A reaction the body experiences to a certain food or substance is known as an allergy. Allergies occur frequently. More than 1 in 4 persons in the UK are believed to experience them at a certain point in their life. Children are especially prone to them. While many allergies are permanent, some allergies disappear as children age. Adults are able to develop allergies to items they previously had no reaction to. Can I get allergy testing near me in Leeds? Continue reading for more information.
What are the most common allergies?
- Tree and grass pollen: Hay fever is an allergy to them (allergic rhinitis).
- Dust mites.
- Animal dander, flakes of skin, or hair flakes.
- Food, especially nuts, fruit, seafood, eggs, and milk from cows
- Stings and bites from insects.
- Drugs, such as ibuprofen, aspirin, and certain antibiotics.
- Latex: Condoms and some gloves are made of latex.
- Moulds: These can expel tiny airborne particles that you can breathe in.
- Chemicals found in household products, such as those in detergents and hair dyes.
Most of these allergens are generally harmless to people who are not allergic to them.
Is there allergy testing near me in Leeds?
Inform your pharmacist about your symptoms, when they arise, how frequently they happen, and whether anything does seem to trigger them if you believe you have an allergy. For minor allergies that have a known cause, your pharmacist can provide guidance and treatment.
You can be referred to a specialised allergy clinic for allergy testing if your allergy is more serious or it’s not clear what you’re allergic to.
Types of allergy testing in Leeds
Skin prick testing
One of the most popular allergy tests is skin prick testing.
It entails applying a drop of a liquid containing a possible allergen on the forearm. The skin beneath the drop is then delicately pierced.
Blood tests
Skin prick tests can be substituted for, or used in conjunction with blood testing to help identify common allergies.
Your blood is drawn, and a sample is examined for certain antibodies your immune system made in reaction to an allergen.
Patch tests
A form of eczema referred to as contact dermatitis can form on your skin after coming into contact with an allergen. Consequently, an evaluation is done using patch tests. Special metal discs with the suspected allergen added are then taped to the skin for 48 hours while reactions are observed.
Elimination diet allergy testing near me in Leeds
In the event that a food allergy is suspected in you, you could be told to refrain from eating the food to see if your symptoms get better.
You might then be asked to eat the dish once more a few weeks later to see whether you experience another reaction.
Challenge testing
A test known as a food challenge may occasionally be performed to identify a food allergy.
You are exposed to the food you believe you are allergic to in progressively larger amounts during the test to observe your reaction.
Allergy testing kits
We offer reliable allergy testing kits to help get to the bottom of your troublesome symptoms so that you can get back to feeling like yourself again.
A trained professional with thorough knowledge of your symptoms and a medical background should interpret allergy tests.
Visit your nearest Knights Pharmacy branch today to treat your allergies.
Find Your Branch Allergy Testing
This post was written on behalf of Knights Pharmacy by Pharmacy Mentor
