergies are a less common type of allergy, but they still cause problems for many patients today. Latex is one common type of skin allergy, and there are also many substances like dyes and perfumes in soaps and lotions that can trigger allergic reactions.
There is a wide range of allergic symptoms, and those symptoms can vary based upon whether the allergy is an environmental allergy, a skin allergy, or a food allergy. Some common environmental allergy symptoms include:
Some common food allergy symptoms include:
Some common skin allergy symptoms include:
No matter what kind of allergy it is, a severe reaction can cause major health problems that could include loss of consciousness. Allergic reactions can even be deadly if they're not addressed promptly.
If you suspect you might have an allergy, call Dr. Tjahjana so that she can run a blood test. Blood tests are great indicators of allergies because when your body comes into contact with something it’s allergic to -- an allergen -- your body creates antibodies to fight it off. A blood test reveals these antibodies, which point toward a specific allergy.
Allergies can be treated with a customized approach. This may include allergy shots, oral medication, and minimizing exposure to allergy triggers.
