Allergies

Find relief from your allergies.

Allergy & Sinus Care

Benjamin Liess is trained in the diagnosis, treatment, and management of allergies and asthma. We offer allergy testing and proven solutions to ease your seasonal or year-round suffering. You should see an ENT if:

Over-the-counter medications and antihistamines aren’t effectively managing your symptoms
Allergies make it difficult to breathe, cause congestion, or sinus infections
Allergies or asthma interfere with your quality of life or daily activities
You experience seasonal allergies or hay fever symptoms
Your asthma is not well controlled

Allergy Types

Allergies fall under two categories: seasonal and perennial. Seasonal allergies only occur during specific times of the year whereas perennial allergies are year-round. The most common types of allergens are pollen, mold, dust, and pet hair.

Food Allergies

Your immune system’s primary goal is to keep your body healthy. In the case of food allergies, your immune system mistakes harmless food proteins as a threat and attacks them. Large amounts of immunoglobulin E (IgE), an antibody, are produced. IgE causes the release of histamine and other chemicals, which can trigger the symptoms of an allergic reaction.

While any food has the potential to cause an allergic reaction, eight foods account for almost 90% of food allergies:

Allergy Testing

We offer allergy testing for patients ages 3 and older. Skin prick testing (SPT) is the test most allergists choose for their patients because of its high rate of reliability, minimal discomfort, and ease of use. The SPT test takes about 45 minutes.

SPT testing involves gently pressing a small plastic device dipped into different allergens onto the skin of your forearms or your back. These allergens remain on the skin for at least 20 minutes. After testing, we will go over the results with you.

Intradermal testing (IDT) is performed on the upper arms by placing a small amount of allergen in two different strengths just under the skin with a very tiny needle. IDT takes about 90 minutes total, and we read your results after 20 minutes. This test may require two appointments.

Allergy Treatments

The best option for allergy sufferers is to avoid the allergens. However, that is not always possible. For this reason, we will work with you to set up the best treatment plan. Options include antihistamines, decongestants, nasal corticosteroids, immunotherapy, allergy shots, and allergy drops.

Allergy Shots

Allergy shots is a desensitization treatment that help retrain your nose, sinuses, and immune system to be less reactive to what you are allergic to. These are administered under the skin with a needle.

Administered every 4-10 days
Build-up phase must be done in office
Typically covered by insurance
Possible injection site reactions

We offer allergy shot walk-ins on Wednesdays from 12:30pm-4pm.

Allergy Drops

Similar to allergy shots, allergy drops are a type of immunotherapy that can be taken by mouth.

Start treatment at home right away
Drop under the tongue daily
Safe and effective
Little to no side effects
Convenient

Sinuses

What are Sinuses?

The sinuses are hollow areas in the skull occupying the space above, between and below the eyes. The function of the sinuses are to warm and humidify the air you breathe before it reaches your lungs. They are connected to the nose and may become inflamed or infected leading to drainage, congestion, decreased sense of smell, fatigue, and pain. Underlying causes of inflammation may be air pollution, allergies, polyps, abnormal anatomy, reactions to viruses, fungus, and bacteria or swelling inside the nose.

Sinus surgery is recommended only after appropriate medical therapy has failed to provide long term relief. Sinus surgery does not change the outward appearance of the nose but instead improves its function.

Propel Sinus Implant

The PROPEL™ system has been clinically proven to prevent obstruction of the ethmoid sinus following surgery. Obstruction can occur due to recurrent scarring and inflammation. The result is improved post-operative outcomes, reducing the need for additional surgical procedures and systemic steroids that can have serious side effects.

Rhinitis

Rhinitis is an inflammation of the nasal mucosa. This can be caused by a variety of problems including allergy, viral infections (ex. the common cold), chemical irritation, etc. The result is swelling and irritation of the nasal lining resulting in congestion, obstruction, mucus production, accumulation, and post-nasal drainage.

Sinusitis

Sinusitis is inflammation and infection of the sinus cavities. This is often indicated by pain or pressure over the affected sinus associated with thick drainage that may be discolored (yellow or green). Sinusitis may be acute (less than four weeks) or chronic lasting for a month or longer. Chronic sinus infections may not be painful.

Symptoms of Rhinosinusitis

There are many symptoms of suggestive Rhinosinusitis. These are divided into major and minor symptoms.

Major Symptoms:

Minor Symptoms:

Post Nasal Drip

When mucus is constantly dripping down the back of your throat, it can be annoying and lead to other symptoms that disrupt your daily life. Postnasal drip is incredibly common, and is often caused by allergies, upper respiratory tract infections, or a deviated septum. Other symptoms you may experience alongside postnasal drip include:

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