Skin Patch Testing

Allergy Skin Patch Testing

Serving the Coachella Valley Since 1981

Serving the Coachella Valley Since 1981

Allergy Skin Patch Testing

Getting to the Source of Your Allergic Contact Dermatitis

At Michael R. Gatto MD & Associates, we offer the T.R.U.E. Test for skin patch testing to determine specific allergy offenders. The T.R.U.E. Test is FDA-approved for patients as young as six years old. The acronym stands forThin-Layer Rapid Use Epicutaneous Patch Test.

Contact dermatitis accounts for more than 9 million physician office visits each year in the United States and according to studies, nearly half of these are due to allergies. Allergic Contact Dermatitis (ACD) symptoms typically manifest within 24 to 72 hours of exposure and usually present with itchy skin, papules, redness, swelling, fissures, and sometimes oozing. Sadly, many people are frustrated by allergic contact dermatitis for years trying to determine the source by trial and error.

While there are more than 3,000 chemicals that can cause allergic contact dermatitis, there are only a few allergens that account for most of the cases. These 35 most common allergens and allergen mixes are what the T.R.U.E. Test checks.

During the T.R.U.E. Test, specially treated patches will be affixed to your back and left in place for 48 hours. Then you return to the office and your skin is evaluated at that visit and again at 72-hours and 96 hours.

The T.R.U.E. Test is recommended for:

  • Dermatitis that persists or recurs frequently
  • Dermatitis that does not respond to treatment
  • Presumed or suspected contact dermatitis
  • Dorsal or patchy dermatitis on the hands
  • Dermatitis with unusual distribution or eruption patterns
  • Dermatitis of unknown cause
  • Dermatitis on the face
  • Dermatitis that appears suddenly with no past history

A Partial List of T.R.U.E. Test Allergens Tested:

Nickel Sulfate
Wool Alcohols
Fragrance Mix
Paraben Mix
Balsam of Peru
Cobalt Dichloride
Formaldehyde
Epoxy Resin
Black Rubber Mix
Thimersosal
Carba Mix
Neomycin Sulfate
Bacitracin
Hydrocortisone-17-Butyrate
Parthenolide
Disperse Blue 106

The T.R.U.E. Test has undergone more than 25 clinical studies involving more than 4,500 patients to evaluate its safety and effectiveness as a diagnostic tool including two studies that focused on children ages 6 to 17.

For more information about patch testing or to schedule an appointment, please call our office at (760) 323-4735.
Call Today for an Appointment!
760-323-4735
Share by: