Posted on Friday, May 17, 2019 in Allergy and Immunology
Sometimes it seems like everyone has "allergies." You may have wondered, how are allergies diagnosed? What exactly is involved during an allergy skin test?
Allergy skin tests are done to find out if a substance, called an allergen, may cause an allergic response. A small amount of a suspected allergen is placed on or below the skin to see if a reaction develops.
A skin prick test is done by placing a drop of a liquid containing a possible allergen on your skin. The doctor or nurse will prick or scratch the skin under each drop. This helps the allergen to go into your skin.
During an intradermal test, the doctor or nurse will use a needle to inject a small amount of the allergen solution into your skin.
For a skin prick test, the nurse will:
- Clean the test area (usually on your back or arm) with alcohol.
- Use a small device to scratch or prick your skin with drops of possible allergens. This allows some of the allergen to go into your skin.
- Check your skin after about 15 minutes for red, raised itchy areas called wheals. If a wheal forms, it means you are allergic to that allergen. This is called a positive reaction.
For an intradermal test, the nurse will:
- Clean the test area (usually on your back or arm) with alcohol.
- Inject the allergen solution into the skin.
- Check your skin after about 15 minutes for red, raised itchy areas called wheals. If a wheal forms, it means you are allergic to that allergen. This is called a positive reaction.
If you are interested in getting tested for allergies, please visit Dr. Hamsa Subramanian of Signature Allergy and Immunology. +