Patch testing is a test that can help your doctor determine whether your skin condition is caused by an allergy to substances in contact with your skin e.g. substances at home or at work.
If you think that you have an allergy as a cause of your skin condition, you will need to visit your GP who will refer you to the department. If you already have patch test appointments arranged, please read through the information below.
Patch tests detect the type of allergy which is due to direct skin contact with things outside the body. It does not detect allergies related to diet or inhalation which might produce sneezing, asthma or hives.
The patch test clinic is held in the Main Outpatients Department, Level B, Burrell Wing, Royal Hampshire County Hospital in Winchester.
The clinic is on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. You will need to make three visits to the clinic.
When you see the nurse on the first visit, you will be tested to standard substances commonly in contact with the skin, e.g. rubber, chemicals, metals, perfumes and plants.
The substances to be tested will be applied in small amounts to your back and the sites marked with pen. The patches are stuck on your back and do not involve any injections. The patches stay in place for two days and are removed on the second visit when initial results are taken. The sites may itch but this is normal.
The final results are read on the third visit and the nurse will talk you through them and help you to locate where they may be found. The second and third visits should take no longer than half an hour.
It is possible that your patch tests will be negative. This is helpful since, as far as we can, we have eliminated contact allergy as a cause of your skin problem. Positive reactions become red and itchy at the test site and usually appear by the Friday appointment, although they can occasionally take longer. If you do develop a late reaction, please contact the clinic. Sometimes substances may stain the skin, this is normal.
