Patch testing your products at home can help identify potential reactions and allergies before they happen.
Here’s what you should probably know.
They’ll give it to you straight.
Need to know if your recentcurtain bangswere a good idea?
Get ready for some potentially painful texts.
And to my surprise, I was met with crickets.
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But despite being loudly preached by expertsespecially by beauty editorsmost of my friends admitted to never patch-testing their products.
Let’s dive in.
Experts in this article
What is a patch test?
A patch test is a non-invasive skin test to identify ingredients you’re allergic or sensitive to.
There are two versions: the DIY version and the professional version.
However, the jury’s still out on how many people actually follow through.
It could get overwhelming.")
“That could be a good time to do a patch test at home.”
This step is essential to rule out any potential issues and prevent them from occurring.
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This simple precaution can help you feel more confident about your products and their effects on your face.
What is contact dermatitis?
“The two main types of contact dermatitis are irritant and allergic,” says Dr. Martin.
Even though both irritant and allergic dermatitis are classified as contact dermatitis, they’re different.
Dr. Lal says allergic dermatitis kicks your immune system into gear at a molecular level.
“Sometimes, reactions can be a little deceiving,” says Dr. Collins.
Basically, because of its thinness, your eyelids are more reactive than other parts of your body.
Fragrance allergies are so common among Dr. Collins' patients that she encourages people to avoid them entirely.
Lanolin is an ingredient from sheep’s wool.
Quaternium-15 is a super-common formaldehyde-releasing preservative used to prolong the shelf-life of products.
Its also strongly disliked by all of our interviewed experts due to its high risk of irritation.
Reactions to most of these allergens may appear as contact dermatitis.
For facial products, he says you’ve got the option to also consider testing behind your ear.
Dr. Smith says you’ll want to apply the product twice daily for at least a few hours.
However, Dr. Smith says you should react quickly if you see or feel a reaction.
“Immediately wash the area with agentle fragrance-free soap,” he says.
What happens during a professional patch test?
For starters, Dr. Collins explains two types of patch tests: theTrue Testand theNorth American 80 Comprehensive Seriestest.
The latter is a more comprehensive option that tests for 80 allergens compared to the True Test’s 35.
Once you and your healthcare provider have chosen the appropriate test, the procedural steps follow.
There is the “rare chance” your skin reacts immediately.
Otherwise, your provider will send you on your way, and the waiting game will begin.
Typically, you’ll be asked to return for one or more follow-ups that week.
Consequently, these ingredients are not typically included in standard patch tests.
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