by Alexandra Nicole Nuralam
Do acne patches work?
Long gone are the days of trying to make your pimples heal faster with toothpaste and baking soda. Both ingredients are too harsh on the skin and should not be attempted. You could dab tea tree oil or drying lotion, but the spot treatment of the moment are acne patches. You can slap it on while you’re running errands, or while you’re sleeping and you’ll wake up to a much smaller pimple.
Acne patches are pint-size hydrocolloid patches that stick to your skin, layering acne-fighting ingredients onto an angry and inflamed pore while protecting it against your poking and prodding, which could lead to inflammation and scarring. They work by absorbing excess fluid that pulls dirt and oil away from the blemish, converting them into a gel-like substance that sticks to the patch and away from the face.
Not all acne patches contain active ingredients. The hydrocolloid material alone is often enough to zap oil from milder whiteheads, but some are medicated with ingredients like salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide that treat the inflamed pore while you’re getting your beauty sleep. The patch also creates a sterile, moist environment for your pimple to heal in, which leads to a flatter, less inflamed pimple in a shorter time period.
Bottom line: acne patches do work. Stick one over your clean, totally dry pimple (skincare products can reduce the patch’s adhesiveness), then leave it on overnight. Peel it off in the morning, wash your face, and slap on another patch if it’s still inflamed and you’re good to go.
