Skin Testing for Allergies: Everything You Need to Know

Skin Testing for Allergies: Everything You Need to Know

Testing for allergens on the skin, typically the back or forearm, is the most popular method. An allergist (a medical professional who diagnoses and treats allergies, asthma, and immune system disorders) or nurse will apply a tiny amount of an allergen (such as pollen or food) to the skin before making a small scratch or prick on it. Allergy West provides the best allergy, asthma, and immunology care to patients of all ages.

In one visit, the allergist may test for various food or environmental allergies by applying a variety of allergens to the skin. This could be a little irritating and scratchy. After about 15 minutes, raised lump, known as a wheal, forms. If it does, there might be an allergy present. The wheal and the redness (referred to as a flare) surrounding it are measured by the allergist using a ruler. Usually, the wheal and flare disappear in 30 to several hours.

In most cases, skin-prick tests are tolerated successfully. Rarely can they result in an allergic reaction that is more severe? Because of this, skin tests must always be performed at an allergist’s office, where the medical professional is equipped to address a reaction.

Injecting allergens into the skin (intradermal testing) or temporarily taping allergens to the skin are two other methods of skin testing (patch testing).

An allergist can check for a variety of allergies with a skin prick test, including environmental allergies to things like mold, dust mites, pet dander, or pollen, or food allergies to things like peanuts or eggs.

Skin testing may be affected by some medications (such as antihistamines). If the child needs to cease taking any medications prior to the test, ask the doctor. Skin testing is helpful and useful, but occasionally doctors need to perform additional tests (such as blood tests or oral food challenges) to determine whether a child is indeed allergic to something.

Certain allergies are diagnosed with an allergy skin test. The test can identify the compounds (allergens) responsible for the allergic response. These elements could include molds, dust, pollen, and drugs like penicillin. Typically, the tests are not utilized to identify food sensitivities. This is because anaphylactic shock from food allergies is more likely to occur.

Skin tests for allergies carry very little risk. The actual test is painless. Red, itchy skin at the test locations is the most typical adverse reaction. The anaphylactic shock from an allergy skin test can occur extremely rarely. This is why skin testing must be performed in a doctor’s office where emergency supplies are on hand. After a patch test, if one experiences severe itching or pain under the patches at home, take them off and call the provider.

A medication called epinephrine is used to treat severe allergies. It comes in a container with a predetermined dosage of epinephrine. One should inject the device into the skin if one exhibits signs of anaphylactic shock.

Once aware of the allergies, one can take precautions to safeguard yourself. For instance, if dust mites are the issue, one may keep them out of the mattress by wrapping them in an allergy-proof cover.