Demonstration of Allergy Skin Test

[miketwo345]

It doesn't hurt, just like a little pinch each time. It's more annoying than anything else. But the nurse (or someone) should have placed a firm hand on his back the whole time -- the pressure is distracting and makes it much easier to ignore the pin-pricks.

When mine were done, they used a panel that did like 12 pricks at once.  Still not painful, just something you sorta grit your teeth through. The worst part is not the pricks, but that you can't itch it (and you REALLY want to!).

[TheJashinTV]

ok.... is the camera man alan rickman er somethin?

[Trickypeng2]

is there any needles involved O.O?

[13loveloveloveDisney]

@Trickypeng2 I have had allergy testing several times, and needles are not involved. It is like this little white scratcher and the scratcher has the allergen in it. They do not have any needles unless one does not show up, and the doctor has to use a needle, but the needle doesn't hurt like a regular needle. This one only breaks the surface level of skin, so it doesn't pass through muscle or things of that nature.

[goldie2442]

is the kid laughing or crying? :/

[Swiffer69able]

wait.. wat r the white thngs she putting in his back

[XxDarknessRisexX]

@Swiffer69able drops of allergens

[TheMrjonesOf2010]

that dude is tight!!!! i wanna get one before having a family cause i was adopted and i dont know what my real parents have . so :/

[austo52000]

someones having trouble breathing...

[Shanebang57]

Im 22 years old and never got one of these wish i did because last night I had an allergic reaction to something and nearly suffocated before the ambulance got here. Getting one done asap.

[fleickly]

@Shanebang57

These tests do not predict, their value is in supporting your history of a reaction. Be careful on the timing, sometimes the skin tests are negative immediately after a reaction- due to medication use or due to the fact that the mediators have been released- a refractory period.

[gravelandgrain100]

I was never tested like this as a kid-they did my forearms instead. I couldn't do a year of immunotherapy, so I quit. Five years ago I was re-tested and only had blood antigen tests. All I remember was the sub-derma test didn't hurt but itched like hell after wards.

I think this test goes a long way in keeping your kids from being misdiagnosed with an allergy and being drugged for years. Most children end up negative to allergies, even though Mom insists they have them.

[fleickly]

@gravelandgrain100

These types of tests are a very cost-effective way of seeing if someone is sensitized. Once the results are in hand, the discussion can go back to sorting out cause/effect relationships. Seeing the reactions has a significant impact and we can work on avoidance immediately. Thanks for the response.

[sillybear569]

@sassy2812 a little

[omarvader]

it doesn't really hurt, only in some spots. my doctor did 5 needles at a time so it would go faster

[fleickly]

@omarvader

That sometimes works, but you have to be careful on how they are applied.

[ctrnoel1]

I have to get tested today and I havent done this in years and i wont have anyone to be with me so im going to be as brave as i can while getting it done.

[fleickly]

@ctrnoel1

I hope it went well.

[shootyou545]

I'm getting allergy tested tomorrow :(

[IanKusekSoloArtist]

i only cried a bit cause i got my self all worked up :P. im allergic to dog,pollen,dust,mold, they are some of the most common things people are allergic to.

[dudefacecupholder]

omg! I just wanna pick him up and hug him!!!

[fleickly]

@dudefacecupholder

His mother felt the same way. He is a great kid. I really enjoy working with him and his family.

[ash1ey07]

they are not actually poking you with anything it just tickles i had mine done not to long ago i was nervous too but there is nothing to be nervous about it just starts to itch after so long if you are allergic to anything.

[cincychick2008]

mine didn't even itch, apparently i'm not allergic to anything...at least nothing they tested me for...

[warkillspeople]

@cincychick2008 Yeah, that's the problem, putting your 8 yr old kid through that (torture for a kid) just to find out that he is not allergic to anything they tested for.

[cincychick2008]

@warkillspeople it's not torture. I had it done when I was in elementary school, and knowing you're NOT allergic to something is just as important as knowing you ARE allergic to something. It narrows down what the problem is.

[fleickly]

@cincychick2008

Agreed

[Gman256]

@warkillspeople

What would you rather do? Let him eat his friends snack at school and get anaphylaxis?

[fleickly]

@Gman256

The history of what was going on should help sort things out and direct what should be tested for.

[gravelandgrain100]

@warkillspeople

you would be surprised how many parents INSIST their kid has allergies when a test like this is 100% conclusive that they do or don't. There are no long term side effects with scratch-there are with no test and blindly doping you kid up on Benadryl. hen ADHD type side effects crop up and more meds are needed.

[fleickly]

@warkillspeople

Agreed, that is why a good allergist focuses the testing on what the problem is, what could be causing it (an allergen), and can it be avoided. Some undergo 100's of tests to things that are really strange- for example newsprint, kapok, orris root. Many of these things have no relevance to what is going on.

[SexyNekoGirl562]

Oh my gosh.I have to get this done tomorrow!!!

[Eliask8s]

did it hurt?

[kittypet375]

this isnt encouraging considering Im getting this done in two days!

[ajs199611]

good luck!

[cincychick2008]

it doesn't hurt, you don't need numbing cream. besides, even if it did hurt, the cream would ruin the test, as it's a skin test, so anything put on the skin would be counterproductive to the procedure, but like i said, it doesn't hurt, you don't need anything for "numbing".

[Emrald70]

is he giggling or sobbing when they do the actual test?

[ajs199611]

I think he was crying... she stabbed him in the back like a billion times. I've gotten that done twice, and believe me: it hurt like hell.

[Emrald70]

in that case i don't think i'll ever subject my child to this

don't get me wrong, stuff like vaccines and regular sleep help but, basically they as you say "stabbed him in the back" simply because they're curious

[cincychick2008]

they weren't stabbing him in the back, there's nothing even that resembles a needle...she's just lightly scratching his back, it's more painful to scratch yourself with nails, and it's not like they're injecting him with toxins or anything, they're just allergens, and they're completely wiped away when done. and he wasn't crying...the procedure doesn't hurt, i've had it done.

[Gman256]

@Emrald70

Tests like this save lives. It lets parents know about life endangering allergic reactions before they can become life endangering. Get your facts straight.

[fleickly]

@Emrald70

I assure you these were not stabs. The probe is plastic and has small points. No blood is spilled with this procedure. Drawing blood could be significantly more traumatic than this.

[fleickly]

@Emrald70

Some do both!

[Napalmxxx2]

bet that would talk the kid out of any tattoo he may have been planning to get.

[precision09]

good job kid . im 37 and i have go get that done next week ..lol

[Napalmxxx2]

I had mine done and lets just say I am not getting a tattoo, it kinda hurt like hell.