What To Expect: Allergy
skin testing involves a little plastic prick/scratch to a series of
allergies on your back for airborne and food allergies. For insect
sting allergies and to double-check certain airborne allergies, a
series of tiny needle pokes just under the skin of your arm is done
(like a mini-TB skin test). For young children we do limited testing to
minimize discomfort, including the use of a multitester (one
application covers 10 different tests at one time). A positive test
results in a mosquitoe bite-like area where the test was applied.
Preprocedure: Please
hold all prescription ANTIHISTAMINES ONE WEEK before testing
(FEXOFENADINE, CLARINEX, XYZAL) as well as LORATADINE(Claritin, etc)
and CETIRIZINE (Zyrtec, etc). Hold other over the counter
antihistamines 3 DAYS prior (benadryl, chlorpheniramine, etc). DO NOT
STOP ASTHMA MEDICINES, OR NON-ALLERGY MEDICATIONS like high blood
pressure or heart medicines. DO NOT STOP nasal sprays or singulair.
Hold Zantac or other similar reflux medicine 2 days prior (Prilosec is
OK to take). CALL OUR OFFICE IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS. IF YOU ARE TOO
UNCOMFORTABLE (particularly patients with hives), RESTART YOUR
ANTIHISTAMINE AND WE WILL REVIEW OPTIONS WHEN YOU COME IN FOR YOUR
APPOINTMENT.
Postprocedure: A
small amount of steroid cream and an dose of an antihistamine may be
used for positive the skin tests, and can help if contiued irritation
over the following day or 2.
