Skin prick allergy testing is an accurate procedure used to identify the substance causing an individual’s allergic reactions. Usually taking less than 30 minutes, the test is commonly used to detect seasonal allergies experienced by many in McKinney, Prosper, Southlake and across North Texas. While skin prick testing is the most common method for diagnosing allergies, it won’t always be appropriate in every circumstance. After assessing your symptoms and medical history, your North Texas allergist will determine the best allergy testing approach.
What Are Some of the Allergens Diagnosed With Skin Prick Allergy Testing?
One of the main benefits of skin prick allergy testing is the ability to test for multiple allergens in one session. Depending on the patient, an allergy testing center may test for 20–40 substances during an appointment. The most common substances tested for include the following.
1. Tree Pollen Allergy Testing
Tree pollen is most pervasive during late winter and spring, and in our North Texas region, pollen from oak, cedar, elm, pecan and ash are common allergens. While an individual may experience pollen allergy symptoms for only a few months, seasonal allergies do occur throughout the year. This means that different pollen types are released into the air as the seasons change, making skin prick tests critical in narrowing down a person’s allergy triggers.
2. Grass Pollen Allergy Testing
Grass pollen allergies are most often experienced from late spring to early summer. A typical skin prick allergy testing panel will include Bermuda grass, ryegrass and Johnson grass, as well as the other varieties found in our North Texas area.
3. Weed Pollen Allergy Testing
Weed pollen is a well-known cause of allergic reactions, with symptoms most likely to occur from late summer through the end of autumn. Allergy testing is important in detecting the allergen triggering this response, and allows for personalized treatment. Of course, many people are familiar with ragweed allergy, as ragweed pollen causes uncomfortable symptoms and travels long distances to do so. However, skin prick tests also diagnose allergies to pigweed, lamb’s quarters and more.
4. Mold Allergy Testing
Mold spores are a year-round allergen, with various types of mold found both indoors and outdoors. Alternaria and the Cladosporium are two examples of mold types often included in skin prick allergy testing panels. During warmer weather, these airborne allergens frequently trigger allergy symptoms.
5. Dust Mite Allergy Testing
Dust mite allergies can affect people throughout the year, although they thrive in warm and humid conditions. Due to the widespread presence of dust in many indoor environments, skin prick allergy testing is a vital tool to pinpoint dust mites as the cause of an allergy. As with all seasonal allergies, diagnosing an allergy trigger allows your allergist to provide a dust mite allergy treatment plan to ease the worst symptoms.
Diagnose Seasonal Allergies With Skin Prick Allergy Testing
At TexasAllergyMD we help patients relieve allergy symptoms with fast, accurate allergy testing services. When you or your child have the signs of an allergy, visit one of our allergy treatment centers in McKinney/Prosper or Southlake. Call (469) 375-1525 or request an appointment today.
