20 Make sure that your skin at the application site is:  clean and dry (free of lotions, moisturisers, and powders)  as smooth as possible (no major creases or skin folds)  not cut or irritated (free of rashes or other skin problems)  unlikely to be rubbed by clothing excessively  preferably free from hair.  When changing your patch, stick the new patch on to a different area of the skin of your abdomen, otherwise you are more likely to cause skin irritation.