Hyposensitization
Immunotherapy for the long-term treatment of allergies
Hyposensitization (specific immunotherapy) is a therapy that can be used to treat allergies in the long term.
Hyposensitization aims to gradually accustom the body to a specific allergen, so that contact with this allergen no longer triggers allergic symptoms. Patients are administered minute amounts of the allergen, which in higher concentrations would cause a severe immune response. Thanks to the small dose, the immune system can slowly learn to react appropriately to pollen, house dust mites, or insect venom.
Subcutaneous and sublingual immunotherapies
In our dermatology practice, hyposensitization is usually performed via subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT). In this procedure, the allergen extract is injected under the skin on the back of the upper arm. For some allergies, there is an alternative in the form of sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT). Here, the allergens are ingested in the form of a wafer, which is absorbed through the oral mucosa within seconds.
