Delhi, April 15 – Have you ever wondered if twins are allergic to the same things? According to allergy experts it’s possible but not guaranteed. Allergies arise from a mix of genetics and environment. Since twins especially identical twins share all their genes and usually grow up in similar environments, they’re more likely to have the same allergies. But that doesn’t mean they always will.
Allergist and immunologist Breanne Hayes Haney explains that allergies occur when the immune system mistakes harmless substances like pollen or peanuts for threats. This reaction causes symptoms ranging from sneezing to potentially deadly anaphylaxis. Each person immune system is trained differently so even close siblings or twins might respond in unique ways.
A study from Australia found that 60–70% of twin pairs shared environmental allergies, and the likelihood was higher in identical twins than fraternal ones. The same trend appears in peanut allergy studies again identical twins are more likely to match.
But upbringing matters, too. For instance twins raised separately say, one on a farm and one in a polluted city might end up with very different allergy profiles. Factors like breastfeeding exposure to pets, pollution and even parental smoking influence allergy development.
The takeaway? Yes, twins can share allergies, but they don’t always. Genetics plays a strong role but it’s not the only factor.
As Haney puts it: “Twins aren’t automatically allergic to the exact same things. It’s all about the genes, the germs, and the world around them.”
