An allergy is a hypersensitive disorder of the immune system. Allergic reaction occurs when a person’s immune system reacts to normally harmless substances in the environment and produce antibodies. Interaction of antibodies with allergens causes allergic symptoms. The substance that causes a reaction is called allergens.
Many allergens are air borne particles like dust mite or pollen which causes symptoms in areas of contact with air like eyes, nose or lungs.
Allergy Skin Testing is a method of testing for allergic antibodies. Allergic antibodies are produced by your immune system after repeated exposure to allergic substances (e.g. pollen, cat dander). Not all people have allergic antibodies and not everyone with allergies will produce antibodies to all allergic sources. Allergy skin testing helps to confirm which substances (if any) may be causing your allergic symptoms. The results of the skin tests will be correlated with your clinical history and description of allergy symptoms. Positive tests indicate the presence of allergic antibodies, but a positive skin test result does not necessarily indicate that the allergen will cause symptoms.
The substances that trigger a patient’s allergies are called allergens. Immunotherapy is a treatment where small amounts of these allergens are delivered by sublingually (under the tongue via allergy drops) to alter the patient’s immunity. Some doctors call this an “allergy vaccine,” and the goal is to develop tolerance to the allergens that cause your symptoms.
