What is a Pimple Patch? Your Ultimate Guide
A pimple patch can be the perfect solution when a large pimple appears. Unlike spot treatments such as creams and gels, pimple patches stay put, extracting oil and impurities from an active breakout to speed up the healing process without being accidentally wiped off.
So, how does a pimple patch work? And are pimple patches the best way to treat blemishes? This guide covers everything you need to know about pimple patches. From what they do to how to use pimple patches and the best pimple patches of 2024, here’s everything you should know.
How Do Pimple Pimple Patches Work?
A pimple patch (also known as an acne patch or hydrocolloid patch) is a small sticker made from hydrocolloid, a wound-healing gel that works to absorb fluid to help skin heal faster. Think of it like an adhesive bandage. It creates a protective seal over the blemish while absorbing excess oil, moisture, and dirt from your breakout, allowing it to heal quickly and effectively so skin can recover completely and with less risk of scarring.
Pimple patches also create a barrier between a blemish and your hands, so you’ll have a harder time picking at the spot. Picking a pimple can make it so much worse by pushing more dirt into the skin while simultaneously causing trauma, which can lead to acne scars. Pimple patches prevent this.
Are Pimple Patches Good?
Pimple patches are a great skincare product for treating painful pimples. You’ll find many different types of pimple patches. Most contain hydrocolloid as this is a powerhouse skin healer that’s been used for decades for its wound healing properties. However, you’ll also find some formulas contain key ingredients like salicylic acid, glycolic acid, niacinamide, benzoyl peroxide, hyaluronic acid, and tea tree oil—which lend acne-fighting, anti-inflammatory activity to enhance healing. Here are the benefits of pimple patches:
Block Bacteria
Hydrocolloid pimple patches create a physical barrier on the skin to block bacteria from entering a breakout. They keep the area clean, creating an environment in which your zit can heal without trauma.
Promote Healing
Thanks to the hydrocolloid base, pimple patches ease inflammation and promote healing. A pimple patch seals over your blemish and draws out gunk and sebum to give your skin the best chance of healing and ultimately, make that pesky pimple disappear.
Protect Against Picking
One of the best features of acne pimple patches is that they protect your blemish from your own hands and bacteria that might make it flare. What’s more, a pimple patch protects against any trauma that can be caused by picking and prodding at a pimple, preventing marks and scars.
Suitable for All Skin Types
Whether you’ve got dry skin or sensitive skin, all skin types can benefit from blemish patches. This is because pimple patches are generally much gentler compared to most spot treatments which can leave the skin dry, tight, and flaky.
Best Pimple Patches 2024
What is the best pimple patch? From heart pimple patches to star pimple patches, we’ve rounded up our fave spot patches to clear up your zits in a flash. Don’t forget to subscribe and save 10% on your first order—and every order afterwards.
Truly’s #Heart Your Imperfections Blemish Patches
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With the power of hydrocolloid, these heart-shaped pimple patches cleanse from deep within to clear up oozy zits and whiteheads without drying out your skin. They’re vegan, cruelty-free, and a long-time bestseller.
Truly’s Our Stars Prevent Scars Blemish Patches
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Powered by hydrocolloid, tea tree, and glycolic acid, these star-shaped pimple patches absorb impurities, slough away dead cells, and fight acne-causing bacteria to clear up whiteheads and heal popped pimples while preventing acne scars.
Do Pimple Patches Work on Whiteheads?
Yes, pimple patches actually work the best on whiteheads. In general, pimple patches are the most effective on whiteheads, pus-filled bumps, mild breakouts, and pimples that have just been popped. They work the best on surface-level acne.
Pimple patches for whiteheads help by absorbing excess sebum along with gunk and moisture to speed up the healing process and clarify blemishes while preventing future ones from forming.
Do Pimple Patches Work on Blackheads?
Unfortunately, pimple patches for blackheads won’t do much. Because these stickers work best on surface-level acne like whiteheads and freshly popped pimples, they’re not as effective at treating deeper skin concerns like blackheads or clogged pores.
That being said, while pimple patches won’t pull out blackheads directly, they can absorb gunk like pus and sebum, which may help prevent clogged pores and possibly reduce the appearance of blackheads. But again, pimple patches do work best on surface-level spots like whiteheads and popped pimples.
