Allergy Patch Testing Specialist in Arlington VA

During your visit for an allergy patch test at Amerimmune Clinic, our skilled healthcare professionals will apply small amounts of potential allergens to patches, which are then placed on your back or arm. These patches are left in place for 48 hours to ensure accurate results.

Our team will begin by preparing your skin, ensuring it is clean and free from oils or lotions that might interfere with the test. The patches, each containing a small chamber of a specific allergen, are secured with hypoallergenic tape. To maintain the integrity of the test, it’s important to keep the patches dry, so we advise avoiding activities like showering or heavy exercise during this period.

After 48 hours, you’ll return to Amerimmune Clinic for the initial reading. Our healthcare providers will carefully remove the patches and examine your skin for any reactions, such as redness, swelling, or blisters, which may indicate a positive response to an allergen. However, this is just the first step in the evaluation process.

A follow-up reading is scheduled 72 to 96 hours after the patches are first applied. This delayed reading is crucial for detecting any slower-developing reactions. Our team will assess your skin again and discuss any changes since the initial reading.

Once we have a complete understanding of your test results, our healthcare providers will discuss them with you in detail. We’ll explain which substances, if any, caused a reaction and provide guidance on how to avoid these allergens. Additionally, we may offer treatment options to help manage any allergic reactions you might have.

It’s normal to experience some skin irritation where positive reactions occur, and this usually subsides within a few days. However, if you experience severe discomfort or widespread reactions, please contact Amerimmune Clinic. Our team is ready to recommend topical treatments or other interventions to alleviate your symptoms.

At Amerimmune Clinic, our priority is your health and well-being. Allergy patch testing is just one of the many ways we strive to provide personalized and effective care for managing allergic conditions.

Our team of expert healthcare professionals applies small amounts of potential allergens onto patches, which are strategically placed on the patient’s skin, typically on the back. These patches remain in place for approximately 48 hours. During this time, we advise our patients to avoid activities such as heavy exercise or bathing to prevent sweating or displacement of the patches, ensuring the most accurate results.

Once the 48-hour period concludes, our specialized healthcare providers carefully remove the patches. However, this marks only the beginning of the evaluation process. We prioritize thoroughness, and thus, a detailed follow-up appointment is typically scheduled 72 to 96 hours after the initial application.

The entire process, from the initial application to obtaining final results, spans approximately three to four days. We emphasize the importance of adhering to our healthcare providers’ instructions throughout the testing period to ensure precise outcomes. Should any severe reactions occur, we urge our patients to contact our clinic immediately for prompt assistance.

If you’ve recently started using new skincare products, cosmetics, or medications and have noticed changes in your skin, our patch testing can help determine if these new ingredients are responsible for any adverse reactions. Additionally, if you have a history of eczema or other skin conditions that flare up without a clear trigger, our testing can uncover potential environmental or chemical allergens contributing to your symptoms.

Patients working in industries with frequent exposure to chemicals, such as hairdressing, healthcare, or construction, may also benefit from patch testing to identify occupational allergens. At Amerimmune Clinic, our experienced team of allergists is here to provide personalized guidance based on your health history and symptoms, ensuring you receive the comprehensive care you deserve.

Allergy Patch Testing: This test is an essential diagnostic tool for identifying contact dermatitis, a condition where allergic reactions occur due to direct skin contact with specific allergens. We meticulously apply small amounts of different potential allergens to patches that are placed on a patient’s back. These patches remain in place for 48 hours, allowing us to detect delayed-type hypersensitivity reactions that might not appear immediately but develop hours or even days after exposure. Our experienced team evaluates the skin at 48 hours and may conduct further assessments at 72 to 96 hours to ensure accurate diagnosis and personalized treatment plans.

Skin Prick Testing: For patients experiencing immediate allergic reactions, such as those associated with hay fever, asthma, or certain food allergies, skin prick testing is our go-to diagnostic method. In this procedure, we place a small drop of a suspected allergen on the skin, typically on the forearm or back, and gently prick the skin through the drop. Our specialists observe the reaction after about 15 to 20 minutes, looking for any raised, red bumps that indicate an immediate hypersensitivity reaction.

By offering both allergy patch testing and skin prick testing, Amerimmune Clinic ensures that we accurately identify both delayed and immediate allergic responses. Our holistic approach, combined with a thorough review of each patient’s clinical history and symptoms, allows us to tailor our diagnostic and treatment strategies to each individual’s needs.

Whether you’re dealing with persistent skin rashes or sudden allergic reactions, our dedicated team is here to provide you with the most effective allergy testing and management solutions. For more information, contact us or request an appointment online. We are conveniently located at 1600 Wilson Blvd, Suite A #320, Arlington, VA 22209. We serve patients from Arlington VA, Falls Church VA, Alexandria VA, McLean VA, Annandale VA, and surrounding areas.