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CrazyisNSFW t1_j75sd1q wrote

Gross oversimplification: After being exposed to allergen, your body creates memory of it. First exposure is usually mild, you may not even notice it. But your body creates memory as a defense mechanism. Next time you're exposed to allergens, your body gives stronger and quicker response. That's why your allergy reaction can be worse with time.

With desensitization, you're exposed to allergens in such a small dose that you're not reacting to it. Desensitization tricks your body into thinking that the allergen is just a normal thing in environment and you tolerate (desensitized?) the allergens better with time. Of course this is not possible (yet) for every allergens and you should be under close supervision in case something goes wrong and you have severe reaction.

Immunology is really complex but amazing science field.

PS: if you're interested, probably you should search for "Type I (IgE-mediated) hypersensitivity".

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heteromer t1_j75t3e2 wrote

I read a book on molecular and cellular immunology one holiday and it was such a fantastic read. I definitely developed an interest in it.

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CrazyisNSFW t1_j7783ge wrote

Me too! I needed to open my immunology textbook to answer this question. It's nice to review and revise knowledge

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Ashiro t1_j77mlpc wrote

Kurzgesagt did a great video and follow up book about the immune system if anyone's interested. I highly recommend it: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Immune-Kurzgesagt-gorgeously-illustrated-immune/dp/1529360684

The video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lXfEK8G8CUI&vl=en-GB

I've always been fascinated by immunology. You have the most powerful military in the world swimming inside you. It's truly awe-inspiring.

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vrts t1_j78vb7p wrote

You just reminded me that I bought the book and left it on the shelf without reading it. Time to take a look!

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rpsls t1_j78n559 wrote

You definitely do react to allergy shots. The first shots gave me giant welts on the underside of my arm. But you take antihistamine with it, and the reaction doesn’t turn into an over-reaction. It’s a very specific dosing regimen (injected into a specific spot) to ensure that the immune system can see it, but not overreact. That’s the level at which the immune system starts to slowly see it as normal and non-threatening.

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CrazyisNSFW t1_j7ut9gf wrote

You're right. For some, the reaction is mild, but for some others it can be dangerous. That's why it requires close medical supervision, in case something goes wrong.

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sik_dik t1_j78k4g3 wrote

I just want to build an immunity to urushiol.. but from what I've read online, exposure for the allergic just makes things worse :(

I'm highly allergic to it

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Hidden_Armadillo t1_j7dfal8 wrote

Can this work with auto immune reaction responses such as celiac/gluten sensitivity?

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Indemnity4 t1_j7dldsx wrote

Non-celiac gluten sensitivity - Yes. Allergen specific immunotherapy. You wait 1-2 years on a gluten-free (or close enough) diet then slowly start to re-introduce low amounts of gluten.

Celiac - no. Studies trying antigen-specific immunotheraphy have all failed. Those people are usually missing an important gene in their DNA - difference from above is it was never working, not that it went bad over time and needs help recovering. Most future therapies are targeting the immune system response itself and silencing or inhibiting some part of the process.

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