Do You Know Your Allergy Triggers? Get Tested and Know for Sure

More than 24 million Americans experience allergies and the uncomfortable and sometimes dangerous symptoms they cause. While there’s no complete cure for allergies, the good news is that they can be treated, and that begins by knowing your allergy triggers.

At Feminine Urgicare, we use advanced allergy testing to help find the cause of allergies so they can be managed and prevented. Here's why knowing your allergy triggers is so important and what we can do to help.

The importance of knowing your triggers

Allergies happen when your immune system mistakenly identifies harmless substances, like pollen or dust, as dangerous germs and reacts too strongly as a result.

That reaction is what causes allergy symptoms like sneezing, congestion, itchy eyes, and rashes, along with more serious problems, like trouble breathing.

The substances that cause allergies are called allergens or “triggers,” and they can vary from one person to another.

Some triggers can be seasonal — pollen and mold are two good examples. Others can be present in environments all year round. Dust mites, pet dander, and certain foods are common year-round triggers for many people.

While sneezing and itchy eyes might seem like little more than an inconvenience, some allergies can cause life-threatening reactions, and even milder reactions take a toll on your immune system and your quality of life.

Knowing your specific triggers can help you take steps to avoid them and to reduce or eliminate the reactions.

Allergy testing: The basics

Some people can identify triggers on their own simply by monitoring their reactions when they come in contact with specific substances, like foods.

Keeping an allergy journal can help by recording your symptoms and what you were doing in the moments before those symptoms began.

But for many people, identifying triggers isn’t so straightforward, leaving them struggling with ongoing symptoms that can take a real toll on their activities and even their emotional energy levels. That’s when allergy testing can help.

Allergy testing pinpoints the substances causing your symptoms by exposing you to tiny amounts of those substances, then closely monitoring your reaction.

Three types of tests

Skin prick tests are a very common type of testing. We place tiny amounts of various allergens on your skin, then cover the areas with a bandage. We examine your skin a few minutes later to look for signs of allergic reaction, like a rash or redness.

Blood tests (subdermal tests) are similar to skin prick tests. Instead of placing the allergen on your skin, we inject a tiny amount under your skin to look for reactions.

During a patch test, we place an allergen on a special patch that you wear on your skin for a few days. Then you come back to the office, where we remove the patch and examine your skin for signs of reaction.

Managing allergies

Testing provides us with the information we need to develop a plan based on your individual needs. Ideally, you’ll want to do all you can to avoid contact with your triggers. Steps that can help include:

Knowing the daily pollen count (check out Pollen.com)
Keeping windows closed on high-pollen days
Avoiding outdoor activities on high-pollen days
Vacuuming often
Using an air purifier
Washing bedclothes in hot water on a frequent basis
Showering and changing clothes after being outdoors
Using a dehumidifier in damp, mold-prone areas

While avoidance is the simplest way to avoid reactions, it’s not foolproof, and it’s not always practical.

The next step in managing allergies is to use allergy medication. Over-the-counter products, like antihistamines or saline nasal sprays, may be helpful for mild symptoms, but for moderate to severe symptoms, we can provide prescription alternatives.

In addition to relieving symptoms once they occur, these medicines may help you avoid reactions entirely when taken before exposure.

Finally, immunotherapy can help you manage severe allergies, including many food allergies, by exposing you to gradually larger “doses” of the allergen over time. If you can benefit from immunotherapy, we can refer you to a specialist who can help.

Find out what’s really behind your allergies

Don’t let allergies run your life. If you’re ready to find real, lasting relief for your symptoms, we can help. To learn more, request an appointment online or over the phone with the team at Feminine Urgicare in Paramus and Clifton, New Jersey, today.