Allergy Skin Testing Atlanta, Conyers, & Lawrenceville, GA

Identifying and Avoiding the Cause of Your Allergy is Important for You to Feel Better. The Allergy and Asthma Center Offers Skin Testing in Atlanta, Conyers & Lawrenceville, GA to Diagnose and Help Treat Your Allergies So You Can Feel Better. Contact Allergy & Asthma Center Today to Schedule a Consultation Appointment. We Look Forward to Hearing From You.

If you break out in hives or experience an itchy or runny nose when you’re not sick, you may have allergies. While it’s possible to guess what your allergens are based on what you’ve come in contact with, this isn’t always the most effective way to identify your allergens. Not to mention, in some cases, it could be a possibility of more than one item. The Allergy and Asthma Center, serving Atlanta, Conyers, Lawrenceville, and the nearby GA area, supplies you with the option of skin allergy testing, so you can be certain of what your allergies are.

Preparing for Your Skin Test

Generally, you don’t have to do much to prep for a skin allergy test. However, you may need to refrain from taking certain medications a few days prior to your test. If we conduct a patch test, you may need to refrain from taking your medications until we read the results. For example, you’ll need to avoid taking any allergy medications like diphenhydramine because it could hinder the outcome.

General Information About Skin Testing

We use a liquid form of potential allergens. It’s not concentrated enough that it sets off a major reaction. The solution will cause a minor skin reaction, which helps us identify if you have any allergies. Generally, we can test for common airborne allergens and foods. Some examples include the following:

• Mold
• Dust mites
• Pet dander
• Pollen
• Eggs
• Milk

Types of Allergy Skin Tests

We may perform a scratch test. After we thoroughly cleanse the area with alcohol, we expose your skin to different types of potential allergens. Then, we use a specialized tool to gently scratch your skin and allow the solution to soak in. Approximately, 10 to 15 minutes later, we check to see if you had any kind of reaction.

Our allergist might conduct an intradermal allergy test, which we begin in the same as the scratch test – by cleaning your skin. For this test, however, we use injections that we place directly under your skin. In about 10 to 15 minutes, we evaluate the site to see if you had any type of reaction.

The final skin allergy test we might conduct is a patch test. This one takes the longest because it requires two visits. On your first visit, we apply patches on the area that consist of your potential allergen. In at least two days from your initial appointment, we ask you to come back to see if you had any type of site reaction where the patches were.

Side Effects of an Allergy Skin Test

Most people don’t have a serious reaction to the allergy test. They may have some irritation, or the site might break out in a rash. Often, if a person has an allergic reaction, the site will swell up like an insect bite would.

While it’s rare, some people do have a systemic reaction to an allergen we place on the skin. If this occurs, you may experience lightheadedness or have difficulty breathing. You might develop a fever or have a widespread rash. You could have swelling of your tongue, lips, or throat. You might even have difficulty swallowing. If you have any of these symptoms in our office, we’ll address the situation.

Discover what’s causing your allergy symptoms by contacting The Allergy and Asthma Center at:

The Allergy & Asthma Center Locations:

Lawrenceville
Address: 565 Old Norcross Rd. Lawrenceville, GA, 30046
Hours: Mon – Thur: 8:30am – 5:00pm
Call Us

Atlanta
Address: 2987 Clairmont Rd #175, Atlanta, GA 30329
Hours: Mon, Tue & Thur: 8:30am – 5:00pm, Fri: 8:30am – 4:00pm
Call Us

Conyers
Address: 1755 Parker Rd, Suite A120 Conyers, GA, 30094
Hours: Mon – Thur : 8:30am – 5:00pm, Fri: 8:30 – 4:00pm
Call Us