Allergy Skin Test Washington DC

Allergy Skin Test Washington DC

Allergies can be debilitating and hinder your overall quality of life. Medication is generally a temporary fix and is not always effective. There are other more long-term solutions such as allergy shots, but before you can receive this treatment, it is important you find out what you are allergic to. In order to do this, you must have an allergy skin test Washington DC allergists can provide to you. 

Allergy Skin Test in Washington DC

For most people, finding out the cause of their allergies will help to avoid their triggers and alleviate their symptoms. While some can easily identify their triggers, others will be unable to  and this is when it will be useful to ask an allergist for an allergy skin test Washington DC has to offer. There are various types of allergy tests including:

Skin Tests – Allergy skin tests are the most widely used when trying to identify a person’s allergens. Various methods can be used, but all tests involve exposing the skin to different substances and observing how the skin reacts after a period of time. 

IgE Tests – IgE allergy tests will look for certain IgE antibodies which are produced by the body when there is an invader such as an allergen. 

If you have a history of serious reactions, an allergist may choose not to perform a Washington DC allergy skin test. An auto-injector may also be prescribed. This contains epinephrine and should be carried with you at all times. 

What to Expect When You Come to Black & Kletz Allergy

When you come to our clinic for allergy testing, the allergist will discuss your symptoms with you and ask questions such as the following:

1. What are your symptoms and how long have you been experiencing them?
2. Do your symptoms come and go or are they persistent?
3. Do you find your symptoms to worsen when you are outside or inside?
4. Do they worsen when you are cleaning?
5. Do you have any pets?
6. Do they worsen when you are around pets?
7. Do you are anyone in your family smoke?
8. What do you do to find relief?
9. What treatments have you tried?
10. Are you taking any allergy medications?
11. What kind of heating and cooling systems do you use?
12. Do you have any other medical conditions?
13. How is your diet?

Following questions like these, your allergist may begin an allergy test Washington DC allergy clinic provides to residents. How the test proceeds will largely depend on what test you are given. 

Scratch Test: An allergist or nurse will examine the skin and cleanse it with alcohol. Marks and labels will be added onto the skin and drops of potential allergens will be placed on top of the marks. After light scratches will be made on the skin. This is not an injection and will not cause any bleeding or pain. If there is any reaction, you may be allergic to the substance. 

Intradermal Test: These involve small amounts of allergens being injected underneath the skin to see if any reaction occurs. 

Patch Tests: Allergens are placed on a patch and stuck to the upper arm or back. You may have to wait one hour or more before a reaction is noticeable. It is possible to have to wear the patch for up to 48 hours in case there is a delayed reaction.

There are many types of allergy skin tests Washington DC allergists recommend. If you would like to schedule an appointment for a skin test, call Black & Kletz Allergy.