Are allergies genetic? How family history impacts your health

If you've ever wondered whether your child might inherit your seasonal sneezing, cat allergy or food sensitivities, you're not alone. Are allergies hereditary? Or are environmental factors more to blame?

Let’s take a closer look.

Are allergies genetic? What the science says

There is a hereditary component to allergies, so yes, genetics plays a strong role. According to one study, if one parent has allergies, children are 30 to 50% more likely to develop allergies. If both parents have allergies, this increases to 60 to 80%. Let’s dig in a little further to find out why this happens.

When we talk about hereditary allergies, it's important to understand what's being passed down. Children inherit the tendency to develop allergies, not specific allergies themselves. The predisposition to developing allergies can be passed down genetically, but this doesn't mean your kids will develop an allergy to a particular food, for example.

Scientists have made major breakthroughs in understanding how allergies are passed down through families. Using advanced genetic testing, researchers have discovered nearly 100 genes linked to asthma, plus many more connected to hay fever, eczema and the antibodies that trigger allergic reactions.

Here's what the research suggests about how strongly genetics influence common allergic conditions:

• Asthma: a range of 35 to 95% is influenced by genetics
• Hay fever (allergic rhinitis): a similar range of around 30 to 90% influenced by genetics
• Eczema (atopic dermatitis): around 70 to 85% influenced by genetics

This means that your family history can play a role in determining your allergy risk.

Environmental factors: The other half of the allergy equation

While genetics sets the foundation, the environment shapes the outcome. Even with genetics at play, environmental factors play a crucial role in whether allergies actually develop.

Several factors can increase your risk of developing allergies:

• Air pollution: Indoor air pollution, house dust mites and secondhand smoke significantly increase allergy onset. Being exposed to car pollution and pollen can both cause allergy symptoms and make them more severe.
• Prenatal exposures: In utero exposures, such as smoking, correlate with increased risk of allergic conditions in children.
• Early feeding practices: The timing of solid food introduction can influence allergy development, with recent research favoring earlier allergen introduction rather than avoidance.

Allergy treatment for lasting relief

Allergy care and allergy treatment have evolved dramatically, offering hope for long-term relief rather than just symptom management. Here are some allergy treatment advancements to know.

Allergy immunotherapy

The most promising advancement is immunotherapy, which changes how the immune system responds to allergens.

Allergy shots (subcutaneous immunotherapy) are currently the most commonly used and effective form of allergy immunotherapy. This is the only treatment that actually changes the immune system, making it possible to prevent new allergies and asthma.

Treatment involves:

• A buildup phase: Shots 1 to 3 times weekly for 6 to 10 months with gradually increasing doses. In general, the more shots you get in a week, the shorter the buildup phase
• Maintenance phase: Monthly shots for 3 to 5 years

Sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) is another advancement for those who prefer to avoid injections, as sublingual drops offer a convenient alternative to allergy shots. Drops are taken daily under the tongue and can be administered at home after initial setup.

Studies comparing sublingual immunotherapy vs allergy shots found that allergy shots are more effective.

Other breakthrough allergy treatments

Other recent innovations in allergy treatment include:

• Intralymphatic immunotherapy: Only requires three injections in the lymph node, given a month apart using ultrasound guidance. Although a promising therapy, it awaits more further evaluation
• Food allergy medications: These medications can mitigate the risk of experiencing severe food allergy reactions

In the end, your allergist will work with you to tailor custom allergy treatments to your individual allergens and responses, focusing on root causes rather than generic symptom management—so you can experience lasting relief.

For parents: What to know about allergies in children

 If you’ve struggled with allergies yourself, there’s a good chance your kids are going through something similar. The key to knowing how to identify allergies early is twofold: paying attention to your child’s symptoms and getting an accurate diagnosis from your child’s healthcare provider. Both will help you manage and even, in some cases, prevent more severe reactions.

Early recognition is key

Early identification of allergies in children improves your child's quality of life and reduces missed school days. Watch for:

• Persistent sneezing, coughing or runny nose
• Itchy, watery eyes
• Skin rashes or eczema
• Digestive issues after eating certain foods
• Difficulty breathing or wheezing

It’s important to get a professional diagnosis

Allergists typically perform skin tests for common environmental and food allergens, or blood tests for children with skin conditions or high sensitivity. If you have identified some of the symptoms, first reach out to your child’s primary care physician for guidance and next steps.

Next steps for allergy treatment

If you or your family members are living with allergies, don't wait for symptoms to worsen.  Speak to your doctor about access to medical professionals and allergy specialists who provide comprehensive evaluation, testing and personalized treatment plans.

With the right diagnosis and treatment plan, you can reduce allergy symptoms and improve your quality of life.