At Louisiana ENT Specialists in Lafayette, we offer allergy shots—also known as subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT)—as a proven and effective way to treat the root cause of allergies, not just the symptoms.
How Do Allergy Shots Work?
The process begins with a thorough allergy evaluation and skin testing to identify the specific allergens triggering your symptoms. Based on your results, our specialists create a custom allergy serum tailored to your sensitivities. Your treatment then follows two main phases:
1. Build-Up Phase
This initial phase typically lasts 3 to 6 months and involves weekly injections. Each dose slightly increases in strength to help your body gradually adjust. This phase is essential for preparing your immune system to tolerate the allergens in the long term.
2. Maintenance Phase
Once the optimal dose is reached, you'll transition to the maintenance phase, which involves receiving an allergy shot every 3 to 4 weeks. This stage can last several years, but many patients begin noticing a significant reduction in symptoms within the first 6 to 12 months.
Because the shots retrain your immune system, the results can be long-lasting—even after treatment ends.