Prevention starts with knowing what you are allergic to, ideally confirmed by a doctor, so your avoidance is targeted. For food allergies this means reading ingredient labels carefully, asking about ingredients when eating out, being alert to cross-contamination, and teaching family, friends, and carers about your triggers. For drug allergies, always tell doctors, nurses, dentists, and pharmacists about your allergy before any new medicine, and consider carrying medical alert identification.
For airborne allergies such as pollen, dust mites, and pet dander, reducing exposure helps: checking pollen forecasts, keeping windows shut at peak times, using allergen-proof bedding, cleaning regularly, and using air filtration. Steroid nasal sprays used regularly can prevent hay fever symptoms when started before the season.
If you have had a severe reaction, prevention also means being prepared: carry your prescribed adrenaline auto-injectors and antihistamines, keep a written emergency action plan, and make sure those around you know how to help. For long-term reduction of certain allergies, a doctor may discuss immunotherapy. Speak to a doctor or pharmacist to build a prevention plan suited to your specific allergies.