Allergy Testing & Treatment

The allergy test is not painful.  A comb-like device gently pricks or abrades the skin’s surface.  After the test is performed, it takes about 15 minutes to develop.  A positive test will appear as a raised, red bump on the skin, similar to a mosquito bite.

The test takes approximately 30 minutes to administer and 20 minutes to register the results.

Anyone can be tested for allergies. Blood tests for allergens can be performed at any age (either a full panel or limited panel depending on age) and also available for patients who are not able to hold medications (some of those medications include but aren’t limited to heart, mood stabilizing, depression/anxiety medications as well as medications to treat allergy symptoms). Skin Prick testing is primarily done on kids ages 5 and up but will be at doctor’s discretion if testing should be done younger than age 5.

You will be tested for the most frequent, geographically specific, seasonal and perennial allergens in our area.  We will test for allergens from dust mites, pet  dander, trees, grass and weed pollens, molds and cockroach allergens. You can be tested (by blood) for food allergies such as red meat allergy, fruits, nuts, seafood, dairy, grains

Allergen immunotherapy, commonly known as allergy shots, is a form of treatment aimed at decreasing your sensitivity to substances called allergens. Immunotherapy involves introducing increasing amounts of an allergen over an extended period of time.

The course of immunotherapy varies by individual. The initial full course of immunotherapy is one to three years, but symptom relief can and often occurs after one year of therapy. Completing three to five years of therapy has shown long-term benefits.

Relief from allergies varies by individual, however, relief can occur within the first few months of therapy.

In order to achieve the most accurate test results, you should discontinue any antihistamines for at least three days or longer, depending on the medication, prior to allergy testing.  You may safely resume the use of antihistamines after your test, and you may continue them once you begin immunotherapy.

One in five people suffer from symptomatic allergies.  These symptoms can vary greatly from minor discomfort to severe disability.  The cost of allergies can be significant when factoring in lost productivity and days off from work or school.  The goal of immunotherapy is to decrease or eliminate your allergies.

Yes, immunotherapy is very effective in greatly decreasing or even eliminating the symptoms of allergies.  A vast majority of patients receive a noticeable reduction in allergy symptoms or a complete cure.

Allergens are selected based on an assessment performed at your appointment and also the reaction to specific seasonal and perennial allergens that you have been tested for.

Following your immunotherapy schedule will help insure you get the most benefit from your immunotherapy program.

Limiting your immunotherapy to just the spring and summer does not give your immune system time to adapt to allergens which cause you to have symptoms. Immunotherapy injections are required year-round to experience the long-term benefits.