What Happens During Allergy Testing?

During allergy skin tests, your skin is exposed to suspected allergy-causing substances and is then observed for signs of an allergic reaction. Along with your medical history, allergy tests may be able to confirm whether a particular substance you touch, breathe, or eat is causing symptoms.

 

Before any allergy testing, the doctor will take your medical history and will ask about several things like:

Illnesses

Where you live and work

Lifestyle

Food and eating habits.

There are many tests that can diagnose potential allergies but Patch and Prick tests are the ones effectively used by patients to detect possible allergies.

 

Skin Patch test:

A patch test is generally done to see whether a particular substance is causing allergic skin inflammation. Patch tests can detect delayed allergic reactions which can take several days to develop.

Patch tests don’t use needles. Instead, allergens are applied to patches which are then placed on your arm. During a patch test, your skin may be exposed to 20 to 80 extracts of substances. The patterns will be stuck to your back for 48 hours. During this time, you should avoid bathing and activities that cause heavy sweating. Final reading will be on the 6th day. Irritated skin at the patch site may indicate an allergy.

House Of Skincare has allergy investigative procedures available. Book an appointment with House Of Skincare.

 

Skin Prick Test:

This test also called a scratch test checks for immediate allergic reactions to as many as 50 different substances at once. This test is usually done to identify allergies to pollen, mold, pet, dust, and foods. In adults, the test is usually done on the forearm. Children may be tested on the upper back.

The skin prick test is not painful. This type of testing uses needles that barely penetrate the skin’s surface. You won’t bleed or feel more than mild discomfort. After cleaning the site with alcohol, the doctor draws small marks on your skin and applies a drop of allergen extract next to each mark. He or she thaen uses a lancet to prick the extracts into the skin surface. A new lancet is used for each allergen.

To see if your skin is reacting normally, two identical substances, histamine and Glycerine are scratched into your skin’s surface. After 20 minutes the doctor will observe your skin for any signals of allergic reactions. If you are allergic to one of the substances tested, you will develop a raised, red, itchy bump that may look like a mosquito bite. The doctor will then measure the bump’s size and record the results.

House Of Skincare has allergy investigative procedures available. Book an appointment with House Of Skincare.