How Skin Scratch Testing Can Help Improve Your Life

An undiagnosed allergy can diminish your quality of life. Oftentimes, allergy symptoms are difficult to decipher and can be written off as something they’re not. By identifying what’s really causing your allergy symptoms, however, your physician can get you on the path to recovery. 

One effective method of identifying allergies is through skin scratch testing. This tried-and-true allergy test can reveal the exact substances that are causing your allergies so that you can get relief from uncomfortable symptoms. 

What is Skin Scratch Testing?

In skin scratch testing, a small amount of a substance is placed into the skin through a small scratch or prick. Within about 20 minutes, if you’re allergic to the substance, the skin will react to it. After those 20 minutes, the results will be recorded and the substances are wiped away with alcohol, which prevents any lasting discomfort. 

In adults, skin scratch testing is typically performed on the inner forearm. This safe, sensitive, and quick method of allergy testing is an excellent way to identify allergens. Since multiple allergens can be tested at once on different areas of the forearm, skin scratch testing is highly efficient. 

Skin Scratch Testing to Improve Your Quality of Life

With skin scratch testing, you can get to the root of troublesome allergy symptoms quickly. For many people, allergies cause uncomfortable symptoms that may even be disruptive to their daily routines. The only way to prevent allergic reactions is to identify the allergen and start an allergy treatment plan. Since skin scratch testing can test several allergens at once, it can identify one or multiple allergy triggers within just 20 minutes!

Allergy treatment may include avoiding the allergen, allergy shots, medication, or immunotherapy. After skin scratch testing, your physician will develop an individual treatment plan so that you no longer have to suffer from uncomfortable allergy symptoms. 

Visit a Florida Wellness Medical Group location to receive skin scratch allergy testing today!

Allergy Symptoms: How to Know If It’s Allergies and What to Do About It

Allergy Symptoms

Many people ignore their allergy symptoms because they don’t recognize that they have a chronic condition. Instead of confronting their allergies, they say they have a head cold or irritated sinuses — and they think the whole problem will go away in a few weeks.

But weeks turn into months, and they don’t feel any better.

It’s time to confront your allergy symptoms and learn more about them. With this information, you can take the first steps toward a healthier, more comfortable, life.  

What Are Some Common Allergy Symptoms?

The most common allergic reactions that people have relate to their sinuses. If you are experiencing allergy symptoms then you may have:

  • Itchy or watery eyes
  • Nasal congestion
  • Scratchy throat
  • Trouble breathing

Additionally, you may have irritation where you come into contact with the allergen. For example, people who have pet allergies can develop rashes where their skin touches cat or dog dander.

Everyone has different reactions and severity to various allergens which can make it hard to identify what is an allergic reaction and what is a sinus infection or flu.

What Are the Different Types of Allergies?

You may not recognize that you have an allergy because the symptoms are rare or only for a short period of time.

For example, many people have seasonal allergies to pollen. During the spring months, their noses run and their eyes itch until the rain washes the pollen away. It’s easy to think you’re just muddling through a cold.

Some people don’t realize they have allergies because the symptoms are mild. Food allergies are just one example of this. While some food allergies are life-threatening, others cause mild irritation or digestive distress. You might just think you have food poisoning or an upset stomach.

There are a lot of different types of allergies. Here are the most common types of allergies people have.

  • Insect sting allergy
  • Food allergy
  • Allergic Rhinitis (also known as hay fever)
  • Mold allergy
  • Pet allergy
  • Eye allergy
  • Drug allergy
  • Latex allergy
  • Cockroach allergy  

How to Know If You Have Allergies

You don’t have to self-diagnose your allergies.

Florida Wellness Medical Group can test all allergy types with Skin Scratch testing. During this process, a doctor pricks your skin in multiple places to break the surface without drawing blood. Then, he or she will introduce various allergens to see what your body reacts to.

The whole process takes less than 20 minutes, and it’s done in a controlled environment to make sure you’re safe. This process is the easiest way to learn what foods and elements you should avoid to prevent allergy symptoms.  

