Don’t be in the dark: get an allergy test

The skin prick test is the most common method of testing for allergies. The test involves pricking a very small amount of an allergen, or allergens, into your body, usually on the inner forearm. The outcome is localised and will help you understand if the specific allergens are causing reactions in your body.

An allergy patch test can be undertaken to determine the allergen you are susceptible to in the case of contact dermatitis. It is a very simple form of testing and can be done without any pain or aggravation. It takes 48 hours to 7 days to know exactly how your immune system responds to the allergens that your body is exposed to. If the patch of skin alters in any way or becomes red or itchy, the test result was positive. On the other hand, if there is no reaction and the skin does not show any kind of blemish, you are not sensitive to that particular allergen. The tests are a good way to get an urticaria diagnosis. They help you understand if you are allergic to something specific such as a pharmaceutical drug, a plant or maybe even clothes made of a certain material. Once you know what causes the reaction, the best form of treatment is to avoid getting in contact with those triggers. Appropriate medication, including antihistamines, is also another way to treat these issues. There is quite a lot of research being undertaken into this area and a number of alternative treatment techniques have been developed.