Allergists are qualified physicians who are specially trained to diagnose and treat allergies. In the United States, they must complete three years of residency in internal medicine or pediatrics after graduating from medical school. Then, they study allergies and immunology for at least another two years.

Allergists in the U.S. who have met these requirements are eligible to become certified by the American Board of Allergy and Immunology. You can take advantage of their expertise by finding an allergist for yourself or for your child with food allergies. Here are some of the different ways an allergist can help you.

1. Supervise an Elimination Diet

Sometimes, it’s obvious which food is responsible for an allergic reaction. Other times, it’s tough to pinpoint why you’re experiencing symptoms like stomach problems, skin rashes, or trouble breathing.

To help solve the mystery, an allergist will ask questions to learn more about your situation and medical history. Then, they may suggest an elimination diet to narrow down which foods are problematic for you.

An elimination diet involves keeping a detailed food diary where you write down everything you eat, as well as other notes about your symptoms or medications. You’ll cut out foods based on your allergist’s recommendations. After doing this for a certain period of time, you may be advised to add those foods back to your diet to see how your body responds.

2. Perform Allergy Testing

Once you have a better idea of which foods you may be allergic to, your allergist can recommend testing for an accurate diagnosis.

Examples of tests an allergist may run for food allergies include:

• Blood tests — You’ll provide a blood sample to be analyzed in a lab. You will probably have to wait a week or two for your results. Then, your allergist will read the lab report to see if your body is creating antibodies in response to certain foods.
• Oral food challenge — You’ll be given small amounts of allergenic food in the doctor’s office while the allergist monitors for an allergic reaction.
• Skin test — A health care provider will prick your back or arm with a tiny sample of specific allergens to see if your skin reacts. This test is done in the office and takes 15 to 30 minutes.

After you complete this testing, your allergist will help you understand the results and plan your next steps.

3. Provide General Education

Your allergist is a great resource for discussing how to deal with allergies in real life. An allergist can teach you how to check for ingredients you’re allergic to when shopping at the grocery store or eating out at restaurants.

Parents of children with food allergies can benefit in many ways from an allergist’s expertise. If you have a child with food allergies, an allergist can help by communicating with the school nurse or your child care provider about managing allergies away from home. Your allergist is also a good resource when you have questions as your child has new experiences, like riding the school bus, going on field trips, or attending summer camp.

As your child gets older, an allergist is there to help educate them on how to make good choices and seek help when they need it.

4. Prepare You for Emergencies

Food allergies can cause a life-threatening reaction called anaphylaxis. If a serious allergic reaction strikes, your readiness to act quickly is crucial.

Preparing for emergencies with your or your child’s allergist empowers you to take control in an urgent situation. Your allergist can tell you about specific symptoms to look for, such as hives, vomiting, and trouble breathing. They’ll explain when you should administer an emergency epinephrine injection or call for an ambulance. They will also give you advice on how to store epinephrine and when to get an updated refill.

5. Review Treatment Options

Besides teaching you how to avoid allergy triggers, inject epinephrine, and use other allergy medications (like antihistamines), your allergist can tell you about other allergy treatment options.

Food allergen immunotherapy is a growing field that aims to help people with food allergies. Oral immunotherapy involves gradually giving you increasing amounts of an allergen until you reach what is known as a maintenance dose. For example, peanut allergen powder-dnfp (Palforzia) is an oral immunotherapy approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for children and teens with peanut allergies. This treatment isn’t designed to cure peanut allergies, but rather to make severe allergic reactions less likely.

You can talk to your child’s allergist to determine if oral immunotherapy should be part of your child’s treatment plan.

6. Make Referrals

People with food allergies don’t just benefit from the support of an allergist. There’s also value in meeting with other specialists, like registered dietitian nutritionists and mental health providers. Having a food allergy (or a child with a food allergy) is challenging. You can reduce your worries by building a team to help you navigate life with this condition.

A dietitian is a nutrition professional who can teach you how to read food labels and find safe foods when you’re away from home. They can support your family with recipes and tips to make mealtimes less stressful. In addition, mental health counselors can provide strategies for dealing with sibling dynamics, food anxiety, and fear for your safety or your child’s.

Food allergy-informed counselors are mental health professionals who receive special training on the problems families with food allergies often face.

Your allergist is a great starting point for getting referrals to other health professionals. They can connect you with other providers who have experience with food allergies and are equipped to provide the support you need.

Talk With Others Who Understand

MyFoodAllergyTeam is the social network for people with food allergies and their loved ones. It’s a place where over 41,000 members come together to ask questions, offer support and advice, and connect with others who understand life with food allergies.

Has your allergist helped to improve your quality of life? What types of tests and allergy treatments have they given you? Share in the comments below, or start a conversation by posting on your Activities page.