Healthy humans have two types of immune systems that protect the body against invading pathogens that cause disease. Innate immunity is the first barrier of protection. It's similar to a force field. Its main objective is to destroy any pathogen that attempts to enter the cells of the epidermis (skin cells) and mucosa (mucus-secreting cells present in the gastrointestinal tract, respiratory tract, respiratory tract urogenital and eyes). If the first defense does not work, the Adaptive immunity intervenes to eradicate the invading microbe. Yet sometimes the body reacts to harmless agents as if they were pathogens. Every day, more and more adults are developing allergies to things like pollen, grass, mold, and pets. Dander1 can cause mild or harmful reactions. Other allergens can cause tingling in the throat and mouth and, in many cases, serious reactions that can lead to death. reported.4 17.7 million adults and 7.1 million have been diagnosed with allergies and hay fever.5 There is no known reason why people have developed hypersensitivity to certain agents, but Many adults develop allergies later in life. Statistically, children develop the most allergies. About 3.9 percent of children have allergies, compared to 2 percent of adults. 6 So why are adults becoming more and more vulnerable to this scourge? One possible reason is that everyday foods and household products make people sick. Could it be that constant exposure to known hypoallergenic agents causes the development of allergic reactions in adults who have never experienced allergic reactions in their lives? To understand why the sudden onset of allergies occurs ...... middle of paper .. ....alien adults: a multicenter study. Int Arch Allergy Immunol. 2009;150(3):271-7.4. Isolauri E, Huurre A, Salminen S, Impivaara O. The allergy epidemic extends beyond recent decades. Clin Exp Allergy. 2004 07;34(7):1007-10.5. CDC [Internet]. Allergies and hay fever. Atlanta, GA: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/allergies.htm [Accessed November 18, 2011]6. CDC [Internet]. “Food Allergies – DASH/HealthyYouth.” Atlanta, GA: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. April 26, 2011. http://www.cdc.gov/HealthyYouth/foodallergies [Accessed November 18, 2011]7. Laurière M, Pecquet C, Bouchez-Mahiout I, Snégaroff J, Bayrou O, Raison-Peyron N, et al. Hydrolyzed wheat proteins present in cosmetics can induce immediate hypersensitivities. Contact dermatitis. 2006 05;54(5):283-9.