Many Americans suffer from red and watery eyes, an itchy nose, and even other more severe cases of allergies. It is pretty common to take over-the-counter medicine for recurring allergies, but mostly, they aren't the best of the lot.

It would be wise to seek the help of a professional and undergo allergy skin testingunder his expert guidance to let go of your worries and discomfort.

Let us understand how a skin allergy test can help identify your allergies and treat them better.

Skin allergy testing

Allergy Asthma and Immunology Institute defines skin testing as a means to diagnose the reason behind the symptoms. It is the safest and effective way to identify the underlying cause behind your allergy.

To know if you are allergic to a particular food or object, you should reserve an appointment with a professional to assess and get rid of your symptoms.

What does it include?

Skin allergy testing helps in determining whether you are sensitive to specific allergens. There are various factors involved which will lead your provider to test you based on particular allergens. The most common things considered are symptoms, season, or environment where the symptoms usually occur.

There are many allergens found in nature, inside and outside the house. Certain medications or insects may also cause you to develop allergies.

What should be your expectations from skin allergy testing?

Skin allergy testing involves exposing you to different allergens and monitoring your response towards them. If you develop an allergic reaction to one of the allergens, the provider can use it to decide your further course of treatment and alleviate your symptoms.

It is commonly known as skin prick testing and is pretty safe for children and adults. But it would be best if you kept the provider informed if the allergen has resulted in a life-threatening experience at any point in the past.

A skin allergy test involves exposure to up to 40 different substances to identify your skin's reaction to the allergens. If pricking your skin with the allergen results in red bumps, it indicates the presence of an antibody. Antibodies are positive signs that your body can resist the allergen.

However, the provider doesn't solely depend upon skin prick tests to treat allergies. He takes your medical history, symptoms, and other important information into account before referring to treatment.

Treating allergies

Most providers will recommend avoiding the specific substance to get relief. However, sometimes it's not the case.

It is fundamental to consult a doctor who performs a skin allergy test in Washington. If a professional doctor confirms your food allergy, it would be best to check the food ingredients and labels before eating outside.

Sometimes, you can't avoid outdoor or indoor allergens. Such situations call for reducing the exposure to the maximum. Take your doctor's guidance and consume prescribed medications such as antihistamines and steroids to ease the symptoms.

If you need a more permanent cure, immunotherapy is your best bet. It includes the patient's exposure to a gradually increasing allergen to make the body habitual of the substance coming in contact. This process results in long-term relief from allergic symptoms as your immune system accepts and tolerates the substance.

Closing Words-

National Freedom Family Medicine provides a comprehensive and monitored skin allergy test in Washington. Our allergy skin testing services are performed by trained doctors who are best at what they do.

Call or visit us to book an appointment for all your medical issues.