How Can You Minimize Allergy Symptoms

Once it’s confirmed that you do have allergies, you can take steps to reduce the symptoms.

Allergy sufferers should avoid contact with their allergens as much as possible; however, that’s not always easy. Pollen gets everywhere in the spring, and it’s hard to choose between breaking up with a girlfriend or putting up with her cat.

If you have to come into contact with your allergens, try to control the situation as much as possible. For example, you can change your clothes after stepping outside to prevent pollen from entering your home. And, you could talk to your significant other about creating “pet free” zones for you to use.

You can also take medicine to help with symptoms. Antihistamines, nasal sprays, and antileukotrienes are all options. Talk to your primary care doctor for help in finding what medication might be right for you.

Your allergies may never go away, but that doesn’t mean you can’t take control over them. Knowing what to avoid and taking steps to eliminate allergens from your life can make you more comfortable through all seasons.

See What Allergies You May Have

If you’re dealing with symptoms associated with allergies, stop wondering what is wrong. Find out for sure. Contact Florida Wellness Medical Group to schedule an allergy scratch test so we can find the cause of your constant running nose or watery eyes.

Call us at 844-935-5669 or request an appointment today.

Why You Should Get A Flu Shot This Fall

Even with local clinics and hospitals advertising the need for flu shots annually, not even half of the adult population in the United States have gone to get it in the past few years. Clearly, those advertisements aren’t working all that well and people aren’t thoroughly convinced that they need an annual flu vaccine.

 

If you aren’t all that certain that you need a flu vaccine this year, here are five reasons why you should go get one:

 

1 – The flu can’t be compared to the common cold

There are hundreds of thousands of Americans who are admitted into the hospital every year as a result of seasonal influenza virus infections. There are even people who pass away as a result of such infections. This illness should not be underestimated. It may seem like something inconvenient rather than harmless, but I assure you that it can be more serious than you think.

 

If you have a history of asthma, diabetes, heart conditions, HIV, AIDS, or cancer, you are particularly susceptible to the flu. So are pregnant women and elderly people who are more than 65 years of age.

 

2 – You can prevent flu-related illness with a flu vaccine

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) say that the most effective way to keep you from coming down with flu-related illnesses and ending up in the hospital is by getting a flu vaccine. How effective the vaccine is may change from year to year, as different flu strains may not be as protected against depending on what is going around that year. However, a flu vaccine is still your best bet against coming down with a flu-related illness.

 

3 – The vaccine that you need now may not be the same as you needed last year

During the past two years, the CDC recommended injectable influenza vaccines and discouraged use of nasal sprays. This means that as of now, inactivated influenza vaccines and recombinant influenza vaccines are more needed than live attenuated influenza vaccines. Both trivalent and quadrivalent flu vaccines remain available to the public.

 

Trivalent (three component) flu vaccines include:

  • Standard dose IIV3 shots produced with viruses cultured in eggs – different for different age groups
  • High dose shots for people over 65 years of age
  • Egg-free shots for those over 18 years of age
  • Shots made with adjuvant that will strengthen immune response for people over 65 years of age

 

Quadrivalent (four component) flu vaccines include:

  • Standard dose shots for just about every age group
  • Intradermal shots in the skin rather in the muscle for those over 18 and under 64 years of age
  • Shots with viruses grown in cell cultures for people over 4 years of age

 

4 – Last year’s shot won’t protect you this year

There’s a reason why you are recommended to get a flu shot every year. Your immune response reduces over time and will not protect you after a while, so it’s important for your body to get a refresher. Additionally, flu vaccine formulas are always being modified based on what virus is going around that year so much like you would update your computer antivirus for the most recent protection, you must update your body with the most recent flu protection.

 

5 – Insurance will probably cover it

The majority of health plans cover flu vaccines thanks to the Affordable Care Act mandating for them to cover preventive care. Do check the terms of your plan – some require that you get yours by a health care provider that is a part of the company’s network.

