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By Mayo Clinic staffYour doctor may diagnose dermatitis after talking to you about your signs and symptoms and examining your skin.
Patch testing
In the case of contact dermatitis, your doctor may conduct patch testing on your skin to see which substances inflame your skin. In this test, your doctor applies small amounts of various substances to your skin under an adhesive covering. During return visits, your doctor examines your skin to see if you've had a reaction to any of the substances.