Allergy Testing & Treatment

You don’t have to suffer through the sneezing, itching, and runny nose of allergy season. The experienced doctors at Austin Medical Group in Austin, Texas, provide allergy testing and treatment to identify your triggers and reduce your symptoms. Whether you’re suffering from seasonal allergies or year-round symptoms, call Austin Medical Group or book an appointment online to find relief today.

Allergy Testing Treatment Q & A

What are allergies?

Your immune system’s job is to protect you from harm. When it perceives a threat, it produces a physical reaction in defense. These reactions can take place in the airways, digestive system, sinuses, or skin. When your body’s immune system overreacts to a substance that’s not a threat, an allergic reaction is taking place.

Allergic reactions can vary in severity from minor to life-threatening.

What are the symptoms of an allergic reaction?

Allergic symptoms can vary depending on what is triggering your reaction. Common allergic reactions include:

  • Rash
  • Swelling
  • Sneezing
  • Coughing
  • Runny nose
  • Watery eyes
  • Shortness of breath
  • Itchy eyes, nose, or mouth

Most allergic reactions can include hives and itchiness all over the body. In severe cases, allergic reactions can cause anaphylaxis, a life-threatening condition that requires immediate medical attention.

What triggers allergic reactions?

A variety of harmless substances can cause an allergic response from your immune system, even medications, and food. Common environmental, or airborne, triggers often include:

  • Pollen
  • Mold
  • Dust mites
  • Pet dander

You can also experience allergic reactions to synthetic substances like latex and from insect bites. Your risks of having allergies are higher if you have a family history of allergies or asthma.

What is allergy testing?

Austin Medical Group offers allergy testing to identify your specific allergy triggers accurately. This precise approach enables your doctor to provide an effective treatment strategy. For your convenience, your tests are performed on-site without the need for a specialist.

During your appointment, your doctor reviews your symptoms and your personal allergy risks to determine most appropriate testing for your individual needs. Allergy testing typically takes the form of either a skin or a blood test.

Skin tests
Allergy skin tests can help identify your specific allergy triggers. During a scratch test, your doctor lightly scratches your skin and applies a specific allergen to look for an allergic response.

Blood tests
Allergy blood tests are used to measure the IgE (immunoglobulin E) in your blood. IgE is the antibody your immune system makes to fight off perceived threats. Allergy blood tests can determine whether you have allergies, but they cannot identify what you’re allergic to.

How are allergies treated?

Depending on the results of your allergy test, your doctor might recommend a variety of treatment options, including:

  • Medications to ease symptoms or block allergic reactions
  • Corticosteroid creams or ointments to treat skin rashes
  • Epinephrine if you have life-threatening reactions to allergens
  • Immunotherapy to reduce your body’s sensitivity to allergic triggers

To learn more about allergy testing and treatment, call or book an appointment online.