• Intradermal Testing is a more sensitive test compared to skin prick testing. It provides a more detailed insight to help diagnose environmental and venom allergens. It involves an injection of a small amount of allergen under the skin’s surface and within 15 min a wheal and flare reaction may occur for individuals who are allergic. This reaction does quickly resolve with the application of a topical steroid and taking an oral antihistamine.

• What to Expect: intradermal testing is applied only to the arms and typically is only conducted after skin prick testing has already been administered and the more specific indication is required. Intradermal testing is slightly more invasive and consists of a very small injection of the diluted allergen right under the skin’s surface. This forms a small raised bump, and if your body reacts to the allergen, a similar wheal and flare response to the skin prick testing is displayed. The same as skin-prick testing, intradermal testing reactions are short-term and often resolve after a corticosteroid cream application or oral antihistamine.

• How to Prepare: we recommend that patients stay off all antihistamines at least 5 days prior to their skin prick testing visit. This includes a combination of antihistamine tablets, nasal sprays, and eye drops. Some antidepressants and supplements may also contain antihistamines.

• Prick-Prick Testing is an effective method to diagnose a specific type of food allergy called oral allergy syndrome whereby due to cross-reactivity between pollens with certain fruits, vegetables, grains, and nuts patients commonly develop itching to the mouth when consuming raw versions of these foods. Patients bring in the particular fruit or vegetable they are allergic to and we prick the actual food and then prick the skin and wait 15 min to see if there is any localized reaction.

• What to Expect: since prick-prick testing is often done to a small number of fruits or vegetables that we need to check sensitivity for, it is conducted on the forearm or back. Similar to skin-prick testing, a small, non-invasive, prick is used to first poke the allergen on the surface and then to prick the skin to expose the skin directly to the allergen. If there is a positive reaction, a wheal and flare reaction develops, which often looks like a small red bump with some symptoms of redness or itchiness. The reaction subsides quickly with the help of corticosteroid cream and an antihistamine tablet.

• How to Prepare: we recommend that patients stay off all antihistamines at least 5 days prior to their skin prick testing visit. This includes a combination of antihistamine tablets, nasal sprays, and eye drops. Some antidepressants and supplements may also contain antihistamines.
  

Our physicians have curated a comprehensive patch testing panel to test for some of the most common chemicals including metals and ones found in cosmetics. We employ chemicals suggested by the North American Contact Dermatitis Society in addition to much more. The patch is non-invasive and is placed on a patient’s back that involves 2 visits for the reading of results in the same week after application. After identifying the allergen in question, we also provide you a PDF file that is sub-categorized with a thorough list of products you are able to purchase that will not contain these chemicals.

• What to Expect: our patches are made of a non-allergic adhesive material with individual wells that contain the different allergens we are testing. The patch is applied to the back, similar to a sticker or band aid. Depending on which allergens you are testing for, you may test for one or multiple patches at once. Regardless of the number of patches applied, the process takes up to 3 days, with one day dedicated to application and a separate follow-up appointment the same week to check for reactions. Because the reactions must be observed over this 3 day duration, you may not shower or exercise during this time. Patients may purchase an optional PatchProtect adhesive that gives the patient the ability to do low intensity exercise or take a light shower during the week of chemical patch testing for an out-of-pocket fee. Positive reactions will typically be characterized by some redness, erythema, or small bumps. The severity of these reactions helps determine exactly how severe the allergy may be.