Other people may notice they are allergic to food. Food allergies are not as common as hay fever or skin allergies. Most food allergy symptoms develop within minutes to an hour after eating. Difficulty breathing and swallowing are two of the most common symptoms, others include itching of the mouth, vomiting, diarrhea, or abdominal pain. Many people confuse gastrointestinal symptoms with food allergies.

Helpful Resources: IgE Allergy Tests This web site provides information about IgE allergy tests. It discusses why you may need an allergy test, how it is preformed, and what you can expect from the results of having an allergy test. Allergy Skin and Blood Testing Procedures Webmd provides information about allergy skin and blood testing procedures. It discusses what you can expect from an allergy test and how they determine the allergen you are allergic to. Allergy Skin Tests This web site provides information about allergy skin tests. It discusses how the test works, why you are being tested, and what results will come from having an allergy skin test done. Skin Allergies If you suspect you may have skin allergies, this is a great web site to research. It identifies skin allergy causes, diagnoses, testing, and treatment methods. It is a great web site for anyone looking for additional information. Skin Tests This web site provides information about skin tests. You are able to view images to see how a skin test works. This web site is helpful in diagnosing skin allergies and methods used to treat skin allergies. Wikipedia- Food Allergy Wikipedia.org provides great information about food allergies. It describes what a food allergy is, what the common symptoms are, what methods are used to test for food allergies, and how to treat them. FDA The Food and Drug Administration created this web site to provide information about common food allergy symptoms, what causes food allergies and how you can treat your food allergy symptoms. What Allergies Are This is a great web site that defines what allergies are, what the symptoms are, and how you can treat them. If you suspect you may have allergies, this is a great web site to pinpoint your symptoms. Causes of Allergies If you suspect you may have allergies, this is a wonderful web site to refer to. It clearly explains what causes allergies, what they are, what the symptoms are, and how you can treat them. Allergy Information This web site provides information about allergies, why you get them, who is susceptible to allergies, and what common allergens are. It also provides information about treatment methods for allergies.

Other people can experience hives or eczema from the food allergens as they enter the blood stream. Many people develop asthma as a result of food allergies. Most people also experience lightheadedness, weakness, and anaphylaxis (a sudden drop in blood pressure). Those who experience anaphylaxis need immediate medical attention as this can be fatal if not treated quickly.

Many people experience itchy skin that can be caused by dry skin or other factors that are not related to skin allergies. Skin allergies typically occur when your skin comes in contact with an allergen that your skin deems as harmful to your body. Common symptoms include hives or rashes on your skin. For most people, the reaction occurs within 48 hours after the initial exposure. Other symptoms include: redness, swelling, blistering, and itching. Poison oak, ivy, and sumac are common perpetrators of skin allergies.
If you suspect you may have allergies, you should seek the advice of your doctor. Some doctors will require allergy tests to determine what particular allergen you are allergic to.

Skin Tests
There are 3 major types of skin tests: puncture, prick or scratch test, intradermal test, and patch test.

The puncture, prick or scratch test (percutaneous) test is the most commonly used test. Tiny drops of purified allergen are pricked or scratched into your skin's surface. Your doctor will then observe your skin to see if there are any reactions. Most people who need a skin test are found to be allergic to pollen, mold, dust mites, foods, insect venom, pet dander, and penicillin.

Intradermal test (intracutaneous) is when purified allergens are injected into the skin of your arm. Most doctors use this test if they suspect you are allergic to penicillin or insect venom.
Patch test (epicutaneous) is when a patch containing an allergen is applied to you skin. Most patients who have a patch test done are allergic to latex, medications, fragrances, preservatives, metal, resins, and hair dyes.

You typically will receive the results of the test before you leave your doctors office. A positive skin test indicates what you are allergic to and your doctor will recommend treatment options. Skin tests are reliable for diagnosis allergies to substances such as: pet dander, dust mites, and pollen. Food allergies are harder to diagnose as they may require blood testing or other testing procedures.

