Hello, my name is Simon. I am a 59-year-old man who lives alone in downtown Perth. I am pleased to say that I have never had to spend a night in a hospital. This is because I know how to take care of myself. When I was growing up my grandpa often used to tell me that if you eat well and exercise, you will live a long life. He died aged 95, so he must have known something. However, it was only when I became friends with a doctor, that I discovered all the other things I could do to stay healthy. I decided to start this blog to encourage others to look after their health.
If you are suffering from an annoying skin condition and you have not been able to find a cure so far, you may be suffering from a degree of frustration. This type of condition is notoriously difficult to diagnose, and you will invariably need to see a specialist, such as a dermatologist, in order to make some headway in the search for a diagnosis. Much will depend on the nature of the condition, but several different strategies may be used to try and pinpoint the source and recommend a course of action. One solution could be a skin prick test but if you've never heard of this before, you may be wondering what it is.
Allergic Reaction
Sometimes, people have a reaction to a specific substance that can cause skin issues to materialise. This may be something that they eat or drink, that they breathe in or that they touch. When they're exposed to it, the substance leads to a rash or other skin condition. To check for these suspect substances, a dermatologist may recommend that you have an allergy skin test.
Getting Ready
In the vast majority of cases, this type of test is perfectly safe for adults or children, but you will need to talk with your doctor or specialist before you go ahead. They will want to know whether you have ever had a severe allergic reaction to anything and will also want to know if you are taking any medications that could trigger a false test result. These may include something as simple as an antihistamine. Always talk with your doctor first before you discontinue anything in advance of a test.
Identification
The skin prick test is used by the experts to confirm if you have an allergy, rather than to diagnose exactly what it is. It is intended to identify an immediate allergic reaction rather than something that is delayed (such as contact dermatitis).
How It Works
Typically, a droplet of a suspected allergen will be placed onto the skin inside the forearm, and your skin will then be pricked so that the solution enters the body. If there is an allergy, the area will become slightly inflamed and a bit itchy shortly thereafter, and the dermatologist will be able to record the outcome.
Considering the Test
Talk with your doctor to determine if a skin prick test could be advantageous in your case. Hopefully, it will help you to get to the bottom of the problem so that you can take steps to recover.
For more information on skin prick testing, contact a company in your area like Darwin Dermatology.
Share25 September 2019
