An itchy or tingling feeling in your mouth Itchy, red, or watery eyes[2] X Trustworthy Source National Health Service (UK) Public healthcare system of the UK Go to source Sneezing or an itchy, runny, or stuffy nose Wheezing, trouble breathing, coughing, or tightness in your chest Itchy skin, raised welts (called hives), or eczema Swelling in your lips, tongue, face, eyes, or throat Stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea
A swollen throat or constriction of your airways The feeling of a lump in your throat Shock Sudden drastic drop in blood pressure Rapid pulse Dizziness or fainting
The color of your mucus: If you have allergies, it should stay clear. If you have a cold, it will get thicker, cloudy, and yellow. [6] X Trustworthy Source Cleveland Clinic Educational website from one of the world’s leading hospitals Go to source Type of cough: If you have a nagging, dry cough, chances are, it’s just allergies. On the other hand, if you’re coughing up mucus, it’s likely a cold, although it could also be a virus like the flu or COVID-19. Sore throat: If you’re sick with something like a cold or the flu, you’ll often get a sore throat, but that’s uncommon with allergies. Fever: Severe allergies can sometimes lead to a fever, but it’s pretty rare, and you’ll likely have other severe allergy symptoms. Fever is much more common with illnesses like a cold or the flu.
In addition, write down where you were—like whether you were indoors or outdoors. Try to think back for at least a couple of hours before your symptoms occurred. Allergies symptoms usually show up pretty quickly after exposure to your allergen, but they can sometimes take a while to develop. [8] X Trustworthy Source National Health Service (UK) Public healthcare system of the UK Go to source
Your allergist will likely recommend testing to determine exactly what’s triggering your allergies. A skin prick test is the most common type of allergy test, although they may suggest other tests, as well.
If the results of your skin prick test aren’t clear, the allergist might do a second test where the allergens are injected under the first few layers of your skin. This is called an intradermal test. [11] X Trustworthy Source American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology National professional organization of allergists, asthma specialists and immunologists that focuses on supporting and publishing research Go to source They might also draw blood for a lab test if a skin test isn’t a good option, like if you have very sensitive skin, you’ve had a severe allergic reaction in the past, or you take a medication that would affect the test results. [12] X Trustworthy Source American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology National professional organization of allergists, asthma specialists and immunologists that focuses on supporting and publishing research Go to source
Environmental allergies can include seasonal allergies to pollen, perennial allergies to things like mold and pet dander, and contact allergies that lead to skin irritation. [14] X Research source Food allergies can occur when you eat a certain food, although if they’re severe, they might be triggered when you simply touch or breathe in that item. [15] X Research source Insect allergies typically only occur when you are bitten or stung by the insect you’re allergic to. [16] X Research source Medication allergies can occur with both prescription and over-the-counter drugs, but they are not the same as side effects from taking medication. [17] X Research source
If your allergies tend to occur in the spring or fall, you likely have seasonal allergies, or hay fever. This is triggered by pollen in the air. If your allergies last all year, you might be allergic to something like animal dander, dust mites, mold, or debris left by cockroaches. [19] X Research source
Cosmetics, soaps, or lotions Certain fabrics or dyes Latex or rubber Topical medications Irritants like poison oak or sumac Nickel or other metals
Shellfish (shrimp, lobster, crab) Fish Peanuts or tree nuts (pecans, walnuts) Cow’s milk Eggs Soy Wheat Certain raw foods
This won’t always give you precise results—an elimination diet can’t tell you if you’re sensitive to a food as opposed to being truly allergic to it, for instance. [23] X Research source Only do an elimination diet under the guidance of an allergist. If you’ve ever had a severe food reaction, it’s probably not safe to do an elimination diet at all. Your allergist might also recommend an oral food challenge, where you’ll eat small amounts of a trigger food to see if you have a reaction. Because you could have a life-threatening allergic reaction, this should only ever be done in your allergist’s office or a hospital setting, and only under direct medical supervision. [24] X Research source
Itching or hives Tightness of the chest Wheezing Cough Trouble breathing Anaphylaxis
Hives, itching, or a rash Swelling of your face Wheezing or shortness of breath Anaphylaxis
Having other allergies, like hay fever Taking the drug for a long time or at high doses Having certain illnesses like HIV Having a history or family history of allergies to other medicines.
