Can You Outgrow Your Allergies as an Adult?

Having been allergic to several things throughout my life, I often think about when I will become old and frail if I'm lucky enough to get to such an age. Will I still be suffering and living a life of misery with all these allergy-related issues?

Is it possible to outgrow allergies?

It is a truly depressing thought, I know. I have heard that people can develop allergies later in life, but I wonder if the reverse is true. Can people ever outgrow their allergies?

I have heard that it's possible for allergies to change as an adult as well. If this is really possible, please let me know! That would give me a smidgen of hope for the future. I know children can outgrow their allergies, but there does not seem to be conclusive information regarding adults yet.

What is an allergy?

I want to hope that it will be possible for an older person to live an allergy-free life. If we can figure out how to avoid rather than suppress allergic reactions, that would be ideal. Perhaps there will be better treatments in the future. But first, we need to understand why a person may be more susceptible to developing allergies.

Allergies occur when your immune system overreacts when exposed to an allergen. In response, an allergic reaction is triggered when antibodies are in your system. Allergens can be anything that triggers a reaction.

Why aren't allergies taken seriously?

Severe allergies such as a nut or pollen allergy can lead to dangerous situations. Common symptoms include swelling of the throat and eyes. Others with allergies will experience anaphylaxis if exposed to even the smallest amount of allergen.

Even the very word "allergy" sounds non-serious and frivolous. If you asked most people about what they felt allergies were, they'd probably respond with, "Oh, it's just a bit of sneezing, isn't it?"

Don't get me wrong; I am not seeking special privilege for having allergies, far from it! More a quiet understanding that living with allergies can be severe and highly debilitating for some.

I've had allergies for over 40 years

I have had hay fever, asthma, eczema, food allergies, and dust mite allergies for as long as I can remember. There have been 2 serious occasions when I have needed urgent medical attention because of an allergic reaction. Mostly, though, these conditions have just been really, really annoying.

Allergies hold me back

I would love to be positive and say my ailments have not held me back in life, but unfortunately, I think they have a bit. Every decision I make is always centered around avoiding specific environments or allergy triggers. It is really exhausting.

Remaining hopeful

This is why I hope to one day rid myself of these allergies. If they went away naturally, that would be a dream come true. The thought of having allergies in my 60s and 70s is not good.

When I think of some of my elderly relatives, they struggle with daily tasks, and some of them have not even got any major health concerns. Let's hope for a brighter future for allergies!