What is that stuff everyone’s sticking on their skin these days? They look like stickers — and they are. More specifically, they’re acne stickers known as acne or pimple patches that are used treat certain kinds of blemishes.
Pimple and acne patches are essentially an old-school wound dressing. Acne patches are made from hydrocolloid material. Hydrocolloid consists of gelatin or pectin, says Debra Jaliman, MD, a dermatologist in New York City and the author of Skin Rules. They may be made only of hydrocolloid or they might also be medicated with a common pimple-fighting ingredient like salicylic acid, she adds.
“These patches are effective because they absorb excess fluid and have a vacuum-like effect that gets out any dirt and oil that could be causing a breakout,” says Dr. Jaliman. “It then converts those impurities into a gel-like substance that sticks to the patch and is sealed away from the face.”
Essentially, the patch ‘sucks’ the pus out of the pimple. The patches may also prevent bacteria from entering the pimple and worsening redness and inflammation. This “sucking’ effect is central to hydrocolloid technology, according to the bandage brand Nexcare.
Think of these stickers as the ultimate spot treatments. For the reasons outlined above, pimple patches can minimize the appearance of pimples while accelerating healing.
Acne stickers may also prevent touching and picking. If you have a pimple, the one thing a dermatologist will tell you to do is adopt a hands-off policy. And what is the one thing you’re guaranteed to do anyway? Pick it or pop it.
“What acne patches probably do the best job at is keeping the area covered so that you can’t pick at your blemish,” says Lauren Fine, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and the founder of Fine Dermatology in Chicago. “Ninety-nine percent of the time, [picking] will make it worse because it triggers more inflammation, which increases healing time and makes it more likely to leave a mark, discoloration, or scar,” she says.
Picking also drives the pus deeper into the skin, making it more likely to stick around. On a practical level, pimple patches are clear (although not invisible), which helps them hide on your skin. This can give you more confidence to wear them during the day if this helps stop you from picking at your pimple.
Like other acne treatments, pimple patches may contain active ingredients that help treat the breakout, such as salicylic acid. “These ingredients might deliver some extra help to clear dirt and bacteria out of pores and speed clearing,” says Jaliman.
The American Academy of Dermatology notes that salicylic acid, alongside benzoyl peroxide, is one of the best ingredients to treat acne breakouts. It’s like giving a pimple a one-two punch. Some pimple patch products also include skin-soothing ingredients such as aloe vera, which research shows can further reduce inflammation.Pimple patches should be reserved for papules and pustules (red bumps or pus-filled pimples); they are not effective on blackheads, whiteheads, or cystic acne. These are spot treatments only. They are not designed to address large breakouts.
If your breakouts look more like a multitude of small red bumps that have spread over a wide area of your face, or if you have cystic acne, you’re better off seeing your dermatologist. A dermatologist can put you on a topical regimen that will treat your face as a whole and stop the cycle of acne (rather than continually playing defense to heal pimples as they pop up).
To get the best results from acne stickers, follow these tips:
Read the directions on the brand you’re using and follow them — this will help decrease the risk of any side effects.
Wash your face as normal, drying your skin well (which will help the sticker adhere).
Apply the sticker to your pimple and wear it overnight or for as many hours as recommended on the package. If needed, you can keep it on for your shower, as they’re waterproof.
Remove the patch. Pimple fluid should now be on the sticker.
Wash your face again as you would during your normal morning routine.
Replace with a fresh patch if your blemish still needs to be treated.
Although you can wear pimple patches any time of day, Jaliman says they’re best saved as an overnight treatment. “At night while we sleep, skin cells regenerate,” she says. Meaning: Skin is repairing and rejuvenating. Treating your skin at night can tap into that natural process, improving your results.
Even though these patches are essentially bandages, they can still cause side effects on skin. “Ingredients commonly found in these patches include salicylic acid, green tea, and niacinamide. I have seen patients have reactions to active ingredients,” says Dr. Fine.
That’s because keeping active ingredients in prolonged contact with the skin can cause skin irritation like redness and discomfort. Fine points out that these patches may even trigger widespread facial dermatitis. Dermatitis is an irritation of the skin that can present with symptoms such as dryness, itchiness, blisters, or a rash. If you notice this type of reaction after using acne stickers, stop using the patches. Use an anti-itch cream, moisturize daily, or use a cool wet cloth on skin to soothe this irritation. If that doesn’t work, contact your dermatologist.
Acne stickers treat breakouts, prevent picking, and speed up healing time. They work best on single pimples and are best worn overnight.
It’s possible to have a reaction to the adhesive or active ingredients in these patches.
If a reaction occurs, stop using them and talk to your dermatologist about pimple-fighting options to suit you better.