Do Pimple Patches Work on Cysts?
Pimple patches can help reduce inflammation and absorb excess oil and impurities for surface-level acne but they’re less effective at treating deep-rooted blemishes like cystic acne. According to dermatologists, a pimple patch works best on open, draining, and healing pustules and papules.
However, some derms say pimple patches may be effective on early-stage cystic acne to ease inflammation and reduce the size of the spot while encouraging healing.
When to Use a Pimple Patch
The best time to use a pimple patch is when you’ve just popped a pimple. Patching it up will absorb all that gunk and sebum while protecting it against external irritants. Pimple patches also work well on early-stage zits. So when you feel a blemish arising, now’s the time to stick on a pimple patch. It’ll suck out all the gunk from your zit and boost healing so your pimple goes away as quickly as possible.
How to Use Pimple Patch
Like with any acne treatment, it’s important to know how to use pimple patches properly in order to get the best results from them. Here are some tips on how to use a pimple patch.
• Cleanse Your Face: Always wash your face before applying a pimple patch to remove any dirt or impurities and prevent any bacteria from getting trapped between a pimple patch and your breakout.
• Wait For Skin to Dry: Ensure your skin is completely dry before applying pimple patches, otherwise they will not stick properly.
• Apply the Patch: Peel the patch off with clean hands and place it, tacky side down, over your blemish.
• Leave on for 6+ Hours: Keep the patch on the affected area for at least six hours or even better: overnight. This will give your patch time to extract dirt and oil during skin’s recovery mode to maximize healing.
• Remove and Repeat: Your blemish may not disappear after the first patch, so repeat the process until it goes away completely.
Shop These Zit-Erasing Routines
To get the most out of our pimple patches, bundle them with other acne-fighting formulas. Here are the best sets for getting you clear from head to toe.
Truly’s Super Star Routine
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Keep your skin fresh, clear, and glowing with the Super Star Bundle featuring our iconic star-shaped pimple patches, anti-aging face serum, and mask. Formulated with tea tree, hydrocolloid, retinol, and vitamin C.
Truly’s Boobne Routine
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Breakouts on your boobs? This cleansing, exfoliating, and healing blemish trio will zap away zits in no time. Made with salicylic acid, black charcoal, and tea tree, your boob blemishes won’t stand a chance.
Truly’s Bodne Routine
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This bestelling bodne routine features our award-winning bacne cleanser and three other fan-faves for banishing body acne in just four steps. Powered by hydrocolloid, salicylic acid, and niacinamide to decongest pores, ease inflamed blemishes, and even out skin tone for your clearest back, chest, and butt.
How Long to Leave Pimple Patch On?
You’ll need to keep the pimple patch on for at least six hours to be able to see an improvement in the appearance of your blemish. Some say four hours is enough. However, if you want to get the most out of a pimple patch, we recommend wearing it for a minimum of six hours and preferably, overnight—when you skin’s in rejuvenation mode.
How long to keep pimple patch on? Aim for at least six hours, or overnight for best results. Then remove and apply a new sticker. Repeat until your blemish disappears.
What to Do After Removing Pimple Patch
Once you’ve left your pimple patch on for six hours or longer, wash your hands and gently remove the patch from your blemish. If the blemish still hasn’t gone, apply a new sticker. If it has, you can then cleanse, tone, and moisturize your skin as usual with your favorite skincare products.
To prevent future pimples, follow an acne-fighting skincare routine that consists of a purifying cleanser, toner, lightweight moisturizer, and SPF. Choose products with blemish-busting ingredients like exfoliating salicylic acid, oil-absorbing charcoal, and antibacterial tea tree oil.
By following a regimen for acne-prone skin, you’ll reduce the risk of future breakouts while simultaneously preventing acne scars and dark spots.
Do Pimple Patches Work?
Pimple patches are a great option for spot treating breakouts. They work the best on whiteheads, pus-filled bumps, and freshly popped pimples, helping to absorb dirt and excess oil to promote speedy healing. Plus, they provide a protective barrier against picking fingers.
Browse our bestselling pimple patches and make sure you always have a pack on hand for whenever a blemish strikes.
