It has become common to read on product descriptions or on the label of the skincare product itself: "It is recommended to perform a skin test before use". But why is such a test recommended? What is a skin test? How can it be performed?
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Advantages of Testing Skin Care Products Before Their Application
Summary
Published February 29, 2024,
by
Stéphanie, Doctorate in Life and Health Sciences
—
4 min read
Why Is It Useful To Test a Cosmetic Care Product?
It is recommended to test cosmetic products for their tolerability before applying them to the skin. The main goal is to detect an allergic reaction and thus prevent the skin from having bad reactions. In fact, there are many substances that can trigger an allergy. Every person reacts differently: even if a skin care product is well tolerated by most people, it can cause allergies in others. One of the most effective methods is to expose a part of the skin to the cosmetic product and observe how it reacts to it. This is done with a skin tolerance test.
Skin Tolerance Test: How Should It Be Done?
We recommend that you take the time to test any new skincare product before adding it to your daily routine. Thus, you avoid unpleasant surprises and the disappointment that comes with them. You can find out how to do this here.
In practice, the test is performed in the crook of the elbow, behind the ear or on the inside of the wrist, where there are no injuries and where the skin has been previously cleaned with soap and dried.
Then apply a small amount of the care in question and spread it well on the test area.
Keep the product on the skin for at least 24 hours, as in some cases a reaction may not occur for several hours. During this time, do not allow the area to become wet or apply other skin care products. Then examine the area.
After the test, one of two results will be given:
Positive result: if there is tingling, redness, localized swelling and/or itching on the skin, rinse off the skincare immediately to remove all traces and stop using it. This means that you have an allergic reaction to one or more ingredients of the skincare.
Negative result: if no skin changes were detected, it means that your skin tolerates the product. However, it is possible that the first applications on the skin did not cause any reactions, the skin symptoms may appear after a varying period of application.
It is also ideal if you take the time to check the list of ingredients of the cosmetic product before using it. Thus, you can avoid contact with the allergenic ingredient and thus reduce breakouts.
Although skin tests are generally considered safe, in reality they are associated with certain risksof adverse reactions, including hives, itching or redness of the skin.
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