How to patch test a new skincare product?
The biggest horror of anyone's life would be a skin care product that reacts badly to their skin. There are a lot of products out there that claim to be good for sensitive skin, but that may not be necessarily true. Hence, it is advisable to patch test your new product before adding it into your routine.
Let’s learn how to perform a patch test and why it is important to patch-test a new product beforehand.
What is a 'Patch Testing'?
A 'Patch Test' or a 'Patch Testing' is a way to analyze whether a specific product causes an allergic reaction or skin irritation. Innumerable substances such as perfumes, preservatives, and other ingredients could lead to skin sensitivity or reactions. Hence, patch testing helps identify components that could lead to sensitivity or allergies. By performing a simple patch test at home, you can determine if a product comprises ingredients that could sensitize your skin and thus avoid it in the future.
According to the American Academy of Dermatology, there are about 15,000 substances that could lead to skin allergies or reactions. Hence, it is recommended that a person should patch-test at least seven days before using a new product.
Why is Patch-Testing necessary?
Skin care products are formulated with a variety of ingredients. Some of these ingredients may aggravate an individuals skin and lead to intense allergic reactions. By patch-testing on a smaller area of the skin, you could check the tolerance of that particular ingredient or product on your skin. It will help you determine whether or not you can commit to continuing using this product.
According to the American Academy of Dermatology, there are about 15,000 substances that could lead to skin allergies or reactions. Hence, it is recommended that a person should patch-test at least seven days before using a new product.
Irritation from an ingredient may result in dermatitis. When the skin comes in contact with a potential allergen, it results in contact dermatitis. If an individual is allergic to a new substance, the skin may take some time to respond. However, if an individual is already allergic to a substance and has experienced it earlier, the reaction will develop instantly.
Why is patch-testing necessary, especially for people with sensitive skin?
A patch test helps to determine a possible allergic reaction to your skin. Sensitive skin is a skin type that is highly reactive to unfavorable substances and ingredients in a product. Thus, it becomes a critical practice for an individual with sensitive skin to patch test the products before using, as their skin could respond in worse ways, unlike individuals with other skin types.
Common allergens could include fragrances, dyes, solvents, and emulsifiers. Artificial fragrances such as linalool, limonene, and citronellol can lead to skin sensitivities.
Other evidence suggests that preservatives such as methylisothiazolinone and formaldehyde also mcause allergies in sensitive skin.
How to patch test?
The American Academy of Dermatology suggests the following steps to patch test a new skincare product:
- Apply the product to the bend of the elbow
- Apply the product as thickly as you would use it daily to a quarter-sized area on the skin
- Leave the product patch on the skin for as long as the product usually remains. If it is a face cleanser, keep the patch on for 2-5 minutes
- Repeat the patch test twice a day for a week. A reaction may not happen immediately
- If your skin reacts to the product, wash the patch and stop using that product immediately
What symptoms to look out for after a patch testing?
If your skin reacts to a product, you may experience a rash, itching, burning, swelling, or blistering. This skin reaction may vary, depending upon the duration of patch testing and the nature of the product used. You can cool compress or use petroleum jelly to soothe and relieve skin.
To avoid further allergic reactions to skin care products, search for labels and products that do not contain potential allergens. Search for the packaging that says 'Fragrance-Free' on their packaging or contain no fragrance in their ingredients list.
Choose products that are gentle and effective, formulated especially for sensitive skin. Avoid products that have fragrance, denatured alcohol, essential oils, and dyes.
Labels or packaging that say organic, natural, dermatologically-tested are not necessarily 'safe' for sensitive skin. Read the list of ingredients before investing in that product.
Follow this simple practice of patch testing to identify which product suits your sensitive skin!