Do you sneeze a lot? Have itchy eyes, a runny nose, or trouble breathing because of allergies? If allergy medicines don’t seem to help enough, allergen immunotherapy, also known as allergy shots may be a good option for you.

Allergy shots, or immunotherapy, help your body learn to react better to things you’re allergic to, such as pollens, dust mites, mold, or pet dander. Allergy shots are regular injections that contain a very small amount of the allergen that causes your symptoms. At first, the dose is very small. Over time, the amount slowly increases. This helps your immune system get used to the allergen instead of overreacting to it.

Allergy shots treat the cause of allergies, not just the symptoms. Many allergy medicines only cover up symptoms for a short time. Allergy shots work differently. Over time, your body becomes less sensitive, so you feel better when exposed to allergens. This not only translates to less symptoms, but also often means less medications! In addition, allergy shots can lead to long-lasting relief and even help asthma.

If your allergies are really holding you back and you want to do more, you should talk to your allergist to see if you would be a good candidate for allergy shots!