If you suffer from spring allergies, you know how much sneezing, coughing, and congestion can affect your everyday life. Modern allergy testing allows us to pinpoint the cause of allergies more precisely than ever. By knowing exactly what causes your allergies, you can take steps to avoid your triggers and always have exactly the right emergency medication with you.
What Do Allergy Tests Test For?
Allergy tests can identify sensitivity to dozens of allergens, both common and rare. Whether your allergies are environmental, food-based, or insect-based, there’s an allergy test that can help identify your exact triggers. Common allergy tests at a minimum identify reactions to:
- Mold
- Pet dander
- Pet saliva
- Cockroaches
- Dust
- Bee stings
- Peanuts
- Pollen
What Will the Allergy Test Be Like?
Allergy testing is typically quick and painless. The most common type of allergy test is a skin prick test. During a skin prick test, an allergist will introduce many different allergens just under the patient’s skin and wait a predetermined amount of time. After the wait, the allergist will check the patient’s skin for reactive sites and identify the allergens introduced at those sites as the patient’s allergy triggers.
Other types of allergy tests include intradermal tests, patch tests, blood tests, and challenge tests. Your allergist can determine which tests are best to identify your specific triggers.
Where Can I Get Allergy Testing in Tampa Bay?
If you live in Tampa Bay, don’t wait until allergens peak to begin treatment. Now is the perfect time to have an allergy test and identify exactly what is causing your symptoms. Only then can your allergist develop a customized treatment plan using the newest and most innovative allergy treatment techniques, such as sublingual allergy drops. Call TLC Medical at (813) 874-1852 or book an appointment online today!
