Environmental allergy testing: What to expect and how to prepare

The warmer months often breed allergens like pollen and mold, which can trigger unpleasant and sometimes dangerous allergic reactions. So before you lace up your hiking boots and head outside, read on to learn about the benefits of allergy testing and the precautions you should take to enjoy your time in the sun.

When to test for allergies

Dr. Justin Babbel is an allergy and immunology specialist at Revere Health who highlighted the most common allergy symptoms he sees in patients:

“Nasal allergy symptoms can be very bothersome.” Dr. Babbel said. “These symptoms include a runny nose, stuffy nose, sneezing, and itchy eyes.”

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, especially after being outside, you may want to consider making an appointment for an allergy test.

Testing options

“Revere Health Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology offers skin prick testing for environmental allergens,” Dr. Babbel explained. “Skin testing is more sensitive than blood testing and is the preferred way to diagnose environmental allergies.”

Testing options can include:

• Prick test or scratch test
• Intradermal test
• Tests for animals, pollens, and other environmental allergies.

What should I expect from an appointment?

The first thing your doctor will do is review your medical history to consider your overall health and experiences with past allergens. Dr. Babbel then detailed the process of testing for a variety of different allergies:

We check for the common environmental allergens, which include pollens from trees, grasses, and weeds, as well as molds, dust mites, and a variety of animals,” he said. “We then create a tailored medication regimen and discuss with patients if they would be good candidates for allergy immunotherapy injections. This is where we change the immune system to no longer recognize all of these potential allergens as threats.

Ongoing allergic reactions can cause unnecessary discomfort and prevent you from enjoying everyday activities. Revere Health’s Allergy, Asthma & Immunology specialists treat patients suffering from allergic and immunologic conditions, such as sinus and eye allergies, contact skin allergies, food allergies, drug and vaccine allergies, allergies to bee stings, hives, swelling, allergic reactions, anaphylaxis, and many more complex conditions.

Call us today so we can create an individualized treatment plan and improve your allergy symptoms.