Why Do Healthcare Providers Perform Allergy Tests
Your healthcare provider may perform an allergy test if you have allergy symptoms that bother you. Providers also perform allergy tests on people who have asthma. The test can identify allergy triggers that can worsen asthma symptoms or bring on an asthma attack.
You may also need a test if youve had a severe allergic reaction called anaphylaxis. This potentially life-threatening problem can cause hives or swelling, breathing difficulty and/or a sharp drop in blood pressure that brings on anaphylactic shock. Your health history along with allergy testing is used to determine the cause of severe reaction. If you have had an anaphylactic reaction or may be at risk for one, then you may need to carry an epinephrine auto-injector to treat the symptoms.
When You Need Them And When You Dont
Allergy tests may help find allergies to things you eat, touch, or breathe in. They are usually skin or blood tests.
However, allergy tests alone are generally not enough. It is important to have a doctors exam and medical history first to help diagnose allergies. If the exam and medical history point to allergies, allergy tests may help find what you are allergic to. But if you dont have symptoms and you havent had a medical exam that points to an allergy, you should think twice about allergy testing. Heres why:
Follow Recommended Guidelines To Help Ensure Testing Is Accurate And Comfortable
We recommend that during patch testing, you follow some simple guidelines that will help to make the testing more accurate and more comfortable for you.
Do not:
- Get your back wet during the week of testing
- Expose your back to the sun or artificial sunlight during the week of testing
- Take prescription corticosteroids for up to four weeks before or during the week of testing
- Avoid sports, heavy physical work or anything that results in sweating during the week of testing
- Wear an old bra or shirt for the week of the tests and wear a soft, non-abrasive shirt while sleeping to protect patches
- Consider wearing shirts that open at the front, rather than those that have to be pulled over your head
- Tape the edges of any patches that begin to come off during the week of testing with medical tape
- Note the date and time any patch comes completely off
- Contact your doctor if you become concerned about anything during testing
- Contact your doctor if you develop a reaction at the site of testing after testing is completed
If you have unexplained dermatitis and would like more information on patch testing at Kelsey-Seybolds Tanglewood Clinic, contact us.
Don’t Miss: How To Improve Allergies Naturally
How Is Allergy Skin Testing Different From Allergy Blood Testing
There are different kinds of allergy tests that can be used to detect allergies, including allergy skin testing and allergy blood testing. Allergy blood tests look for certain antibodies and cells that indicate the likelihood of an allergy. Unlike skin testing, allergy blood tests require a sample of blood to be collected using a needle. Because allergy blood tests take additional time to process in a laboratory, the results of these tests may take longer to come in.
Doctors may use blood testing instead of skin testing:
- When skin tests could be unsafe because the risk of severe reaction is higher
- When patients take medications that may interfere with getting accurate results
- When finding a location for skin testing is difficult on account of skin conditions
Will I Ever Need To Be Retested
If your allergy patch test is inconclusive in some way, the dermatologist may want to retest to confirm an unclear diagnosis. Additionally, allergies can develop and change throughout your lifetime. If you suspect youve developed a new allergy or that you may have stopped reacting to an allergen, your dermatologist may recommend retesting.
Read Also: Can Allergies Cause High Lymphocytes
Oral Food Challenges Are Carried Out To Help Your Allergy Specialist To:
- Confirm a suspected food allergy
- Monitor if a food allergy has been outgrown
- Confirm or dispute a food allergy following a positive allergy test where the person has never eaten that food
An oral food challenge is usually carried out when an immediate allergy is suspected. Oral food challenges are carried out , under the supervision of allergy nurses and/or doctors who have the knowledge and skills to recognise and respond to the signs and symptoms of an allergic reaction. They are therefore carried out in settings where there is access to allergy medication and medical equipment to treat an allergic reaction. Some foods are safe to be re-introduced at home but this should always be on the advice of a Healthcare professional and not self-initiated.
What Do I Need To Do
It is important to be well on the day of the oral food challenge. Even minor conditions like a cold, cough or higher temperature will mean that the oral food challenge will not be carried out on that day. If you are unsure, call the allergy department for further advice.
Asthma should be well controlled. If asthma has been a problem, either on the day of the appointment or in the days leading up to the appointment, the oral food challenge will not be carried out and will need to be re-scheduled.
Recommended Reading: Can You Take Allergy Medicine After Expiration Date
Does A Dermatologist Do Allergy Tests
Both of these doctors can provide allergy testing if needed. For example, a dermatologist may perform a skin test to determine the cause of your skin reaction. An allergist can also perform a skin prick test and more in-depth allergy testing.
What kind of doctor should I see for allergies?
An allergist is a doctor who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of asthma and other allergic diseases. The allergist is specially trained to identify allergy and asthma triggers. Allergists help people treat or prevent their allergy problems.
Which doctor is best for skin allergies?
Skin conditions are one of the most common forms of allergy treated and managed by an allergist/immunologist, a physician with specialized training and expertise to accurately diagnose your condition and relieve your symptoms.
