When you first begin seeing your allergist and talking about allergy treatments for your worst symptoms, you would have had an allergy test performed. This test, as you know, provided valuable insights into your specific allergy triggers and informed your treatment plan. Now you may be wondering: do I need to take an allergy re-test at any point?
When a Retest Might Be Necessary
In reality, the vast majority of allergy patients do not need an allergy retest at any point. That said, there are circumstances in which your allergist may recommend repeating the test. Let’s discuss what might cause those circumstances to arise.
If Symptoms Return or Change
As you progress through your allergy treatment, you should notice a significant decrease in the frequency and severity of your symptoms. Approximately 80% of patients receiving allergy shots report that they see a great improvement, making this treatment highly effective.
If, however, you had noticed improvement in your symptoms only to experience a backslide, it might be wise to retest to assess the severity of the new reaction.
If New Allergies Develop
If you’ve noticed a new allergy, a retest may be necessary in that instance, as well. You may even retest due to symptoms returning, as discussed above, only to discover that a new trigger is prompting the new symptoms. If that’s the case, you and your allergist can discuss treatment options for the new allergy, if necessary.
As a Progress Report
It can actually be really exciting to retest for allergies and compare your first test results with the new results! There’s nothing more gratifying than seeing the before and after pictures of a skin test, comparing the big reaction that started your treatment to the present-day progress. To that end, you and your allergist may decide to retest to assess the progress of your allergy treatment, especially if it’s the middle of winter or your allergens are less present, so you’re less able to notice the results in your daily life.
If You Stopped Immunotherapy and Want to Start Again
We always hope that our patients will see out their immunotherapy treatment to the very end, but for many reasons, some patients cease taking their doses midway through the plan. If you fall into this category, but are now interested in restarting treatment, that’s wonderful! We will want to retest for allergies, as things may have changed since your last bout.
Talk To Your Allergist
If any of the reasons above resonated with you, discuss retesting with your allergist. We want to be proactive, engaged partners on your allergy treatment journey. Contact Willamette ENT & Facial Plastic Surgery today to find out more.
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