Cedar allergies are especially common in the Pacific Northwest, where cedar trees grow abundantly, but they can strike any season and anywhere in the country. Cedar allergy shots aren’t just for people who have this type of allergy either; even if you’re allergic to other types of trees or plants, you may be eligible to try this treatment to cut down on your symptoms and improve your quality of life. Here’s everything you need to know about cedar shots so you can make an informed decision about whether or not they’re right for you.
Why Do People Get Allergic to Cedars?
To understand why people get allergic to cedars, you have to first know a little bit about what exactly they are. Cedars (often called junipers) are woody evergreen trees or shrubs that grow throughout much of North America. Some species grow as tall as 60 feet and others as small as just three feet in height. Cedars are known for their distinctive aroma; some people find it pleasant while others do not. People who dislike it describe cedar’s scent as sharp and pine-like, although there are many varieties of cedar with different scents—such as citrus or tea tree—and those scents might be more pleasing to certain people’s noses than others.
Treatments for Cedar Allergies
While allergy shots can provide relief from a range of symptoms, cedar allergy is typically treated with immunotherapy. During treatment, your body learns to no longer respond to allergens and triggers that cause itching, sneezing and other typical allergic reactions. If you’re considering allergy shots for cedar fever, you should talk to an allergist about what’s right for you. Make sure to consider both injection length and frequency when choosing a treatment plan—your doctor will help make recommendations that are based on your individual needs. For example, if you have moderate-to-severe allergies and don’t mind spending more time in a doctor’s office every few weeks or so, shot therapy may be best for you.
Benefits of Cedar-Allergen Immunotherapy (CIT)
Food allergy immunotherapy, or CIT, involves injections of small amounts of allergy-causing allergens (such as cedar pollen). These shots are typically given at a doctor’s office. Over time, your body will build up resistance to cedar allergies. And if you experience an allergic reaction in between shots, your doctor can increase your dosage accordingly. CIT also doesn’t require months or years to begin working. Within just a few days of starting treatments, many patients begin noticing lessened symptoms and greater ease while they’re outside and in contact with cedars. In fact, some people have experienced little to no symptoms after just one season of treatment!
What to Expect from Cedar-Allergen Immunotherapy (CIT)
Cedar allergy treatment in San Antonio is a treatment that uses allergens in order to help reduce an allergic reaction to certain triggers. When you go in for a session, you’ll be given an injection of small amounts of cedar pollen or cedar oil, along with a booster shot. This should start reducing your symptoms almost immediately, but it can take several months for those symptoms to completely disappear. Unfortunately, not everyone responds to CIT; it’s really based on how severe your allergies are and how much exposure you have to cedar pollen over time. For example, if you live close to a grove of cedars and spend lots of time outside during allergy season, immunotherapy is unlikely to help.
If you are looking for Cedar allergy shots in San Antonio, Texas, visit us at Advanced Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology Center!