Dr. Abdulaziz AlRashed — Consultant Dermatologist, Cosmetic & Laser

Patch Testing – Instructions

Last reviewed 1 July 2026 — Dr. Abdulaziz AlRashed

A patient advice sheet — 8 practical points. Reviewed and updated by Dr. Abdulaziz AlRashed, July 2026.

Last reviewed: July 2026

The advice

Patch testing uncovers the delayed contact allergies behind your eczema: small patches of specific substances are stuck on your back and stay for 48 hours.
The most important rule: the back stays completely dry from application until the final reading — no showering on the back, no sport, no sweating, no sauna; sweat lifts the patches and ruins the test.
Do not scratch the back or rub the patches; if a patch lifts, press it down, tape it, and note its number.
Before the test: avoid sun on the back for two weeks, stop cortisone creams on the back for a week, and tell us your medicines (cortisone tablets can affect results).
Three visits, all essential: day 1 application; day 2 (48 h) patch removal and first reading; day 4 final reading — some cases need a day-7 reading too.
Itching under a specific patch is often a positive reaction developing — do not open the patches, just note the spot. For severe burning, call us.
Wear a loose dark shirt and sleep on your side or front during the test days.
Afterwards you receive a written list of your allergens and where they hide (products, occupations, accessories) — consistent avoidance is the treatment, and improvement takes weeks.

See also the full treatment page: Eczema treatment — options, evidence and expected timelines.

My private clinic at Kuwait Hospital (Sabah Al-Salem) — direct assessment and a treatment plan built around your case.