Tired of Guessing? Why You Should Get an Allergy Test This Spring

Every spring, you find yourself sniffling, sneezing, or dabbing your watery eyes. Should you assume it’s allergies? Not if you want the best outcome. 

Rather than attempting self-diagnosis and treatment, consider a proper test and exam. Allergy testing can take the guesswork out of managing your symptoms and protect you from seasonal allergy complications. 

At her offices in Valencia, Burbank, and Lancaster, California, Dr. Maricar Cutillar-Garcia provides personalized allergy care and testing for every season.

Spring allergy basics

Allergies can flare up at any time of year, but if you’re allergic to plants that pollinate, springtime can be a major issue. Mold spores can cause similar issues in the spring.

When you have environmental allergies, your immune system mistakes the allergen as toxic and releases histamines to combat it. This fuels inflammation, leading to bothersome symptoms.

In the United States, the most common spring allergens include pollen from: 

• Birch 
• Cedar 
• Maple 
• Oak 

These trees usually pollinate between late February and April. Grass pollen may become an issue later in the spring.

How allergy tests work

If you’re prone to spring allergy symptoms, an allergy test can determine the specific cause so you can avoid it. The test results and an exam also allow Dr. Cutillar-Garcia to personalize effective treatment.

Types of allergy tests

A skin test involves a small needle prick on your arm or back to test for up to 50 allergens. A scratch test involves a small scratch on your skin, through which allergen droplets are placed. If your skin reacts to the allergens, you’re likely allergic.

An allergy patch test takes a bit longer, but it involves no needles. A patch containing a suspected allergen sits on your skin for several days to see if it produces symptoms like redness. 

For an allergy blood test, a sample of your blood is sent to a lab where it’s tested for antibodies associated with various allergens.

Keep in mind that home seasonal allergy tests have limited and mixed reliability. They aren’t a substitute for medical testing and diagnosis.

Spring allergy treatment

Effective spring allergy treatment can prevent or reduce your symptoms and reduce complications, such as ear infections, sinusitis, and impaired quality of life.

Your allergy treatment plan may include medication, allergy shots (for severe cases), or lifestyle modifications. 

Dr. Cutillar-Garcia may recommend wearing a high-quality mask outdoors when pollen levels are high and monitoring mold or pollen counts.

Other helpful steps include washing your hair after time spent outdoors, using an air purifier, and avoiding cigarette smoke.

To get a seasonal allergy test or assessment, call our office or request an appointment through our website today.