Pimple Patches / Acne Patches how do they work?

April 06, 2021

Have you been searching for something to help you with your acne and stumbled upon pimple patches? Wondering if they’ll work for you?

Let’s talk about what they are and how you might be able to benefit from using these patches to help clear your skin. 

What are Pimple Patches / Acne Patches?

Pimple or acne patches are round semi-transparent stickers made of hydrocolloid dressing. Hydrocolloid is a waterproof dressing that is breathable, biodegradable, and sticks to the skin. They have an active surface treated with a gel-forming substance that has pectin, carboxy-methylcellulose, polymers, and adhesives and was developed to treat superficial wounds. 

These patches act as a scab. They allow the wound to retain healing fluids while acting as a protective barrier. When applied to pimple or acne wounds, the benefits are the same, providing protection and healing to the wound. The patch withdraws moisture and bacteria from the pores, turning them into a gel-like substance, without drying the surrounding skin. The gel adheres to the patch making removal easy.

The barrier provided by the patch will also prevent the introduction of new bacteria to the wound. Many of us are chronic pickers or unconsciously touch our faces repeatedly throughout the day. Having a patch covering your pimple prevents this thus providing further protection. Popping or touching a pimple increases the introduction of bacteria as well as lengthens the time it takes to heal.

Types of Pimple Patches

Will pimple or acne patches cure your acne? They certainly help. While they won't heal an unopened or non-draining blister, they will however pull the pus from your open blisters and provide a safe, healing, covered environment.

Some pimple patches have been infused with healing and soothing ingredients that will encourage healing and soothe irritation. Let's take a look at some of these patches and their benefits.

Hydrocolloid patches are usually referred to as non-medicated acne patches as they are usually infused with the wound healing substance hydrocolloid and not much else. These are usually most effective on open, draining lesions providing moisture that helps to prevent scarring and coverage to promote healing. The compound effectively withdraws the mucus and bacteria in a gel-like state for easier removal. 

Cosrx Acne Pimple Master Patch is one of many brands of hydrocolloid patches. These patches come in three different sizes to fit your personal coverage needs. Its hydrocolloid properties allow it to stick to the skin under any condition while still allowing for easy, painless removal. Used overnight, the patch, which is waterproof, protects from bacteria, reduces the appearance of redness, and hydrates skin. It also absorbs excess oil and pore impurities.

Microneedle patches are usually covered with dissolvable micro darts that are filled with various healing substances. The darts gently penetrate the skin to deliver the medicine directly to the source. Some may have hyaluronic acid which hydrates the pimple, salicylic acid to break down the pimple, and niacinamide to calm inflammation. Acropass is a well know brand that uses microneedle patches.

Some are infused with turmeric and niacinamide and another variety contains aloe vera, tea tree oil, and salicylic acid. Turmeric helps to soothe redness while aloe vera calms irritation and tea tree oil is antibacterial. 

Pimple patches have been credited with preventing the growth of pimples if applied early enough and may cause them to even disappear overnight. With all these different combinations of treatment, you are sure to find something to suit your needs.

An example of one such patch is the ZitSticka Killa Pimple Patch which is an Australian-based skincare brand. This product employs microneedle technology and is infused with needles containing hyaluronic acid, salicylic acids, and niacinamide. The healing properties of these pimple-fighting ingredients are delivered directly to the root of the blemish. The package usually contains eight patches and eight cleansing swabs. 

Medicated patches on the other hand are exactly as the name implies, they are infused with medication to facilitate the healing process. The Acne Absorbing Cover Patch by Avarelle is one such acne patch. It has tea tree oil, calendula oil, and cica and is a hydrocolloid dressing full of anti-inflammatories and antioxidants. These added ingredients make it perfect for sensitive skin.

While pimple patches will not effectively clear up your acne on their own, it is clear that they do offer tremendous support to the healing process. Used as directed with the support of proper diet, exercise, and an effective cleansing routine, it would be hard to not achieve desired results while using them.

Acne such as papules, nodules, cyst and pustules tend to be more severe. The patch may be able to offer protection, moisture, as well as soothing inflammation and redness. These types of acne however ultimately require in-depth care and intensive treatment. 

Extreme cases may require a visit to the dermatologist who will prescribe an effective treatment plan to affect the issue you face with acne, pimples, blisters, black and whiteheads.

If you’re suffering from acne, give these pimple patches a try to see if they’re just the solution for you.

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