There are many atopic conditions, including eczema, hay fever, allergic asthma, and food allergies. Different things can trigger the conditions or flare-ups, and some people may experience multiple conditions.

Atopy is a specific category of allergy. It isn’t a single disorder but rather a way to describe a group of disorders that are often the result of your immune system overreacting to some type of trigger.

Experts believe that between 10 and 30% of people in higher-income countries are affected by some type of atopy.

Different atopic conditions can have different symptoms, and triggers can vary from person to person, but they all share some of the same underlying immune mechanisms. These conditions may range from food allergies, to allergic asthma, pink eye, or eczema.

Your atopic condition might be triggered by one antigen but not another.

Antigens are foreign substances that can trigger an immune response. They may include mold spores, latex, metals, pollen, and pet dander. To fight these antigens, your body makes antibodies to fight them off and may create different antibodies specific to each antigen.

During atopy, your body responds to an otherwise harmless or mild antigen by making too much of a specific antibody called immunoglobulin E (IgE). This leads to the release of histamine and other chemicals that cause inflammation.

The exact causes of atopy are unknown, but evidence points toward genetics.

Research has looked at atopy in twins, in families, and in animals. The genes that increase your risk of making too much IgE are inherited. Experts believe that multiple genes work in concert to create these conditions as opposed to a single gene.

Atopy is also triggered by external substances and environmental factors.

What is the hygiene hypothesis?

The hygiene hypothesis proposes that atopic conditions are caused by a lack of exposure to antigens in early childhood. It seeks to explain why increased rates of atopic conditions mirror the increase of hygiene standards over the last 100 years.

However, this idea still hasn’t been verified and needs to be studied more.

Symptoms of atopic conditions often affect different parts of your body, including:

  • eyes
  • nose
  • lungs
  • skin

For type I hypersensitivity disorders, including atopy, you can usually expect an immune response within 1 hour after being exposed to a trigger.

Symptoms can vary, depending on the particular atopy condition and how severe different reactions are to varying triggers.

But generally, symptoms may include:

  • nasal congestion, itching, and sneezing
  • wheezing
  • coughing (possibly dry)
  • chest tightness
  • dry and scaly skin
  • lesions
  • abdominal cramps
  • nausea, vomiting, diarrhea

Atopic conditions aren’t uncommon. There are many different atopic conditions, but some of the most frequently diagnosed types include:

These conditions may develop in a sequential pattern within the same person, creating what is referred to as an “atopic march” or atopic multimorbidity.

However, some research suggests this pattern only develops in certain people, such as those with eczema, while others may develop related atopic conditions at any point.

Here is a snapshot of each of these atopic conditions and possible symptoms.

Allergic asthma

This is a specific type of asthma. It’s an atopic condition, meaning your symptoms are caused by your body producing too much IgE in response to a trigger. Allergic asthma accounts for about 60% of all asthma cases.

Symptoms can begin at any age, and may include:

  • frequent episodes of wheezing and dyspnea
  • chest tightness
  • coughing, especially nocturnal in children, with thick and tenacious sputum
  • fatigue
  • you may use more muscles to breathe, like the abdomen
  • breathing takes longer
  • diminished breath sounds
  • lungs may produce hyper-resonant sounds

Allergic conjunctivitis

This atopic condition affects your eyes, and is often seasonal. Symptoms typically include:

Experts believe allergic conjunctivitis affects 10 to 30% of people, but most don’t seek treatment for the symptoms.

Allergic dermatitis (eczema)

Eczema is also known as atopic dermatitis, a very common atopic condition that affects up to 10% of adults and up to 30% of children.

Symptoms affect your skin, such as:

Allergic rhinitis

Also known as hay fever, this atopic condition mostly affects your nose and sinuses. Common symptoms include:

Allergenic rhinitis can be chronic or seasonal. It affects as many as 1 in 6 people.

Yes, many different types of food allergies are classified as atopic conditions. This is because they tend to develop due to genetics and how people may be more prone to developing allergic diseases.

There are more than 160 food allergy types, and researchers believe that the other atopic conditions (such as eczema) often play a part in the development of a food allergy, rather than the food response causing or affecting the other atopic condition.

While smptoms may vary depending on the food allergy, they generally might include:

  • hypotension
  • Irregular heartbeats
  • skin rashes or hives
  • nausea and vomiting
  • abdominal cramping
  • diarrhea
  • life-threatening anaphylaxis

Atopic triggers can be different from person to person. You might have one trigger, or you might have several.

Some common triggers can be found in:

One of the most important parts of treating atopy is knowing what your triggers are and avoiding them as much as possible.

Atopic conditions are sometimes treatable using home remedies or over-the-counter drugs.

If your symptoms are mild and you can manage them on your own, you might not need to see a doctor.

If particular triggers are causing the condition or flare-ups, you may need prescription medication, or other types of treatment, immunotherapy, or desensitization.

This is when you might consult a doctor or healthcare professional.

When to consult a doctor

If you have an atopic condition that affects your ability to enjoy your typical routines, you might consider discussing it with a physician or a specialist. Depending on the condition and symptoms, this could include an allergist or dermatologist.

For asthma, you should set up an appointment with a doctor. Anything that impacts your ability to breathe is potentially serious and deserves a medical evaluation.

Atopy is a specific type of allergy. If you have an atopic condition, your immune system usually overreacts to certain triggers and produces too much IgE, causing inflammation. Depending on your condition, the symptoms of inflammation can be anything from a rash to watery eyes, a runny nose, or a restricted airway.

Atopic conditions aren’t uncommon, and many times you can treat them by avoiding your triggers and using over-the-counter drugs or home remedies.

If you think you might have an atopic condition, a physician or allergist can make a diagnosis and help create a treatment plan that fits your needs.