FAQs About Piniella Asthma + Allergy in Coral Gables and Palmetto Bay, FL

Dr. Carlos J. Piniella, a board-certified allergist, and our team offer comprehensive allergy services, including allergy testing, asthma care, food allergies, immunotherapy, patch testing, and pediatric allergy care. We treat conditions like hay fever, asthma, sinusitis, and drug allergies.

The allergist at our clinic is Dr. Carlos J. Piniella, MD, a board-certified allergist with over 24 years of experience in treating asthma and allergies.

We accept Medicare and a variety of other insurance plans. Please contact our office for specific payment details.

We do not typically offer same-day appointments, but we encourage you to call ahead to check availability. We will do our best to accommodate your needs and try to book an appointment as soon as possible.

Appointments can be scheduled online through our website or by calling our clinic directly.

Please bring insurance information, a list of any current medications, and any relevant medical records. A list of your symptoms or concerns can also be helpful.

We offer allergy testing, personalized care plans, and options like immunotherapy (allergy shots) to reduce sensitivity to allergens.

Yes, we accept Medicare and many other insurance plans. Please contact us to confirm if your plan is accepted.

Yes, Dr. Carlos J. Piniella, a board-certified allergist, is currently accepting new patients for both adult and pediatric allergy care.

You can expect a small number of allergy tests to be performed on your skin to identify your triggers. The results are typically available within 20 minutes, and Dr. Piniella will discuss the findings with you.

We have two locations:

Coral Gables: 6705 SW 57th Ave # 520 South Miami, FL 33143.


Palmetto Bay: 9275 SW 152 Street Suite 210 Palmetto Bay, FL 33157.

Piniella Asthma + Allergy is open during the following hours:

Coral Gables: Monday from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm, Thursday from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. Closed All Other Days of the Week (Closed between 12:00-1:00 pm)

Palmetto Bay: Tuesday from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. Closed All Other Days of the Week (Closed between 12:00-1:00 pm)

Dr. Carlos J. Piniella, MD is rated 5 stars by patients for his exceptional care in treating allergies and asthma.

One of the marvels of the human body is that it can defend itself against harmful invaders such as viruses or bacteria. In some people, the body reacts to harmless substances such as dust, mold, or pollen by producing an antibody called immunoglobulin E (IgE). When patients with one allergic disease (such as rhinitis or asthma) are exposed to these substances, the immune system then rallies its defenses, launching a host of complex chemical weapons to attack and destroy the supposed enemy. In the process, some unpleasant and, in extreme cases, life-threatening symptoms may be experienced.

Hundreds or even thousands of ordinary substances can trigger allergic reactions. These are called “allergens.” Among the most common are plant pollens, molds, household dust (dust mites), animal dander, industrial chemicals, foods, medicines, and insect stings.

An allergic reaction may occur anywhere in the body, but usually appears in the skin, eyes, lining of the stomach, nose, sinuses, throat, and lungs — places where special immune system cells are stationed to fight off invaders that are inhaled, swallowed or come in contact with the skin.

Allergies can affect anyone, regardless of age, gender, race, or socioeconomic status. While it’s true that allergies are more common in children, they can occur for the first time at any age or, in some cases, recur after many years of remission.

Although the exact genetic factors are not yet understood, the tendency to allergies, as well as to allergic disease, is linked to heredity.

The best first step in the diagnosis of allergies is a thorough health history and physical examination. If you have allergy symptoms that occur in association with exposure to certain things, that is highly significant. Allergy diagnostic tests, such as skin tests or blood tests, provide similar information and merely confirm what your health history tells the doctor. If your doctor were to rely exclusively on the results of skin or blood tests (without history and physical examination), you could be diagnosed as having an allergic problem that you don’t necessarily have.

Skin tests, in most situations, are preferable because (1) the results are available immediately, (2) they are less expensive and (3) they are more sensitive to subtle allergies.

A blood test is appropriate in certain situations, particularly when you (1) cannot suspend antihistamine therapy which can inhibit skin tests, (2) have widespread skin disease making skin testing difficult, (3) are so sensitive to the allergen that the test might be risky or (4) cannot be skin tested for some other reason.

Like all medical treatments, allergy shots (immunotherapy) can have side effects. Your doctor will discuss this with you in detail. Under no circumstances should you consider allergy shots without at least an attempt at avoidance of the troublesome allergen. For instance, cat allergy shots are no substitute for cat avoidance. Some allergens, though, such as grass pollen, are almost unavoidable.

Why is it that frequent exposure to an allergen can increase sensitivity and cause allergic reactions, yet repeated exposure to an allergen in allergy shots helps build up immunity?

Regularly scheduled, repeated exposure to small amounts of an allergen can lead to immunity, whereas infrequent and erratic exposure does not confer immunity but increases the likelihood of producing allergen sensitization.

Irregular exposure to allergens can lead to the production of antibodies (called IgE-mediated antibodies). The presence of these antibodies, when exposed to an allergen can lead to an allergic reaction.

In allergy shots or immunotherapy, allergen exposure is closely regulated and given on a scheduled basis. Small amounts of allergens are given over a period of time to build up to maintenance doses. This leads to the production of blocking antibodies (called IgG antibodies) and a decrease in the level of allergic or IgE-mediated antibodies.

Source: American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology

Our board-certified skin allergists at Piniella Asthma + Allergy provide testing and diagnosis for skin allergies, for adults and children. We also treat patients for other types of allergies and related respiratory conditions like asthma and COPD. Call with your questions or book an appointment online. We serve patients from Coral Gables FL, Palmetto Bay FL, Westchester FL, Brownsville FL, Kendall FL, Pinecrest FL, Richmond West FL, and Goulds FL.