A patient undergoing an allergy test. A dermatologist's hand, wearing gloves, drips an allergen liquid onto the patient's skin. Skin reactions are used to diagnose allergies and decide on subsequent treatment methods.

Hyposensitizations

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.

Desensitization aims to gradually get the body used to a certain allergen so that contact with this allergen no longer causes allergic symptoms. Those affected are given tiny amounts of the allergen, which in higher concentrations would trigger a violent immune response. Thanks to the low dose, however, 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 carried out using subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT). 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). The allergens are taken in the form of an "oblade" which is absorbed by the oral mucosa a few seconds later.

Preparations for an immunotherapy for the long-term treatment of allergies in the laboratory of the dermatological private practice in Frankfurt am Main. For the hyposensitization of the body, liquids are dropped into test tubes with a pipette.

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