A laser patch test is simply the opportunity to test your skin with the laser using the parameters that would be used during therapeutic treatment. This test allows the clinician to examine your skin’s reaction to the laser energy, and for you to feel the sensation of the laser on your skin. A patch test is required by law for safety measures to ensure that the skin does not negatively react to the laser energy. The patch test must be completed 48 hours prior to treatment for lighter skin types, and up to 72 hours prior to treatment for darker skin types. The laser patch test takes about 1 minute to perform.