 

There are quite a few types of flu vaccines available for you to get every year. The most important thing, however, is that you commit to getting one. Don’t assume that you’ll never come down with the flu. It’s better to be safe than sorry.

 

The Florida Wellness Medical Group is based in Tampa, Florida – need your flu shot this Fall? Come on down to see how we can help.

Cell testing for disease prevention

The popular saying, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, has never been more true! Early detection of illness is now possible through cell testing technology. Our health data is stored in our blood cells. By analyzing various markers at a cellular level we can detect diseases that have not yet symptomatically manifested.  Detection of disease and illness before they become an issue is at the heart of holistic health and disease prevention.

Who should undergo screening

Cell level testing is appropriate for everyone! People of all ages can benefit from early detection of potential threats. By identifying imbalances early on, patients, physicians, and caregivers can better regulate and manage health.

It’s imperative to undergo testing prior to experiencing symptoms to tackle issues before they even begin. Early detection and addressing underlying cause of disease, rather than merely treating symptoms, allows beneficial and effective treatment, as well as disease prevention and control.

In many cases, correcting diet and physical activity is all that is needed to prevent an issue from becoming a bigger problem.

Benefits of cell testing

Early detection

Cell testing utilizes blood cells over plasma because disruptions are more easily detected in the cells. Early detection is crucial to stopping disease in its tracks!

Healthy life

Cell testing encourages a healthy lifestyle by providing information specific to each individual. Testing will reveal nutrient deficiencies or hormonal imbalances whereby a dietary or supplement regime can be specifically tailored to each individuals need.  Understanding your health status on a cellular level can direct healthy lifestyle changes that you know will work!

Long-term information

Disease diagnosis merely takes into account symptoms.  Cell testing allows us to work faster and prevent symptoms before they manifest. Cell testing also allows us to understand the cause of symptoms and treat the cause of the disease.

Specificity

Cell testing ensures the right diagnosis and treatment of disease. There’s no guesswork, no trial and error when it comes to treatment methods.  Physician are able to use evidence to understand what is actually going on inside the body and can ensure treatment is made base on individual need.     

How Allergy “Skin Scratch” Testing Can Help You Live a Healthier Life

With degrading natural environment quality, our immunity against diseases and ailments is shrinking considerably. Therefore, besides pollen and dust mites, even unfamiliar food types can introduce mild to severe allergic reaction ranging from something as common as a rash to as dangerous as a seizure. So, medical experts suggest that it is better not to wait around for an allergic reaction to treat it. Preventing such problems from happening can usher a healthier lifestyle. How? Scratch or prick testing can sort things out for you. Let us discuss about this testing process and learn if it can really help us fight off allergy problems.

What is Scratch or Prick Testing?

As the name suggests, this process involves pricking your skin to test its reaction to different allergens. Yes, there are obviously other solutions like Atopy Patch Tests, blood tests to identify which chemicals or elements that can cause you discomfort and how severe could the impact be. However, scratch/prick testing is the oldest form of allergy test available. It is highly sensitive too, according to medical experts. Plus, it takes less than 20 minutes to confirm which food items you should avoid in a buffet or what kind of environment could be dangerous for you.

What is the Process?

The inner portion of a forearm is the most commonly selected for this test. First, medical experts clean the area with alcohol. Then they assign different spaces on the arm to test different allergens. Now they prick or scratch the surface of the skin with a lancet, breaking the skin without drawing blood. After that, different allergens are introduced through the broken skin. Generally, glycerinated extracts are used as different allergens. The process is controlled, therefore, even if you have a reaction to dogs, cats, pollen, or food extracts, it affects only a small portion of your skin and not the whole body. After the 20-minute margin the results are identified and your forearm is again cleaned with alcohol, wiping off any trace of the allergen.

As they say, prevention is better than cure. Visit one of our wellness centers to get the allergy ‘skin scratch’ testing done.