What Should I Expect During An Allergy Test
The purpose of skin tests is to see how your body responds to allergens. If you have an allergic reaction, youll develop a reaction at the site of the test. Rarely patients may have mild allergy symptoms such as itchy skin, watery eyes and congestion. Most symptoms clear up in one to two hours after the test, the redness or wheals may remain for several more hours.
Recommended Reading: Can Seasonal Allergies Cause Vomiting
What Is A Skin Allergy
A skin allergy, sometimes called dermatitis, is actually just an overreaction of your immune system when certain things come into contact with your skin. These things are known as allergens and will typically result in redness or itching on your skins surface. Sometimes, a skin allergy is apparent at birth and caring for it becomes a normal part of your day-to-day life. In other cases, a skin allergy can seemingly appear out of nowhere later in life. In either case, determining the allergen that is causing your skin to react can sometimes be difficult and frustrating. Entrusting an experienced dermatologist to perform skin allergy testing on you can help you figure out what is causing your allergic reaction and what treatment option will work best for you in managing your skin allergy. At the Skin Center of South Miami, we have years of experience helping patients to accurately detect skin allergies and successfully manage even the most severe skin allergies.
Blood Testing For A Food Allergy
Specific IgE blood tests measure levels of IgE antibodies to specific food allergens in the blood. For example, if peanut was highlighted as a suspected food allergen then the test would be for peanut specific IgE.
If anti-histamine medication is being taken regularly for the management of allergy, a blood test can be done without the need to stop antihistamines. This is an important consideration for those needing to take daily antihistamines for their allergic condition. Only a small amount of blood is required to test for food allergy and this type of test can be requested by your GP. Where blood testing is chosen as the preferred testing method it is important that the results are interpreted by a Healthcare professional with the skills, knowledge and experience to interpret the results in the context of an allergy focused clinical history. This may mean a referral to an allergy specialist if your GP is not experienced in this area.
You May Like: Can Allergies Cause Blood In Phlegm
Reasons For Patch Testing
If you suffer from dermatitis, needle testing isnt likely to determine whether allergens are causing the rash or inflammation. Patch testing, however, can more accurately detect whether a contact allergy is to blame, particularly in cases where the allergy takes several days to cause a reaction.
Patch testing can detect allergic reactions to more than 80 substances that are regularly in contact with the skin. Some of the most common allergens are:
- Preservatives
How Do Doctors Test To See What Your Allergic To
The skin test is the most commonly used method for determining whether you have allergies. This is due to its ability to produce the most precise results. Scratch tests are the most commonly used by doctors. A doctor or nurse will administer a small amount of allergen to your skin, usually on the inside of your arm or on the back.
Also Check: How To Test For Copper Allergy At Home
What Happens There Is A Reaction During The Oral Food Challenge There Is A Reaction
You or your child will be closely observed for any signs or symptoms of an allergic reaction throughout the oral food challenge. If you develop any signs of an allergic reaction you will be treated appropriately for your individual symptoms. Depending on the symptoms, and whether the allergic reaction is mild, moderate or severe, the treatment for allergic reactions in an allergy clinic/hospital setting may be different from how you would manage an allergic reaction at home. Write down any questions or concerns you may have about this before the appointment and take them with you.
Patch Testing Can Find Whats Causing Your Rash
The results from your patch test can help uncover whats causing your skin to react.
Once your dermatologist knows the cause of your contact dermatitis, your dermatologist will create a plan to help you avoid whats causing your rash.
Some dermatologists offer extensive patch testing. This means that they can test you for many different substances that could be causing your allergic skin reaction.
To find a dermatologist who offers patch testing:
-
In the Search by Location box, enter your state
-
Click on Filters
-
Select Patch testing
-
Click on Search
For many patients, the results from patch testing significantly improve their lives. Once you know whats causing your itchy rash, you can avoid it. This often leads to clearing.
Image
ReferencesCarol R. Are you a rash whisperer? Dermatol World. 2019:29:44-9
Harris V and Smith S. Poster 5057: Dont brush off contact allergies in cheilitis: Modern toothbrush contact dermatitis. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2017 76:AB103. No commercial support identified.
Mowad CM, Anderson B, et al. Allergic contact dermatitis: Patient diagnosis and evaluation. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2016 74:1029-40.
Mowad CM, Anderson B, et al. Allergic contact dermatitis: Patient management and education. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2016 74:1043-54.
Warshaw EM, Schlarbaum JP, et al. Allergic reactions to tattoos: Retrospective analysis of North American Contact Dermatitis Group data, 2001-2016. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2020 Feb 82:e61-e62.
Recommended Reading: How To Get Rid Of Bad Seasonal Allergies
How To Get Ready For A Test
Tell your doctor about all medicines you’re taking, including over-the-counter products. Some drugs can affect the results, so your doctor will give you a list of medicines to avoid before the test.
