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More than 9 out of 10 people with allergies are sensitive to at least one of these. To determine which specific substances are triggering your allergies, your allergist/immunologist can test your skin or your blood by using tiny amounts of commonly troublesome allergens. As a general rule, inhaled allergens such as dust mites, tree, grass or weed pollens will produce respiratory symptoms and ingested (food) allergies will produce skin and/or gastrointestinal symptoms or anaphylaxis. However, both types of allergens (ingested and inhaled) can produce the full spectrum of allergy symptoms. In order to deal with allergy symptoms most effectively it is first necessary to determine what is causing your allergy. For instance, you don't have to get rid of your cat if you are allergic to dust mites but not cats. Allergy tests provide concrete specific information about what you are and are not allergic to.
Once you have identified the specific allergen(s) causing your symptoms, a treatment plan can be designed to control or eliminate the allergy symptoms. Common allergies come from:- Waste products from dust mites (tiny bugs you can't see, that live in your home);
- Proteins from furry pets, which are found in their skin secretions (dander), saliva and urine (it's actually not their hair);
- Molds in your home or in the air outside;
- Tree, grass and weed pollen;
- Cockroach droppings.
More serious allergic reactions can come from:- Venoms from the stings of bees, wasps, yellow jackets, fire ants and other stinging insects;
- Foods, such as nuts;
- Natural rubber latex, such as gloves or balloons;
- Drugs, such as penicillin.
Allergy tests find which of these proteins you may be reacting to. Other more controversial types of allergy testing methods include: applied kinesiology (allergy testing through muscle relaxation), cytotoxicity testing, urine autoinjection, skin titration (Rinkel method), provocative and neutralization (subcutaneous) testing or sublingual provocation.
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