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What Is A Patch Test?
Skin is one of the most extensive organs of the body, the one that is contact with external elements all the time, and must be taken care of like a baby. Over-experimentation on your skin may lead to adverse reactions too. It is important we ensure the health of our skin and use products cautiously on it. Definitely avoid products loaded with chemicals. There are many which are being questioned because of their long term negative impact. Even some of the natural ingredients could cause allergies in some people, so its better to test them before full use.
A Skin Patch test is one such way through which we can test the compatibility of skin for different products or ingredients. It makes sure that we know whether we are allergic to that particular product.
The patch test is an amazing technique to check whether or not a particular product suits you. If you have hypersensitive skin, you must try a patch test before trying out a new product. Even otherwise if you’re using something for the first time, you must check.
Allergy patch test is not just for your skin. Whenever you are going to try out a new hair product, you can do a patch test for that too, just to ensure that there are no adverse reactions on your scalp and hair.
Why You Should Do Patch Test For Hair And Skin Products?
The primary reason why anyone should patch test for hair and skin products is to ensure that the product is suitable for your skin and hair and won’t trigger any sort of allergic reactions. Besides this you should do patch test because:
1. Try patch Test If You Have Hypersensitive Skin
If you have a history of catching allergic reactions very easily then you must patch test every new product before you begin using it. This will ensure that the product is safe to use.
2. Some Products Are More Likely To Cause Allergic Reactions Or Breakouts
Some products that are composed of either of the following compounds can trigger allergic reactions.
- Synthetic dyes
- Fragrances
- Parabens
- Preservatives
- Sulfates
- Phthalates
- Products containing high concentration of acids
Also Read : Parabens - All you Need to Know
These products can harm any skin type and must be patch tested before use.
If after patch testing, the skin shows itchy rash or you notice breakout then it signifies that the product is not safe for your skin and you must abandon it instantly.
How To Do A Patch Test At Home?
Below the step by step patch test procedure that will paint a clear picture of how to do a patch test.
- The skin where you will be trying on the product must not be wearing any other sort of product and must be cleaned and dried properly.
- Take a small portion of the product and apply it to the area where you want to patch test.
- Cover the area with a bandage.
- The skin typically shows the reaction within 24 hours. Within this time frame, the area must not come in contact with water so that it is not washed off.
- If you observe any kind of itchy rash, breakout, reddening, irritation, it implies that the product didn’t suit your skin.
- If you notice any kind of allergy before within this time frame you must immediately remove the bandage and wash the area properly.
- If you do not observe any of the above symptoms then you can go ahead and use the product.
Following These Simples Steps To Allergy Patch Test At Home.
Typically you should look for the following after the patch test
- Major reactions: The skin becomes extremely red and you observe uneven bumps on the skin. If this occurs, you must immediately abandon the product.
- Mild reactions: These reactions occur for not more than an hour and are not that harmful. If the reaction still continues then you should discontinue the use of the product.
- Breakout: If the product is causing any sort of breakouts like acne, pimples, blackheads, etc. then also you should discontinue to use the product.
- No reaction: If even after 24 hours the skin looks perfectly healthy then the product is safe to use.
A Few More Points That Must Be Kept In Mind Are
Choose the area of patch testing wisely i.e., choose an area which is hidden and close to the region where you will actually be using the product. For example do the hair dye patch test on arm.
When patch testing for breakouts try doing it to the areas prone to acne like your cheeks and chin. Apply it to your cheeks or chin. Continue to do this for a week.
Disclaimer: All the content on anveya.com/blogs is solely for information. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or a qualified health care provider. The information, suggestion or remedies mentioned on this site are provided without warranty of any kind, whether express or implied.
