|  | Conditions Treatments | Allergies

How to Check Allergies

If you get a runny nose and watery eyes a few times a year, you may have allergies. You might notice that your symptoms occur when the pollen count is high, or you may find that your nose itches and your eyes water when you visit a friend who owns a dog or cat. If these symptoms describe your condition, your doctor may advise that you have allergy testing done.

Allergy testing is a tool that allergists use to identify the specific substances that are causing your symptoms. These substances may include animal dander, tree or grass pollen, dust mites, cockroaches, or molds.

Don't let the concern about a few skin pricks keep you from getting allergy testing. Allergy testing is an easy and relatively painless procedure, even for a child.

Things You'll Need

  • Allergy skin prick test
  • Allergy intradermal skin test
  • Allergy blood test
Show More

Instructions

  1. How to Check for Allergies

    • 1

      Prepare for your first appointment with the allergist by creating an allergy symptom diary. Note when and where your allergy symptoms occur. Be sure to describe your symptoms and their severity. At your first appointment, your doctor will perform a physical examination and take a history of your allergy symptoms.

    • 2

      Submit to an allergy skin prick test. This is the most common type of allergy test used today. The test will be performed on your forearm or your back. Your allergist will write numbers on your arm or back. Each number represents a specific allergen. He will apply a drop of a each allergen to each of the numbers. Then he will gently prick or scratch your skin, allowing the droplet of allergen to penetrate the skin. If you are allergic to an allergen, you will see a red bump resembling a mosquito bite within about 15 to 30 minutes. These bumps may itch briefly, but they will quickly disappear.

    • 3

      Consent to an intradermal allergy skin test if your doctor recommends. This test is more sensitive than the skin prick test. A small amount of the suspected allergen will be injected under the top layer of your skin. As with the allergy skin prick test, you should get results in about 15 to 30 minutes.

    • 4

      Ask your doctor about allergy blood testing if an existing skin condition or current medication may interfere with conventional skin testing methods. Your doctor may advise this test (also called the RAST or ELIZA test) if you suffer from eczema, for example. Allergy blood tests typically cost more than skin tests, and the results of the test are not immediately available. The blood samples will be sent to a laboratory that should return your results within a few days. Blood tests are also not as sensitive as the more common skin test.

Allergies - Related Articles