Skin Allergy

Understanding Skin Allergies: Causes, Symptoms, and Testing

Irritated skin can result from various factors, including immune system disorders, medications, and infections. When an allergic reaction triggers the immune system, it leads to an allergic skin condition. Common symptoms include itching, redness, and swelling, but specific characteristics help differentiate between various skin allergies.

Common Skin Allergy Symptoms

1. Atopic Dermatitis (Eczema)

• Characterized by itchy, red, or dry skin.
• Scratching can cause the skin to weep or leak fluid, leading to crusting and infection.
• In infants, eczema often appears on the face.
• Children commonly experience rashes in the elbow bends, wrists, behind the knees, and behind the ears.
• Adolescents and adults may have eczema in similar areas, along with the hands and feet.
• Patients with a faulty filaggrin gene often show hand eczema with fine lines on their palms.

2. Urticaria (Hives) & Angioedema

• Urticaria (Hives): Presents as itchy, red, and white raised welts of varying sizes that appear anywhere on the body.
• Angioedema: Swelling that often occurs around the eyes, cheeks, lips, and may also affect the hands, feet, genitals, or internal areas like the throat and bowels.
• Acute urticaria: Welts disappear within minutes to a few weeks.
• Chronic hives: May last months or even years.

Phadia Test for Allergy Screening

The Phadia Test is a qualitative serological test used for screening allergic sensitization in individuals with suspected allergies.

How It Works

• Phadiatop, a variant of the serum-specific IgE assay test, was introduced in 1987 to detect allergic sensitization.
• Over the years, it has evolved into more advanced versions, but the fundamental principle remains the same—simultaneous testing for IgE antibodies against a mix of common allergens.
• It helps identify sensitivities to inhalant allergens, food allergens, and drug-related allergies.
• A positive test result suggests allergic sensitization.

ImmunoCAP Phadiatop: A Reliable Allergy Test

• Designed to differentiate atopic (allergy-prone) from non-atopic patients.
• Based on ImmunoCAP technology, a solid-phase immunoassay that detects serum-specific IgE antibodies.
• Uses a balanced mix of common inhalant allergens to determine allergic reactions.