Allergies can appear at any age

It is a common misconception that you’re born with allergy or that they appear in childhood. In fact, almost 50% of adults with food allergies develop them later in life.  

Allergies can appear at any age – during childhood, puberty, pregnancy or even later in life. Believing that allergies mainly start in childhood could mean that symptoms of allergy can be overlooked or mistaken for something else, delaying diagnosis and treatment.   

There are many reasons and theories around why allergy can emerge later in life. Many find that new allergies appear after puberty, pregnancy or menopause, where hormones impact the immune system which can potentially lead to new or exacerbated allergies. For example, certain food allergies are more likely to appear from adolescence, including kiwi and shellfish. 

Moving home to a new indoor or outdoor environment can expose you to new allergens you’ve never encountered and this can potentially trigger an allergy. Likewise, prolonged exposure to allergens like mould can also lead to the development of an allergy too. 

By raising awareness that allergies can appear at any age, we can make sure that everyone knows the signs to seek timely support when needed. Recognising allergy symptoms early can make all the difference in being able to access the right treatment in a timely fashion and to ensure you have the best chance of managing your allergy.   

Watch this space: During Allergy Awareness Week 2025 we will be launching an easy to understand allergy symptom checklist.