There are still a lot of things that we do not understand about allergies despite our considerable advancements in medical knowledge. Why is it that some people have allergic reactions to a particular substance while others don't? This is just one of the questions that we are yet to find a definite answer about allergies.

Allergy can be a complicated health issue to deal with for many people. The task of pinpointing exactly what factors are causing them and having it treated is not easy at all. It's not something that can be taken lightly since its symptoms vary greatly from a simple cold to a fatal shock.

One theory that attempts to explain the mystery behind all this basically involves our immune system treating an otherwise harmless substance like it was a threatening one. The condition is very subjective to many people. Once your body's immunity system has located a substance that it believes to be threatening, it employs measures to exterminate it which in turn manifests as an allergic reaction, may it be skin problems, itching eyes or a runny nose.

It is believed that allergic reactions gradually disappear after expelling the substance which aggravated your immune system, although this isn't always the case.

People who are susceptible to allergies take measures to avoid being exposed to substances that trigger their allergic reactions. Medical experts refer to these substances as allergens and it can be anything from dust, dust mites or pollens from flowers. It is common for people facing such predicaments to fit their home's cooling or heating system with filters designed to prevent these allergens from entering their house. Steps such as these can only go well with the help of an accurate diagnosis since you need to know what specific allergens are triggering your condition after all.

The process of diagnosing allergies typically involves a series of test. The most common of these is the one called a "skin prick" test conducted by an allergen specialist responsible for interpreting the test. A series of known allergens are injected unto the skin using a needle and the reaction of your skin to such allergens is used as a basis for determining the kind of allergen that you are susceptible to. Based on the result of tests such as the "skin prick" test, people who are at risk to allergies will know specifically what substances to avoid and prevent such conditions from obstructing their normal lives.