What Is an Allergy Specialist?

An allergy specialist is also known as an allergist or immunologist. This highly trained doctor needs special schooling to properly treat and diagnose the various types of allergies. Different fields that an allergist must be trained in are allergies, asthma and immunology. It is important that his understanding in these three fields be strong, as a patient's symptoms can cross over into all of them.

Schooling

• An allergist is a medical doctor who is also certified by the American Board of Allergy and Immunology. Upon completing a three-year program of internal medicine or pediatrics, a potential allergist must undergo an additional two years getting certified by the American Board of Allergy and Immunology. This certification is very important because it means that the doctor has a very thorough understanding of all aspects of allergies, asthma and immunology.

Types

• Because allergy sufferers have many different types of allergies, it is important for any allergist to be well trained in the varied types of allergic responses that patients may have. Some however, choose a specific fields of focus. There are several different specialties that an allergist may pick, including asthma, food allergies, skin disorders or even eye allergies.

Diagnosing

• One of the allergist's roles is to diagnose a patient. Allergy testing is one of the first things an allergist will do. A series of pricks on the skin with specific allergens will let the doctor know immediately what kind of allergies you have and how severe they are. Allergy tests are fairly simple and painless and are done in the allergist's office.

Treating

• Once the allergist has diagnosed which allergies you have and their severity, it's time for treatment. For mild symptoms, an allergist may prescribe allergy pills, creams, inhalers and/or eye drops. For more severe cases, immunotherapy or allergy shots are an effective treatment that an allergist can provide. Using the data from the allergy tests, allergists will create personalized shots to administer under their supervision.

Salary

• With millions of people having allergies, allergists can make a very good living. Depending on the years of experience, an allergist can make between $105,000 and $247,000 annually.