While acne patches can be highly effective, there are times when they might not be the best option. For instance, they should never be used on open wounds, including open or freshly popped pimples, as this can actually trap bacteria under the patch and slow the healing process.
Patches can help draw out impurities and speed up healing. Just-popped pimples: If you've succumbed to the urge to pop a pimple (not recommended!), a patch can help absorb remaining pus and protect the area from further irritation while it heals.
Can I use a hydrocolloid bandage if I've already popped my pimple? While it's always best to avoid popping a pimple at all, a pimple patch can help if you do3. This is because they'll absorb the drainage from your burst pimple and help to heal the open wound3.
While pimple patches are effective on open whiteheads and existing breakouts, they are not very useful on closed lesions or deeper pimples such as blackheads. They work best as spot treatments on active pimples but cannot help prevent breakouts. They are also unable to prevent scarring, sadly.
Don't use them on broken or bleeding pimples
Stick to using them on whiteheads or pimples with a head to avoid introducing bacteria.
When to Avoid Using Pimple Patches. While acne patches can be highly effective, there are times when they might not be the best option. For instance, they should never be used on open wounds, including open or freshly popped pimples, as this can actually trap bacteria under the patch and slow the healing process.
Apply Antibiotic Ointment
Put a dab of antibiotic ointment on the area to kill any surface bacteria near the wound.
Pimple patches, acne stickers and acne patches are really helpful, specifically for blind pimples. You'll find unmedicated and medicated versions. Medicated patches, like ones that use benzoyl peroxide, help kill off unnecessary bacteria. But hydrocolloid patches are perhaps the most beneficial.
Any type of patch will help prevent you from picking, but remember that unless your pimple is an active pustule (i.e., it's got white pus coming out of it), a medicated, non-hydrocolloid product is the only type of patch that can actually “treat” it.
A simple bland ointment like Aquaphor or Vaseline works. But if it's more inflamed or pus comes out, you may want to use an OTC antibiotic ointment like Neosporin to prevent infection. Pro tip: If you need an emergency spot treatment, you can use some OTC hydrocortisone 1% cream to help reduce inflammation.
However, hydrocolloid patches only help treat pimples already oozing fluid, making them ideal for zits that have already “popped” or been picked.
Home remedies, such as cleansing the skin, applying ice, and using benzoyl peroxide, can help shrink a cystic pimple. However, in some cases, cystic acne may require dermatological help. Cystic acne is a severe form of acne that causes large bumps to form under the skin.
As the hydrocolloid works, you might notice the pimple patch turns white as it absorbs fluids like pus and oil, forming a white substance composed of the exudate that has been absorbed by the hydrocolloid material.
Your body can gradually break down pus and reabsorb its components. That's why small accumulations of pus (like in a pimple) often don't need treatment.
Turns white, so you know it's working. Remove the patch once it's opaque.
Can I pop a blind pimple? Never try to pop or squeeze a blind pimple. Doing so pushes the oil and bacteria deeper, causing more inflammation and increasing the risk of infection.
Wrap your fingers in tissue or cotton. Place your fingers on either side of the blemish. Gently pull away from the blemish (the opposite of squeezing). This will often drain the pimple without the risk of pushing any infected matter deeper into the skin.
It's fine to apply a little heat to a pimple that's ready to pop, but not before and certainly not after. The use of astringents with alcohol or the use of rubbing alcohol itself to dry out a pimple doesn't always help. For those with oily skin, this treatment may seem like it would balance skin out.
Apply a warm compress
Applying a warm compress can help treat a blind pimple. The heat can open up pores, which may draw the pimple closer to the skin's surface and create a head. The formation of a head enables the sebum, cells, and bacteria to exit the skin. The heat from the compress can also help relieve pain.
Besides being unlikely to work, toothpaste will probably burn and irritate your skin—especially your face. Some people develop a chemical burn or a rash called contact dermatitis after applying toothpaste on a pimple. This can make your skin feel sore and your pimple look worse.
These invisible pimples are also known as cystic acne, which can be quite painful and can leave a scar when they eventually subside, regardless of whether it had come to a head or not. “If we don't treat the blind acne, it usually fades away on its own in a few weeks to a month.
If you have a pimple with a visible “head” or pus, simply cleanse your skin, let it dry, apply a patch and you're done. Six or so hours later, remove the patch and cleanse the area again. Side note: We sometimes get DMs asking “can you put a pimple patch on a popped pimple,” and the answer is yes, you can.
It can happen when you pop, squeeze, scratch or over-exfoliate a pimple, breaking the surrounding blood vessels. If you have frequent blood-filled pimples or other acne problems, talk to your primary care provider or dermatologist. Several remedies are available over the counter and by prescription.