Which specialist performs patch testing?

Patch testing looks for delayed skin reactions to substances that touch your body, such as fragrances, preservatives, metals, adhesives, hair products, or topical medicines. The clinician places small amounts of selected substances on the skin, commonly on the back, and checks the sites at planned visits. Interpretation depends on the pattern of redness, swelling, or itching and whether it fits your everyday exposures. An allergy specialist may sometimes be involved, but a dermatologist is the usual specialist for skin-focused contact allergy assessment.

Bring a list of products that touch the affected area, including soaps, cosmetics, creams, work materials, and hair products. Take photographs of product labels when carrying the items is impractical. Tell the clinic about medicines, active rashes on the back, pregnancy, and treatments that may affect the skin. During the testing period, keep the patches dry and avoid strenuous activity that could loosen them. Do not apply creams or remove patches unless the clinic gives you that instruction.

Arrange a dermatology assessment when a recurring rash follows contact with a product, workplace material, jewellery, adhesive, or medication and the trigger is unclear. Seek prompt care for rapidly spreading redness, facial or eyelid swelling, blistering over a large area, fever, breathing difficulty, or swelling of the lips or tongue. Those features can need urgent assessment and are not reasons to wait for routine patch testing.

Ask which substances will be tested, how many visits are needed, what medicines or creams to pause, and how to protect the patches. You can also ask how a positive reaction will be matched to your products and what alternatives may help you avoid the confirmed trigger.