What Dermatologists Want You to Know About Pimple Patches
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Thanks to pimple patches printed in fun shapes and colors, you can wear a face full of stickers instead of angry breakouts. They’re cute and camoflauging, yes, but how do pimple patches work? Or do they work at all? Those are both valid questions that we asked dermatologists to answer.
Meet the Experts: Ruth McTighe, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist at Waccamaw Dermatology in Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina and Rishi Chopra, M.D., board-certified dermatologist at UnionDerm.
If you experience breakouts, struggle with skin picking, or are simply looking for new ways to treat and minimize normal spots, keep reading to learn more about how to use pimple patches—because they’re not all created equal.
How do pimple patches work?
Pimple patches are like protective bandages for breakouts. If you think about it, acne, especially if its been picked or popped, is an open sore—and a pimple patch’s most basic function is to create a barrier between that trauma and the environment (or worse, your wandering, picky fingers) to expedite the healing process.
Most pimple patches are made of hydrocolloid, a moisture-retaining material that turns to gel when it absorbs liquid and “prevents scab formation to speed up healing,” explains Ruth McTighe, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist at Waccamaw Dermatology in Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina.
Before pimple patches were trendy, the material was known for wound dressing. You will even find hydrocolloid in Band-Aids. In the case of acne patches, the hydrocolloid absorbs excess oil and pus from the breakout, Dr. McTighe adds.
Some pimple patches are that simple, and others are “medicated,” meaning they contain added active ingredients to soothe a breakout whilst the hydrocolloid sucks out the gunk. Those extra ingredients can include salicylic acid, niacinamide, tea tree, and more and may help reduce redness, swelling, and inflammation, says Rishi Chopra, M.D., board-certified dermatologist at UnionDerm.
By delivering healing ingredients and preventing picking, pimple patches are also a great defense against scarring, Dr. Chopra adds. Some pimple patches are even embellished with teeny microdarts infused with the aforementioned active ingredients that, when you press them on, pierce deep-set, cystic pimples to deliver medication beneath the skin.
Are pimple patches effective?
A 2024 randomized, controlled clinical trial found that non-medicated hydrocolloid patches worked on popped and closed pimples over 14 days by noticeably reducing pimple size, texture, and redness in participants’ skin. The research called the patches an effective acne treatment for fast, overnight results. However, pimple patch powers vary widely depending on the type you use (medicated or not), the kind of breakout you’re experiencing (whitehead or cystic bump), and whether or not the patch is applied to clean skin.
Overall, though: “They are most effective for superficial pimples and may not work as well on deeper or cystic acne lesions,” says Dr. McTighe. “Hydrocolloid pimple patches work best on whiteheads or acne bumps that have already come to a head.” Dr. Chopra adds that they also don’t prevent future acne and “are not a substitute for prescription-strength treatments prescribed by a board-certified dermatologist.”
Do pimple patches work on cysts?
Basic hydrocolloid patches without microdarts are not effective for deep, cystic acne and do not prevent new bumps from forming, Dr. McTighe says. Even mircodart patches may not be enough to flatten serious mounds. Microdart patches have, however, been found to effectively fade post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. “If you are experiencing persistent acne, it’s best to consult a dermatologist,” Dr. McTighe adds.
When to use a pimple patch
“It is best to apply a pimple patch after cleansing and thoroughly drying your skin,” explains Dr. McTighe. “You can wear them during the day or overnight—just be sure to change them daily or once they turn white.”
When not to use a pimple patch
If you’re not sure your on-hand pimple patches are a good match for an active pimple, you may want to skip them altogether. While a hydrocolloid patch and a whitehead will always be a good fit, other types of pimples may not mesh as well. Pimple patches should also not be used on “overly inflamed or broken skin,” says Dr. Chopra, because the patch may worsen irritation or cause an infection to brew underneath it.
How long to keep a pimple patch on
You can leave a patch on overnight, or until its surface is full of zit gunk, Dr. McTighe says.
The best pimple patches
The best pimple patch for you depends on your needs. Below are a basic hydrocolloid (for whiteheads), a microdart medicated patch (for early stage cysts or zits), and a medicated hydrocolloid patch (for whiteheads in need of extra treatment) recommended by dermatologists in our roundup of best pimple patches.
Mighty Patch Original
Microcrystal Spot Cover
Power Patch
Pimple patch side effects
Lastly, if you have sensitive or reactive skin, you may want to tread lightly. “Some adhesives or active ingredients can trigger irritation,” Dr. Chopra explains, which could lead to contact dermatitis. If you put a patch over a popped, unclean pimple, bacteria can lodge beneath the patch and actually make the breakout worse.
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