Allergy tests are done to help your doctor create an allergy treatment plan. This will include allergen avoidance, immunotherapy, and medications.

Allergy skin tests will be used to diagnose:

• Hay fever (allergic rhinitis)
• Dermatitis (eczema)
• Penicillin allergy
• Food allergies
• Bee venom allergy

Skin tests are usually safe for people of all ages, including infants. There are times when skin tests are not recommended. Your doctor may recommend not getting s skin test if:

• Have had a severe allergic reaction to a substance. A skin test could cause a life-threatening reaction.
• If you take medications that may interfere with the test results. These include many antidepressants, antihistamines, and some heartburn medications.
• If you have skin conditions like severe eczema or psoriasis on large areas of your skin. These can leave limited areas for doing skin tests effectively. The skin condition dermatographism can cause results that are unreliable.

Skin tests are quite reliable for diagnosing allergies to airborne substances like pollen, dust mites, and pet dander. Skin testing can help in diagnosing food allergies but food allergies are complex and may require other types of tests.

You may find that you have allergic symptoms at certain times of the year, after you have eaten a certain food, or if you have been around animals. You may start to sneeze, get itchy eyes or watery eyes, or hives. If you get these reactions, you may have allergies.

The problem may feel like it starts with your nose or eyes, but allergies are really caused by your immune system. Knowing why these reactions happen allows you to keep the symptoms under control and help you feel better.

An allergy test is used to determine what substances you are allergic to. During the skin test, your skin is exposed to substances that are suspected to be allergy-causing. The skin is then watched for signs of allergic reactions. Combined with your medical history, allergy tests can confirm whether a particular substance is causing the symptoms.

Skin testing for allergies is usually done at a doctor’s office. Typically, the test will take about 40 minutes. Some tests will find immediate reactions, while others can take days for the allergic reaction to develop.

The skin prick test also known as puncture or scratch test will check for immediate reactions to allergens. As many as 50 substances can be tested at the same time. This test is done to identify allergies to mold, pollen, dust mites, pet dander, and foods. In adults, the test is often done on the forearm and for children, it is done on the upper back. These tests are not painful but may give momentary discomfort.

You may need a skin injection test to determine your allergic reactions. This test is done by taking some of the allergens and injecting them into the skin on your arm. This is done for allergies to penicillin and insect venom. Signs of the allergy generally appear within 15 minutes.

Patch tests are used for substances that cause skin inflammation. Patch tests can detect allergic reactions that are delayed and take days to develop. Allergens are applied to patches that are placed on the skin. A patch test can consist of up to 30 substances that cause inflammation. These can include fragrances, latex, medication, preservatives, resins, hair dyes, and metals.

You will wear the patch on the arm or back for 48 hours. When the doctor removes the patch, if allergies are present there will likely be skin irritation.

OmniLife Wellness has medical professionals who are happy to determine if you have allergies and work with you to treat them. Allergies can make life a bit uncomfortable or can even be deadly. Understanding your body’s reaction to specific substances can be life-saving, or at least much more comfortable. Call us and find out what we can do to help. For more information, call us today or book an appointment online. We are conveniently located at 8380 Warren Pkwy #100 Frisco TX 75034. We serve clients from Frisco TX, Allen TX, Prosper TX, Addison TX, Plano TX, and Colony TX.