Many patients with skin problems such as eczema and hives are also affected by food and environmental allergies. These allergies sometimes affect their skin disease, but even when they don’t, they can affect the person’s well-being. In addition to skin conditions, you may have food and environmental allergies if you suffer from
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Hay fever
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Food intolerance
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Joint pain
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Fatigue
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Hyperactivity
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Fluid retention
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Headache
At Aglow Dermatology in NYC, board-certified dermatologist Dr. Dina M. Strachan, MD, evaluates how allergies may relate to your skin symptoms and overall health. She offers comprehensive dermatology care to help patients manage both skin conditions and the underlying factors that may contribute to flare-ups.
Further reading: Do Food and Environmental Allergies Cause Eczema (opens in new tab)
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Doctor for Allergy Testing: Getting Started
If you are a current patient all you have to do is mention to the doctor that you are interested in allergy testing and she will be happy to discuss if it is appropriate. If you are new to our practice you must make a consultation to determine if allergy testing is right for you.
Allergy Testing Cost
Before we proceed with the testing we determine if your insurance will cover the entire cost, if you have any outstanding deductible, or if you would have to pay out-of-pocket.
Preparing for Allergy Testing
Before your appointment make sure you have stopped your antihistamines for at least 48 hours. We do not perform testing on anyone who is pregnant or on beta-blockers. If you have asthma we will discuss the severity and how that may affect your eligibility to be tested.
What to Expect at Allergy Testing
This is a skin prick test. There will be 40 environmental and 40 food antigens (proteins that cause an allergic reaction) that will be applied to your skin. We will then wait to see if there is a reaction.
How Long Does Allergy Testing Take?
The whole process takes about 15-30 minutes.
Allergy Testing Reactions
If it turns out that you are allergic to any of the substances you have been tested for, we will then discuss the next steps. For food allergy, this usually means avoiding that food. For environmental allergies, it may mean medical management or immunotherapy.
If you are wondering, “Where can I get an allergy test?” you can get one for food and environmental allergies at Aglow Dermatology. Contact us today at 212-627-1004 to schedule a consultation.