EurekAlert!: The future of skin allergy testing: Mayo Clinic developing tool to help speed diagnosis The future of skin allergy testing: Mayo Clinic developing tool to help speed diagnosis AOL: How To Patch Test a New Skincare Product Correctly, According to Dermatologists How To Patch Test a New Skincare Product Correctly, According to Dermatologists Overview During allergy skin tests, the skin is exposed to suspected allergy-causing substances, called allergens, and then checked for signs of an allergic reaction. Along with a medical history, allergy tests may be able to confirm whether a particular substance a person touches, breathes or eats is causing symptoms.