How do doctors test for allergies?
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Dr. Mehmet Oz answered:A "skin-prick test" can be the answer to one who has an unknown allergy. Watch as Dr. Oz and Dr. Bassett test an audience member for allergies.
A "skin-prick test" can be the answer to one who has an unknown allergy. Watch as Dr. Oz and Dr. Bassett test an audience member for allergies. More -
Dr. Jacob Teitelbaum answered:For sneezing/runny nose type inhalation allergies, standard skin testing works well (i.e., putting a drop of the stuff you're allergic to on the skin and making a tiny prick with a needle to see if the area turns red). For food allergies, skin testing and most blood tests are not reliable. The blood tests seem to almost randomly pick 30-40 foods and say you're allergic to them. Repeat the test another day and it may pick totally different foods that it says you're allergic to. Avoid these tests - they are a good way to make yourself nuts.
If you do not know what is causing your symptoms, an elimination diet for food and chemical allergies is a good idea. In this, you avoid common allergy producing foods and chemicals for 7-10 days and then retry them one at a time.
For sneezing/runny nose type inhalation allergies, standard skin testing works well (i.e., putting a drop of the stuff you're allergic to on the skin and making a tiny prick with a needle to see if the area turns red). For food allergies, skin... More
