If you’ve been having allergy symptoms but don’t know the cause, your allergist might recommend a skin test. This could result in a diagnosis of hay fever, penicillin or bee venom allergy, food allergies, or eczema. Asthma triggers may also be narrowed down in this way. These tests are very safe, and answers are often available within an hour. Here’s a closer look to inform your expectations.

What to Know About Test Types

Skin Prick

This is the most common test. A nurse will put a drop of extract for each allergen they want to test for on your arm or back. Then, they’ll make a small prick with a needle to let the allergen get into your skin. The skin prick method can test for up to 40 allergens at once and only takes about 15 minutes. If you react to any of the substances, you’ll get an itchy bump that looks like a mosquito bite.

Skin Injection

This is most commonly used to test for an allergy to bee venom or penicillin. The allergist will use a needle to inject some of the allergen extract into the skin of your arm. After about 15 minutes, the doctor will check for any allergic reaction.

Patch

This test is generally done because the reaction might take longer to react, such as for someone with eczema or contact dermatitis. The patch will contain extracts of many substances that cause dermatitis, like latex, medications, fragrances, preservatives, hair dyes, metals, and resins. You won’t be able to shower or sweat heavily for about 48 hours, which is when you’ll go back to the allergist to determine the results.

How to Prepare for the Appointment

Your doctor will give you an extensive questionnaire before your appointment. You’ll need to fill this out carefully, as things like family history can be important. You’ll also need to inform your allergist of any medications you’re taking, as some can interfere with allergy tests. These include antidepressants, over-the-counter allergy medications or antihistamines, and heartburn medications.

What to Expect

Your test will take place at your allergist or doctor’s office. It should only last 20-40 minutes, including the time to interpret results. A nurse will usually administer the test, and the doctor will make a diagnosis.

If you get a skin prick or skin injection test, you might have some itchy bumps on your arm when you leave. These can easily be taken care of with some over-the-counter antihistamines.

Allergy & Asthma Clinic of Macon can help you get to the bottom of what’s causing your allergy symptoms. Qualified Georgia allergist Dr. David T. Plaxico provides prick tests, skin injection tests, and patch tests. The facility is fragrance-free to make sure that nothing is corrupting the integrity of your allergy testing. Visit their website or call (478) 743-9376 to schedule an appointment for your allergy testing.