Wear the patch for at least six to eight hours, ideally overnight after cleansing the face. “Pimple patches aren't a cure for acne, but they help with healing and preventing infection,” he adds. Gently remove patches to avoid damaging skin.
Apply a Mighty Patch directly on top of the blemish and leave it on until the sticker turns opaque white, which generally takes about six hours. If there is still pus left in the pimple after your patch is removed, you can replace it with a new patch.
To use pimple patches, first clean and moisturize your face as normal. Then apply the sticker to your pimple and wear it overnight. You can keep it on while you shower, as it is waterproof, then wash your face as you would during your usual morning routine.
Avoid Overuse: To avoid skin irritation or excessive dryness, do not overuse patches or apply them to unaffected areas. Consider Other Treatments: Pimple patches can be used as spot treatments; if you have persistent or severe acne, consult your dermatologist about other acne treatments.
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.
The patch will turn white in the center, indicating it has absorbed the pimple's exudate. Once this happens, it's time for you to remove and replace it!
If your breakout hasn't been popped, a pimple patch can act as a helpful barrier to stop you from picking. Keep in mind that hydrocolloid patches are designed to work on open lesions, however, they can still prove effective at drawing out gunk from pimples that aren't open.
Apply a warm, damp washcloth to try to bring a pimple to a head. Soak a clean washcloth in hot water, then apply the warm, damp washcloth to your pimple for 10-15 minutes, three times daily. This will help the deep pimple move closer to your skin's surface so it can heal.
Dermatologist Leona Yip says patches can be a "good idea". "It's just selecting the right type of spot that would benefit." Dr Yip says pimple patches are best for "that pesky spot that won't go away" or "smaller acne spots", and they're not going to work on cystic or extensive acne.
The Science Behind Acne Patches: Mechanisms Explained
As they absorb impurities, including pus, they help reduce the size of the pimple and draw out contaminants. These convenient, easy-to-use pads don't contain any active ingredients or harsh chemicals, making them less likely to irritate sensitive skin.
Be very careful when removing the patch as they can stick down and if you're too rough, you may damage the healing wound and cause bleeding. If the patch isn't coming off easily, try easing it off with a little water, cleanser, toner or a bit of oil to loosen the edges.
The recommended amount of time to leave pimple patches on for is a minimum of 6 hours. Keep in mind, we recommend applying pimple patches at night just before you go to bed and keeping them on overnight. However, if you want to apply them throughout the day to keep your hands from picking, this works great as well!
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.
If your freshly picked pimple is leaking or oozing, be sure to cleanse the spot before application. Simply apply the pimple patch over your zit — remember, they only work on open wounds — and leave it on for the recommended amount of time (which varies by product).
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.
If you have a pimple, using benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid, or a pimple patch can help it go away faster. Your dermatologist can give you a cortisone injection to make a deep, painful, inflamed pimple heal quickly. Avoid picking or trying to pop your pimple — this can lead to more inflammation, redness, and scarring.
For example, if a patch is applied too tightly or left on for too long, it can cause friction and irritation to the skin, leading to scarring. Similarly, if a patch is not properly cleaned or removed, it can trap bacteria and oil on the skin, leading to breakouts and potentially scarring.
Cystic acne: These deep, painful pimples lie beneath the skin's surface, and patches can't reach them effectively. Blackheads and whiteheads that haven't come to a head: Patches are ineffective against noninflamed blemishes. They won't be useful for deeper pimples like blackheads or closed whiteheads.
Bowe explained in her Tiktok, the white spots you see after wearing patches overnight are not pus. “They're actually the hydrocolloid material absorbing fluid, extra moisture, extra water, which thickens the hydrocolloid material and just makes it look a little bit whiter in those spots,” the doctor said.
Pimple patches are fast-acting power houses. Once you stick it, you only need to leave it on for the recommended 6-8 hours before removing it, cleansing the affected area again, and tossing it.
A blind pimple is a pimple (zit) that forms under your skin. Unlike other types of pimples that form a visible whitehead, blackhead or red bump, blind pimples develop under the surface. Some blind pimples eventually come to a head and “erupt” from underneath your skin's surface, forming a visible blemish.
Cysts: These are pimples filled with a thick, yellow or white fluid composed of dead white blood cells, small pieces of tissue and bacteria (pus).