Back Scratch Test

Towards the end of June I also had my back scratch test for allergies. It was a tricky test because they apply the strips on a Monday, then you return both Wednesday and Friday to read the results. And did I mention that you can't get your back wet the entire time? Yuck, especially with all this heat!! The doctor attached more than 70 allergens to my back. They outlined everything with pen in case things rubbed or got distorted. I debated posting this photo, but the process was so interesting to me, so here it is. As you can see, I've still got a lot of baby weight to lose.

So each rectangular area was a white strip that had allergens on it. They taped these to my back on Monday and I wore them on there until I went in on Wednesday. They removed the strips and read any early results. Then they sent me home to see if any new reactions started with the strips off. Then I went back on Friday for the final read. I'd heard it was a very itchy test. It was mildly itchy, but not too bad for me. The positive sites were definitely itchy, so if you were allergic to lots of stuff it would probably be pretty uncomfortable.

And guess what, we had a lucky winner!!! I'm VERY allergic to Benzocaine! On Wednesday, that site was already bubbling and blistery.

 Benzocaine is a topical anesthetic. The doctor started reading a list of items it is in (stuff like Orajel or Hemorrhoid cream). I started getting excited because I remembered the spray they gave me in the hospital but I couldn't remember the name. I texted Ryan and he replied that it was Dermoplast. I gave the doctor the name of it, and turns out that Dermoplast is 20% Benzocaine!!! Answers!!! It was so thrilling and exciting to know what caused the reaction! And now I can know what to avoid in the future. I almost skipped down the hallway after the appointment. I was so happy. The doctor was really happy too. I had two other good reactions and two other trace reactions to the items. There is a scale to measure. So the Benzocaine caused the most severe reaction and got a certain number, the others were less. The weird thing is that two weeks later I was in Utah swimming and had an itch on my back. When I was changing, I looked in the mirror, thinking it was a mosquito bite, and it was a very clear little square! So I called the Dermatologist's office and emailed in the pictures. I was still in Utah, but we made an appointment for me to come back in when I got home. I was mainly worried that it was a totally new reaction.

When I went back, they checked the photo and the site with all the photos they took of my back. They determined it wasn't a new reaction, but rather one of the "trace" reactions had developed into something more. Apparently there can be delayed reactions and the doctor said this was the longest delay he had ever seen.

The doctor gave me a printout of everything I tested positive for and a list of common items that these things exist in. I can also go on a certain website and type in one of the substances to get a complete list. It was all just fascinating to me! Isn't modern medicine wonderful! Now I can continue to live without wondering if I'm allergic to every little thing.