The Science Behind Adult-Onset Food Allergies

According to a 2019 survey, almost half of adults living with food allergies in the United States have developed their food allergies in adulthood. So, if you’ve found that you’re suddenly allergic to one or more foods as an adult that you weren’t allergic to as a child, you’re certainly not alone. 

Food allergies happen when your body identifies a food as harmful, even though it’s not actually dangerous. As a result, your immune system releases chemicals, such as histamine, whenever you have contact with that food. This triggers the telltale allergy symptoms such as tongue and throat swelling, wheezing, vomiting, and dizziness. 

If you’ve never dealt with food allergies before, it can feel confusing and overwhelming to suddenly deal with. So, our team led by expert allergist Chad W. Mayer, DO, FAAAAI, FAAP, at the Allergy and Asthma Institute of Southeast Michigan in Farmington Hills, Michigan, explains why adult-onset food allergies can sometimes happen and what treatment can look like. 

What triggers adult-onset food allergies?

Typically, food allergies are more common in children. In many cases, children outgrow their food allergies as they get older. So, why are some adults developing allergies to food they weren’t allergic to in childhood? Currently, experts aren’t entirely certain what causes adult-onset allergies, but there are a few schools of thought.

Because your immune system is always evolving and changing, you can become allergic to substances it’s familiar with. For example, if you deal with seasonal allergies, you can develop allergies to foods with similar protein structures. If you’re allergic to birch tree pollen, you could become allergic to apples since they have protein similarities.

Some people living with adult-onset food allergies could experience what’s called the “atopic march.” This happens when you have allergy-related conditions as a child such as asthma or eczema that slowly turn into food allergies as you get older. Having eczema might also increase your risk for food allergies since the breaks in your skin barrier could allow for allergen exposure. 

Treatment for your adult-onset food allergies 

No matter when in life you develop a food allergy, the top treatment recommendation is usually to avoid the allergen altogether. However, when you’ve developed allergies later in life, this might be difficult. 

At the Allergy and Asthma Institute of Southeast Michigan, Dr. Mayer offers oral immunotherapy, a treatment that lessens your sensitivity to the allergen, lowering your risk of a severe reaction if you ingest the allergen.  

During oral immunotherapy, you ingest small doses of the known allergen until you have a mild reaction. Then, over a few weeks, you slowly ingest larger doses to make you less sensitive to that food. 

If you’ve had very adverse allergic reactions to foods, it’s important to carry injectable epinephrine with you in case you experience anaphylaxis, which is potentially life-threatening. 

For expert adult food allergy care, turn to our team at the Allergy and Asthma Institute of Southeast Michigan. Schedule an appointment by calling our office or using our online booking feature today.