What is a Board-Certified Allergist?

Board certified allergists are specialists who have met the highest level of nationally-recognized standards for education and expertise in the field of allergy, asthma and immunology. This formal and lengthy education process is necessary to cultivate the expertise required to provide the highest-quality of care for patients with allergies and asthma. By achieving board certification, allergists demonstrate their commitment to excellence and expertise in their field, which translates to state-of-the-art, evidence-based care.

What are the Benefits of Seeing a Board Certified Allergist?

Board certification tells you that your doctor has attained the highest level of expertise to treat your health issues.

How do you find a Board-Certified Allergist?

When you start searching for an allergist/immunologist, it’s important to make sure you find a doctor you are comfortable with and you can trust. Search online for information about the doctors you are considering and ask people you trust for names of physicians they recommend. Then visit Certification Matters and enter your doctor’s name to determine if he or she is board-certified. This is a service that allows you to see if a specific doctor is certified.

Can you detect allergies through a blood test?

Yes. When you become allergic to an allergen, your body creates special antibodies to fight against it. These allergic antibodies are called IgE antibodies. IgE antibodies are formed in the bone marrow and travel in the bloodstream before being deposited in the skin and other tissues where they remain for weeks to months. Although allergy skin tests are considered the gold standard for allergy testing, blood testing can also be used to measure IgE antibodies circulating in your bloodstream

What types of tests are there for allergies?

There are three main ways to get tested for allergies: Skin Tests – Skin tests are commonly used to identify many potential allergens, including airborne, food-related, and contact allergens. Blood Tests – If you are not a candidate for an allergy skin test, your allergist may suggest a blood test. Elimination Diet – To detect which foods are causing an allergic reaction, your allergist may recommend an elimination diet. This involves removing certain foods from your diet and determining if you're symptoms improve, and then adding the food back to see if you have a reaction.

Do allergy tests hurt?

The skin prick or scratch test and intradermal test may cause slight discomfort. If you are sensitive to any of the allergens being tested, your skin may itch where the allergen was placed.

How can you treat non-life threatening allergic reactions at home?

The first step is to avoid the allergen if you know what triggers a reaction. But if an allergic reaction occurs, there are several ways to treat them at home: Antihistamines – Helps treat minor allergic reactions regardless of the cause. Anti-inflammatory Medication – Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDS) can help temporarily reduce allergy symptoms. Saline Sinus Rinse – If your allergies cause sinus problems, it’s recommended to rinse your sinuses with saline to clear the allergens from your airways. Skin Allergy Treatments – If a skin allergy occurs, you can apply corticosteroid creams or calamine lotion to reduce symptoms, an ice pack can also help reduce inflammation and allergy symptoms.

How long does an allergy test take to administer?

Not very long. The skin prick and intradermal tests are performed in the allergist’s office and take about 20 minutes total. Your skin may start to show reactions to certain allergens such as foods, environmental allergens or insect venoms. Patch tests are used to identify if a chemical may be the cause of delayed skin rashes. The patches are applied and worn for about 48 hours and then removed. Blood tests results may take up to a week to return from the laboratory.

Are hay fever and allergic rhinitis the same thing?

Yes, allergic rhinitis is simply the proper medical term for hay fever. “Hay fever” is somewhat of a misnomer since allergic rhinitis is usually not caused by hay, nor does it result in a fever.

When is hay fever the worst in Jacksonville?

The mild temperatures in Northeast Florida mean that trees start producing spring pollen early in our area– in some years as soon as December. Unfortunately, the Jacksonville area does not really have a hay fever “off-season.” Our warm winters and early springs mean that allergic rhinitis sufferers may be exposed to pollen year-round.

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Jax Allergy

What are Allergies and What is an Allergic Reaction?

Simply put, allergies and allergic reactions are your body’s immune system responding to something it thinks is attacking it.

When your immune system senses an allergen, such as pollen, it identifies the pollen as an “invader” and then your immune
system mounts a response. This response is your body overreacting and producing antibodies called Immunoglobulin E (or IgE). These antibodies then cause cells throughout your body to release other chemicals, causing the allergic reaction many are familiar with.

The only way to know for certain if you are allergic to something though is through allergy testing. While there are many forms of testing, there are only a handful we feel are the best and most comprehensive ways to diagnose whether you have allergies.

Most doctors and labs today may recommend blood testing for allergic screenings, but traditional allergic skin testing is the most direct and comprehensive way to diagnose allergies. The primary reason being we can get results within minutes and then immediately decide what course of action you should take, versus waiting up to two weeks for results to come in, then schedule another appointment, then determine the course of action.

How Do We Perform Our Allergic Skin Testing?

We use one of two methods to find out what you are allergic to. Both methods require a technician to apply a small amount of an extract to the skin and watch for a reaction.

Prick or Puncture Skin Testing

Generally this is the first screening that is done. We prick the skin, usually on the arm or upper back, with a small device that has the tip coated with a specific allergen.

Intra-dermal Skin Testing

This method is more sensitive, requiring injection of the allergen into the superficial layer of skin. If you have ever had a tuberculosis screening, this is very similar.

In both cases we are looking to see if your skin has a reaction to the allergen. Typically a reaction will appear within 15 to 20 minutes, and will resemble something along the lines of a mosquito bite.

What are the Side Effects of an Allergy Skin Test?

First, you should feel comfortable that in the vast majority of people, allergy testing is very well tolerated. There are some side effects that you should be aware of, but the most common reaction is itching and swelling right at the site of testing. The minor swelling and itching goes away within a couple of hours.

Some other side effects could include itching (of your eyes, nose, and throat), runny nose, hives, and in rare instances low blood pressure and shock. Again, these are rare situations and our staff is appropriately trained to help a patient with those types of reactions.

Allergy Treatment Options

The most effective long-term treatment for many people with allergies is allergy shots (also known as immunotherapy). The goal of immunotherapy is to increase your tolerance to specific allergens.

An allergy extract is a precise prescription based on your unique allergic sensitivities.

Although there is no cure for allergies, this is the closest thing to a cure that we have. Since this type of therapy does not contain medicine it is well suited for individuals interested in seeking a natural cure for allergies.

Immunotherapy is accomplished with a “build up” phase of small doses given at weekly intervals until a maintenance dose is achieved. This can last anywhere from six to twelve months and follows up with a maintenance phase of dosing with injections given at two or four week intervals.

A primary goal of immunotherapy is to instill lasting tolerance long after the course of immunotherapy is completed. For most patients, treatment will last between three to five years.

If you need more information or would like to schedule an appointment at one of our four convenient locations, please go to our contact page at JaxAllergy.com or call 904-730-4870 today.

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