If you can’t stop taking a medication, your doctor or nurse may do a separate test to find out if that drug will hamper the results.
Since allergy medicines, such as OTC antihistamines, stop allergic reactions, you shouldn’t take them for a few days before your appointment. You need to let your body react to the allergens in the test.
Differences Between A Dermatologist And An Allergist
Even if something gives us an allergic reaction, most of us cant help ourselves from enjoying the allergen such as eating certain foods, petting furry animals, or hanging out with friends in the pollution-filled city.
Once you have an allergic reaction, your skin may start to get reddish and patchy. Perhaps youre suddenly getting this reaction, and youve never been allergic before.
But who should you visit to have this treated, a dermatologist or an allergist? Lets take a look at these two different types of medical specializations and who would be best to diagnose and treat your sudden skin reaction.
Don’t Miss: How Can An Operation Assist Customers With Food Allergies
How The Test Is Performed
There are three common methods of allergy skin testing.
The skin prick test involves:
- Placing a small amount of substances that may be causing your symptoms on the skin, most often on the forearm, upper arm, or back.
- The skin is then pricked so the allergen goes under the skin’s surface.
- The health care provider closely watches the skin for swelling and redness or other signs of a reaction. Results are usually seen within 15 to 20 minutes.
- Several allergens can be tested at the same time. Allergens are substances that cause an allergic reaction.
The intradermal skin test involves:
- Injecting a small amount of allergen into the skin.
- The provider then watches for a reaction at the site.
- This test is more likely to be used to find out if you’re allergic to bee venom or penicillin. Or it may be used if the skin prick test was negative and the provider still thinks that you’re allergic to the allergen.
Patch testing is a method to diagnose the cause of skin reactions that occur after the substance touches the skin:
- Possible allergens are taped to the skin for 48 hours.
- The provider will look at the area in 72 to 96 hours.
What Type Of Allergy Testing Do I Need
The type of allergy testing needed will be decided by your GP or specialist allergy doctor or nurse. This will be guided by the questions and information provided in an allergy focused clinical history. This is a series of questions that helps a doctor understand more about the suspected food allergy and guides the Healthcare professional to appropriate diagnostic tests and the type of food allergy.
The most appropriate test will depend on the type of allergy that is suspected
- Delayed
- Immediate
Also Check: Are Pine Nuts Nuts Allergy
What To Do If You Suspect You Have A Food Allergy
Symptoms of food allergy are varied and can include rashes, nettle rash , itching and swelling and, in more severe cases, breathing difficulties. It can also affect the gastrointestinal system , with symptoms including vomiting and abdominal pain.
However, the body may react to foods with symptoms that are similar to those of food allergy for a number of reasons, These include food intolerance where the body does not produce enough, or lacks, the enzyme needed to effectively break down a food such as lactose in milk . Sometimes it can be a substance in the food itself that causes the problem. for example food poisoning from bacteria or toxins, or histamine releasing foods like tomatoes or strawberries. If you suspect a food allergy then it is important to discuss your concerns with a Healthcare Professional, which will usually be your GP.
Treating Skin Contact Allergies
How you handle your condition depends on what causes it. Many times, you can simply avoid the things that trigger your symptoms. You can also use cold compresses, calamine lotion, or an oatmeal bath to soothe skin and relieve itchiness.
For small areas, your doctor may prescribe a steroid cream. Follow their instructions on how to put it on. It won’t help if you use more or take it more often than they recommend.
To get the most out of the cream, put it on after a bath or shower. If your reaction covers a larger area, your doctor may suggest steroid pills and antihistamines.
It’s important to avoid your allergy trigger if you get hives or swelling beneath your skin.
In case your doctor can’t figure out the cause, they may recommend over-the-counter or prescription antihistamine pills.
If your skin gets infected because it’s open and raw, you may need an antibiotic to clear it up. Symptoms of an infection include:
- Swelling or redness
Also Check: What Months Are Allergy Season
Can A Dermatologist Diagnose
A dermatologist can diagnose and treat over 3,000 conditions that affect the skin, nails, and hair. Some of the more common conditions they treat include: Acne. Autoimmune diseases.
What do doctors prescribe for itching?
Your doctor may also prescribe medications to treat pruritus, including:
- Antihistamines.
- Topical steroids or oral steroids.
- Nonsteroidal topical creams, such as cooling gels, anti-itch medications, or capsaicin.
- Antidepressant drugs.
- Immunosuppressive drugs, such as cyclosporine A.
Does an allergy test hurt?
Allergy skin tests are not painful. This type of test uses needles that barely penetrate the surface of the skin. You wont bleed or feel more than mild momentary discomfort.
What happens if you leave your allergies untreated?
Uncontrolled allergies can eventually lead to inflammation and infection. Things like ear infections and sinus infections can start happening more frequently, which can then lead to even more serious issues like asthma or structural sinus issues that will require surgery.
What is the fastest way to cure a skin allergy?
Try these:
What do allergists and dermatologists do for a living?