You may experience some redness and itching after a skin test is done. This is common and will subside within a few hours. Avoid scratching the skin as this may cause the redness to spread. Most itching can be relieved with hydrocortisone cream.

Food Allergy Tests
To diagnose a food allergy, your doctor will review your family's medical history to see if a particular food allergen runs in the family gene. Your doctor will also ask you questions about the types of food you are eating and the reactions you noticed to certain foods.

Most patients are told to keep a record of the contents of each meal they eat for a given period of time. This allows the doctor to see if reactions occurred during a given time period and what foods may be causing the allergies. Many doctors will then prescribe an "elimination diet". An elimination diet is when a doctor tells a patient not to eat a particular type of food to see if it is causing the food allergy. Then, the patient will resume eating the food, and if a reaction occurs, the doctor knows exactly what food is causing the food allergy.

Some doctors also use skin tests to determine food allergies. An extract of the suspected food is placed on the forearm or back and is scratched with a needle and observed for swelling or redness. A positive scratch test will indicate that the patient has the IgE that is specific for the food being tested.

Blood tests are done on patients when a skin test cannot be performed. The tests measure the presence of food-specific IgE in the blood of patients. A positive blood test will make the diagnosis of a specific food allergy.

A popular test being used to diagnose food allergies is called the food challenges. Various foods are placed in individual capsules without being marked as to what type of food it actually is. The patient swallows the capsule and the doctor will observe the patient to determine if an allergic reaction occurs.

Blood Test
Many patients will not require a blood test to determine the particular allergen that is causing them to have allergies. Some doctors are un-satisfied with the results from skin testing or food testing and may order a blood test. Many patients who are unable to have a skin test will need a blood test in order to determine what they are allergic to.

Allergy blood tests are looking for substances in the blood called antibodies. Antibodies are used in the immune system to protect our bodies against invaders such as allergens.

The most common blood test used is the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA, EAI). ELISA will measure the blood level of an antibody (IgE) that the body makes in response to allergens. People with higher levels of IgE usually have allergies or asthma.

There are other blood testing methods that may be used to provide more information, however ELISA is very effective in determining the particular allergen.

Before you have an allergy test done, be sure to follow your doctor's instructions. Many doctors will require you to stop taking certain medications as they can interfere with the results of an allergy test. Most medications take up to ten days to clear out of your system. Here are a few medications that will interfere with a skin allergy test:

• Over the counter antihistamines such as Benadryl and Claritin


• Prescription antihistamines such as Allegra


• Tricyclic antidepressants, doxeping and amitriptyline


• Heartburn medications such as Tagament and Zantac

With the testing methods constantly improving with technology, you can be sure that your test results will help diagnose your particular allergen. Once you know what is causing your allergies, it is easier to make efforts to avoid the allergen or take necessary medications or herbs to reduce your symptoms.

Tips for Reducing Allergens
The best solution for allergy relief is to avoid the particular allergen in the beginning. This is not always an easy task for most people. Here are some tips you can do to help reduce some of the allergens in your own home:

• Dust and vacuum weekly


• Remove carpets all together and replace them with hardwood floors or laminate floors.


• Cover your upholstered furniture in plastic.


• Use an air purifier to control odors, dust, pollen, mold, animal dander, and bacteria.


• Wash bedding and clothing often and store laundered fabrics in closed closets and drawers.


• Keep pets out of the home and wash them when needed.


• Keep your house temperature around 68-72 degrees. Colder nighttime temperatures promote better sleep for the individual with allergies.


• Clean areas that are prone to mold, such as the bathroom and basement, with proper anti-bacterial cleansers.


• Wipe kitchen counters with cleansers daily.


• Remove draperies from your home as they are prone to dust.


• Keep windows closed during times of high pollen counts.


• Replace air conditioner filters with allergy-free filters.