Sometimes a person will exhibit symptoms that suggest sensitivity or an allergy to a substance to which he or she has been exposed. Potential allergies include dust, pet dander, certain foods, or specific medications. To determine whether a person truly is allergic and should avoid the substance requires medical confirmation by a knowledgeable dermatologist using patch testing. Anyone who suspects an allergy should discuss the advisability of patch testing with a certified dermatologist.
What you should expect regarding skill allergies and your dermatologist visit in NYC
If a dermatologist feels that patch testing may be to the patient’s benefit, the doctor will arrange a patch test in which small amounts of the suspected allergen is injected under the person’s skin. If a rash develops, an allergy is likely, and the doctor will determine which steps to follow next. More testing may be needed to confirm the diagnosis or to see if the patient develops an allergic reaction to related substances. Or the doctor may prescribe allergy shots to de-sensitize the patient to the allergen. Sometimes all that is needed is avoidance or allergy medication.
Benefits of a dermatologist-administered skin allergy patch test
Skin allergy patch testing is a convenient and safe way to help patients determine if they are truly allergic to a specific substance. Following confirmation, appropriate treatment can be given to help the patient avoid serious allergic reactions in the future or become desensitized to the allergenic substance. This type of testing is extremely important if the patient is likely to be exposed to the allergen in the future, for example, medical antibiotics or certain foods, like peanut butter or eggs. Rather than wait for a serious, potentially life-threatening reaction to occur, patch testing can help the doctor find out beforehand and advise the patient to avoid the substance or become able to tolerate it.
