As a parent, you are basically your kid’s watchdog. From day one you are ensuring that they are fed, changed, and well taken care of. If you have noticed that your child has started to get allergies to things such as animals, plants, lotions, or food, and you just can’t seem to pinpoint the problem, it’s time to get them tested. With patch testing from Dr. Toni Stockton at Stockton Dermatology, we can test your child’s skin, find the culprit, and create a treatment plan. However, getting you little one ready for allergy testing may sound like a nightmare. Luckily, we have created a brief guide to make sure that they stay as happy as possible during the procedure. Read on to learn more.
Let’s Talk “Itchiness.”
The most uncomfortable part for anyone— not just kids— when getting allergy patch testing done is the itchiness you may experience on your back. And as your number one defense against this itchiness, it is going to take all of your child’s restraint to prevent them from turning over and scratching their back. Before they come into our office for testing, try explaining how itchy they are going to be and how they won’t be able to scratch it. The more aware of the symptoms they are going to experience, the easier the whole thing will be.
Act Out the Allergy Testing
If your child is under the age of five, this tip will really come in handy. To help your child feel comfortable and informed about the allergy testing, try acting it out on a stuffed animal before. Have the stuffed animal lay on its stomach and then pretend to do patch testing on their back— make sure your child is involved. Then, talk them through the process so that they know what they can expect.
Preparing a little one for any testing or procedure can help ensure that the testing goes as smoothly as possible. If you would like to learn more, contact Dr. Toni Stockton from Stockton Dermatology today.
