Allergies occur upon contact of the body with various substances present in the environment. These substances are generically called allergens.
Does anyone have to avoid exposure to allergens? Is avoidance of allergens recommended for anyone?
Allergens are not naturally aggressive substances.
It is essential to realise that allergens are not aggressive particles (like bacteria or viruses) and that in most of the people they would cause no symptoms at all.
However, 10-20% of us, due to an anomaly of the function of our immune system (which is genetically determined – i.e. you are born like that), will falsely perceive allergens as being aggressive and will mount a defending immune response. This abnormal immune reaction to allergens is responsible for the various symptoms one experiences during an allergic attack: sneezing, itching, coughing, breathing difficulties, redness etc.
There are thousands of allergens present in the outside environment differing in their origin, structure or route to enter the body. The vast majority of allergies are caused by allergens floating in the air surrounding us – the airborne allergens. However, allergens can come in contact with the body by ingestion, injection or by direct contact and penetration through the external body surface (skin).
In most cases, the allergy manifests in the organ where the contact with the allergen takes place (rhinitis and asthma for airborne allergens, contact dermatitis for contact allergens, digestive tract symptoms for food allergens); however, sometimes allergens can trigger symptoms in organs situated far away from the allergen contact place.