Allergy Skin Testing (Scratch/Prick skin test, Intradermal Skin Test, Patch Test)

Allergy skin tests provide maximum information vital to ruling in or ruling out an allergic condition with minimum discomfort and risk. Allergy skin tests can usually be completed during the initial visit. The optimal number of tests are applied for effective diagnosis and treatment decisions. The testing is essentially painless, is administered quickly and patients remain comfortable during the testing. We are happy to demonstrate testing on those parents whose young children are being tested.

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Dos & Don’ts for Allergy Skin Testing

Blood Test

The Sher Allergy experts order the most accurate blood tests for food allergies. This helps patients avoid expensive and unproven tests with minimal value. In addition to blood tests for life threatening food allergy, state-of-the-art testing is ordered for food allergies that cause multiple system symptoms including:

• gluten sensitivity

• milk allergy

• mast cell (allergic cell hypersensitivity) 

• alph-gal (meat allergy)

Nitric Oxide (FeNO)

This simple test will determine the amount of lung inflammation identifying activity for asthma and eosinophilic bronchitis.

Oral Food Challenge

Oral food challenge (OFC) is a very accurate and safe diagnostic test for food allergies.  Sometimes, oral food challenge is performed after skin prick and blood tests to confirm a food allergy diagnosis.  In an oral food challenge, the patient is fed an increasing dose of a suspected problem food protein to see if there is a reaction and to measure the amount of protein that can be eaten before reacting. Oral food challenges must be performed by a trained and board-certified Allergist as they are the only doctors specially trained in monitoring the immune system’s response during the food challenge and address emergencies.

Spirometry (Pulmonary Function Testing)

Lung function tests evaluate how well your lungs work. The tests determine how much air your lungs can hold, how quickly you can move air in and out of your lungs, and how well your lungs add oxygen to the bloodstream. The tests can add valuable information for the diagnosis of asthma and other lung problems. It can also be used after the administration of medications to assess their effect, and to measure progress in disease treatment. Pulmonary function tests generally involve breathing into a sterile mouthpiece connected to a recording device. Our team will analyze the results of your PFT and see how you are doing by comparing them to predicted values normal for a person your age, size and sex. A pulmonary function test may be performed during your visit.

Rhinoscopy

Rhinoscopy is a test in which our physicians use a flexible fiberoptic scope attached to a bright light to look into the nasal passages and back of the throat. This minimally invasive examination allows for a more thorough look at the nose, mouth and throat in order to diagnose problems that are otherwise difficult to visualize. This procedure, along with physical examination, is very helpful in evaluating persistent or chronic cough, acid reflux, sinusitis, recurrent ear infections, chronic headaches, and chronic postnasal drip. The physician can also determine whether there are any fixed blockages in the upper airway such as a deviated septum or nasal polyps. Dr. Sher is one of the nation’s leading Allergists specially trained in Rhinoscopy.

Allergy Shots

Allergy shots (allergy immunotherapy) have been the hallmark allergy treatment for a wide variety of allergies for over 100. They are all-natural, not medication, safe, and remarkably effective at managing or eliminating allergy symptoms in the short-term, long-term, and possibly for a lifetime!  Allergy immunotherapy effectively reduces allergy symptoms in over 85% of patients and are the only allergy therapy that gradually “turns off” the allergic and asthmatic process, resulting in decreased symptoms and medication needs with no long-term side effects.  Allergy shots may also prevent the progression to more severe allergic problems by desensitizing the immune system to a specific allergen.

At Sher Allergy Specialists, allergy shots are offered through scheduled appointments with our dedicated allergy shot nurse. Scheduled shot appointments also help Sher Allergy patients juggle the demands of busy lives, but can easily be rescheduled for your convenience. Request an appointment by calling our office. 

Oral Immunotherapy Pill (OIT)

Oral Immunotherapy (OIT) is an allergy tablet generally prescribed for people with allergies to grass, ragweed, and dust mites. These fast-dissolving tablets containing one type of allergen are placed under the tongue and gradually help the body build tolerance to allergens.

Food Oral Immunotherapy

While there is no cure for food allergy, treatment is available to minimize the risk of serious allergic reaction from accidental exposure to an allergen. Oral Immunotherapy for Food Allergy is an important part of treatment and involves feeding the patient an increasing amount of allergen to raise the threshold that triggers an allergic reaction. Additionally, OIT may provide protection against accidental exposure or ingestion of the allergen in the future. See our full Food Allergy capabilities here.

Biologic Therapy

Biologic therapies are a newer class of allergy treatment options primarily recommended for conditions that may not respond well to traditional allergy treatments like asthma, nasal polyps, atopic dermatitis (eczema), and chronic idiopathic urticaria (chronic idiopathic hives). Biologic therapies work at the immune system level to prevent inflammation that causes these conditions and offer patients the convenience of less frequent office visits for an injectable treatment, fewer side effects of traditional medications for these conditions, and remarkably better results managing the disease. Some biologics are able to be injected at home.

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Biologic therapies currently offered:

•  Xolair for uncontrolled moderate to severe persistent asthma and chronic urticaria

• Dupixent for eczema, asthma, and nasal polyps

• Nucala for uncontrolled eosinophilic asthma

• Fasenra for severe eosinophilic asthma

Lifestyle Management

A cornerstone of the Sher Allergy philosophy is to maximize lifestyle and diet to treat your conditions.  These include: weight management, nutritional choices, exercise programs, and behavioral techniques, in addition to the education and counseling of your allergic conditions. We do this by providing answers to your questions and giving personalized education to help you understand your diagnosis and treatment options. The team will instruct you in the many aspects of asthma and allergic disease management and provide you with tools and information necessary for you to become an active participant in your healthcare.

Medical Management

Medical or pharmaceutical intervention can be used effectively to treat allergies and asthma. There are new safe and effective medications available to help alleviate and control allergic and asthmatic symptoms. The doctor will recommend the safest and best medication therapy to treat your specific problems.

Environmental Management/Control

After identifying the specific allergic and irritant triggers, the Sher Allergy team will recommend an environmental control program to help reduce the exposure to these triggers. Some simple and cost-effective changes in the home can be very helpful in controlling the allergic symptoms. The doctor and clinical staff will make these recommendations and provide education about how to get started with the environmental control measures that will benefit you the most.