Most allergy sufferers are said to be atopic.

Atopic people often inherit their tendency to allergy from their parents, i.e. allergies run in families.

Atopic individuals are genetically programmed to produce an abundance of IgE (immunoglobulin E) antibodies. These IgEs strongly react against allergens in the environment (pollen, moulds, household dust, etc.).

It is possible to become allergic without being atopic, but atopy helps!

There are three principal kinds of atopic allergies:

• Atopic dermatitis (eczema)
  
• Allergic rhinitis (hayfever or seasonal and year-around or perennial symptoms)
  
• Allergic asthma