How to patch test skincare for sensitivity or allergy?Updated a year ago
Here’s how to do a skin patch test, with a few additional tips depending on the product you’re testing:
- Choose your patch: Patch in an area where the skin is fairly thin. Some good locations include the back or sides of the neck, behind the ear, on the forearm, the inner area of the upper arm, or the abdomen. While you can patch test on your face, a reaction might be more frustrating to deal with.
- Apply the product: When patch testing, you’ll want to apply the product in conditions that are similar to your real-life usage. Leave-on products should stay on the skin, while cleansers and masks should be washed off. If you’re testing a moisturizer, that means you should cleanse the patch area first, ideally with your usual facial cleanser.
- Keep it going: Keep patch testing the product for several days, according to usage instructions. Moisturizers can go on twice a day, whereas if you’re testing a chemical exfoliant, you may only want to apply it once every few days. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends patch-testing new skincare for 7 to 10 days. While this is a general guideline, you might find that testing for five days is enough if your skin isn’t very sensitive.
- Pay attention: Look out for signs of irritation in your patch test area. A reaction can include a rash, redness, tenderness, or itchiness. It might occur right away, or it might take a few days to develop. If there are no reactions within a reasonable time frame, you can proceed to use the new product over larger areas.