The Invaluable Significance of Skin Patch Testing for Allergies
Have you ever experienced a skin rash or irritating red patches on your skin? You need to undergo a skin test to determine the cause of allergic reactions. Upon consultation from your doctor, allergens causing reactions are identified based on your medical history.
Tests are done to scale out the causes of allergies, which may include preservatives, perfume inhalations, exposure to resins, latex, or metal.
What Does Patch Testing Entail?
Patch testing is done to identify what triggers your allergic reactions. The process does the screening of various allergens. The irritating substances are applied on your back, and then your skin is monitored to detect any hypersensitive reactions.
The patches are from dilute substances containing fragrances, preservatives, metal, and other elements based on your signs of the skin reaction. The contents are done using optimum concentration to ensure your skin isn’t subjected to irritation. Patch testing is also relevant in determining adverse drug reactions on your body.
Why It’s Done
Allergy tests are helpful for your doctor to develop a treatment plan that involves the administration of Medication for Allergies, allergen avoidance, or immunotherapy.
The skin tests diagnose the following conditions:
- Food allergy
- Hay fever
- Bee venom allergy
- Asthma
- Dermatitis
- Penicillin allergy
Your doctor may exempt you from the skin patching testing if you:
- Have severe skin conditions that may give unreliable results
- Took medications before the test, which may interfere with the skin test results.
- Had a severe skin allergy before, since the patch testing may lead to life-threatening reactions.
Blood tests are applicable if you are not suitable for a skin patching procedure. However, blood samples aren’t utilized for penicillin allergy.
Types of Allergies
Exposure to various substances attribute to different forms of reactions, here are some types of allergies:
- Latex allergies are caused by proteins that are found in natural rubber latex. They cause your skin to be itchy and may lead to anaphylaxis, a condition that causes swelling on your throat and difficulty in breathing.
- Fragrance allergies result from Perfume intolerance. You are faced with a reaction due to substances contained in the perfumes.
- Preservative allergies occur due to added preservatives on your food or beverage, including yeast, salt, or vinegar. Your nose may close up once you drink a cold beverage, and you may suffer from an asthma attack.
- Metal allergies cause dermatitis when you touch coins, jewelry, or cellphones. Nickel found on such items may cause your skin to have an irritating allergic reaction.
- Resin allergies occur due to epoxy resin substances. Your skin may swell, itch, or turn red due to the reaction of the substances.
Some drugs can lead to allergic reactions, and you need to stop using them for a short timeframe before the patch test. You need to avoid aerosols that have fumes that cause allergies.
How We Handle Allergy Tests at ArizonaAllergy Associates
At Arizona Allergy Associates, we handle patching testing for allergies by utilizing different allergens to determine the cause of reactions that occur in your body. We place allergens at the forearm, on your skin, or at the back for fifteen minutes, and await results. Dr. Rishi uses a prick test by applying dilute substance on your skin. An intradermal test is also applicable, where the allergen sample is injected into your skin.
How We Prepare for Your Skin Test
Before the test, we recommend you to stop taking medications that you are currently using, to avoid any interference with the test. We allow you to use asthmatic nasal sprays. You also need to avoid using any antihistamines three days prior.
Our Testing Plan and Guidance
Our medical practitioners come up with a treatment plan to control your allergic reactions based on the identified symptoms. We guide you on some preventive measures you’d observe to deal with allergens. Below are vital precautionary measures that we give:
- Avoid exposing yourself to allergens
- Take a recommended Medication for Allergies
- Ensure you get an allergy shot
In case you’ve been going through allergic reactions, make a visit to our office and meet our allergists. We render ideal tests on your skin, based on the symptoms you’ve been experiencing, and then lay out a suitable plan for managing your allergy.