A skin allergy is an allergic reaction to a harmless substance, like wool, pollen, soap, or plants. The immune system reacts to this trigger and attacks to eliminate it from your body. As a result, an allergic skin rash develops, which is often red and irritating. Furthermore, skin allergies Silver Spring constitute several allergic abnormalities, such as contact dermatitis, atopic dermatitis, and hives.
Various tests for diagnosing skin allergies
To diagnose a skin allergy condition, your specialist may recommend the following tests:
1. Skin prick test
If the clinician suspects you are allergic to something, they will apply a little of it on your skin and softly scratch it. If your body reacts to it, you typically have a rash, itching, and redness within 15 minutes. Also, you may see a hive. This indicates an allergy, particularly if the hive is huge. Your skin might be irritated by things it is not allergic to, so the skin prick test is just one piece of information for you and your doctor. Additionally, it doesn’t necessarily imply you have an allergy, even if your skin reacts.
2. Blood examinations (specific IgE)
The physician takes your blood sample and sends it to the laboratory. The lab will place the suspected allergen into your blood and look for IgE, which your blood produces to attack the allergens. However, this exam is only sometimes reliable since it will frequently show that there is an allergy when, in fact, there is not one. This is known as a “false positive.”
3. Challenge test
While at the doctor’s office, you inhale or consume a small quantity of allergen so they can see whether you react. The clinician is present to observe and assist if you have a life-threatening response. Furthermore, this examination is used to look for food or medicine allergies.
4. Intradermal (under the skin) skin examination
If the skin prick doesn’t induce a reaction, this exam is employed. For the intradermal skin test, the clinician or nurse injects some allergens into your skin and monitors the reaction after a particular time.
5. Patch exam
This examination assesses for allergic contact dermatitis. Your doctor applies a small quantity of allergen on your skin, wraps it with a bandage, and leaves it to sit for 2 to 4 days. The doctor then examines for evidence of a reaction, generally a rash under the bandage.
How to treat skin allergies
Therapy for skin allergies depends on the kind of rash you have. For instance, eczema responds to topical ointments and moisturizers to minimize inflammation. Conversely, hives may be managed with antihistamines. Talk to your healthcare professional about your rash and suitable therapy.
Skin allergies may be quite uncomfortable and cause various irritating symptoms. Also, it can take a while to know what causes your skin allergies and what you must do to control your disorder. However, understanding the fundamentals may help you accurately identify the most likely culprit and choose the best therapy approach with your healthcare professional. Call the Allergy & Asthma Clinic of Maryland or book your appointment online to determine which skin allergy treatments suit you.
