5 Different Types of Skin Allergy Tests

An allergy happens when the immune system overreacts to a typically harmless substance or allergen. As common as they are, allergies can be tricky to figure out, let alone manage, on your own. If you keep waking up to unexplained rashes or suspect that the common cold isn’t to blame for your permanently runny nose or wonder if it’s normal for your mouth to itch that much after you eat fruit salad, then getting a skin allergy testing in Singapore might be the right move.

Here are the different types of skin allergy testing that you should know about:

Skin prick test

The most common test, and typically the first approach used to understand a patient’s symptoms, is a skin prick test. Skin prick testing has been used for over 100 years to test for the prevalence of allergies. In the last 20 years or so, the testing material has been more purified, so it’s more accurate now as a health screening procedure in Singapore.

The test only takes about 15 minutes to administer; allergic reactions, caused by a protein in the blood called IgE, are indicated by wheals, or red itchy bumps.

Intradermal test

In an intradermal test, an allergen is injected under the skin with a shot. This test is used when a skin prick test is negative but there’s still a reason to suspect an allergy. This method can test for reactions to environmental allergens and drugs, including penicillin and other antibiotics, but usually not food.

Ingestion test

An ingestion challenge tests for food and drug allergies. This test requires a patient to consume increasing amounts of a potential allergen by mouth. Then they’re observed for up to three hours for signs of an allergic reaction. More often than not, ingestion challenges are used to prove that a food or drug allergy is not present, rather than to confirm an allergy.

Blood tests

Blood tests called serum IgE tests can provide more detail about exactly how allergic a patient is to a particular item. This may offer insight into potential reaction severity or guide the likelihood of having tolerance to certain foods, for example, peanuts, baked milk or baked eggs.

Patch tests

Patch tests are used for allergic contact dermatitis or delayed food allergies, where symptoms don’t show up until at least a day after exposure to an allergen. Common allergens in patch testing include fragrance, ingredients in cosmetics, metals, and preservatives and chemicals.

If you are looking for a women's health clinic in Singapore, visit our website to get a consultation today.

Resource:
https://visual.ly/community/Infographics/business/5-different-types-skin-allergy-tests