• Question: How would you find out if you're allergic to something safely?

    Asked by anon-250013 on 16 Mar 2020.
    • Photo: Ioana Grigoras

      Ioana Grigoras answered on 16 Mar 2020:

      Your doctor can do something called a patch test! That is a test where the substance that you want to test is applied in a small concentration on your skin using a special small disk (about 1cm diameter). The disc will stay on your skin for a whole day and then you doctor can check whether the skin under it shows signs of inflammation. If it does, then it means you are allergic to that substance.

    • Photo: Nuru Noor

      Nuru Noor answered on 17 Mar 2020:

      Usually you can get an idea of things that you have been exposed to which might cause an allergy – by keeping a diary. Then there are more specific tests including a skin test called a patch test where small amounts of common things that cause allergy – can be placed on skin to see if they irriate the skin. Also for some specific “allergens” – you can also do a blood test 👍

    • Photo: Sophie Arthur

      Sophie Arthur answered on 17 Mar 2020:

      Both Ioana and Nuru’s answers to this are great and I don’t think I can add anything useful 🙂

    • Photo: Kate Mitchell

      Kate Mitchell answered on 17 Mar 2020:

      I was also going to mention the patch test!

    • Photo: M S

      M S answered on 17 Mar 2020:

      You can do a prick test! I had one when I started a new lab.

      They place little dots of different things on your arm (a safe amount) and see how your skin reacts to it!

    • Photo: Sarah Clarke

      Sarah Clarke answered on 18 Mar 2020:

      I think Ioana has got this one all wrapped up!

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