I think we can all agree that zits and pimples are unpleasant, and we want to get rid of them as soon as possible. This is where pimple patches come in. Pimple patches help prevent scarring and speed up recovery by preventing face picking, exposure to the sun, and external bacteria. There are two different types of pimple patches, medicated and non-medicated.
Medicated Patches:
Medicated pimple patches are filled with active ingredients that reduce the appearance and inflammation of acne. Salicylic acid and tea tree oil are the most common ingredients and are suitable for papules, pustules, and cystic acne.
Non-medicated Patches:
Non-medicated pimple patches are another name for hydrocolloid bandages, which are usually used for post-surgical wounds to speed up the healing process. These work by sucking the moisture from the pores to dry out to pimple. They also help to prevent acne scars and future inflammations. These patches are suitable for pimples and whiteheads.
Now that we know what they are and which ones to use for your type of pimples, here are a 5 popular pimple patches to help you get rid of those pesky spots:
Bye Bye Blemish, Microneedling Blemish Patches – Type: Medicated
These patches are packed with many benefits for your skin. These patches not only contain salicylic acid, which is a form of BHA, a chemical exfoliator, but hyaluronic acid and tea tree oil which hydrate the skin. The microneedles allow for deeper penetration of the active ingredients and also stimulate collagen production. The patches are also clear making them less noticeable, allowing you to go throughout the day without calling more attention to your face.
Acne Patches Hydrocolloid Pimple Patches – Type: Non-medicated
These patches come in a pack of 30 colourful patches infused with hydrocolloid to draw out
i mpurities. The patches aim to shrink the blemish without drying your skin. The patches are
also very cute and come in various shapes such as hearts, stars, and moons. Because the
patches are very visible, you may want to wear them overnight rather than during the day to
avoid walking around looking like a toddler.
ZitSticka KILLA Kit – Type: Medicated
This kit comes with 8 microdot pimple patches and 8 cleansing wipes. The cleansing wipes are meant to be used prior to application of the patch, and they contain salicylic acid, vitamin E, alcohol, and tea tree oil. The pimple patches contain salicylic acid, OG-76 peptide, and niacinamide to clear the spot and hyaluronic acid to moisturise and replenish the skin.
HERO COSMETICS’ Mighty Patch Surface – Type: Non-medicated
These particular patches come in the form of strips to allow for those days when a whole cluster or pimples erupts onto your skin, for example on your jawlines, chest, back or cheeks. The patches are really sticky and so hold in place without being too aggressive on the skin.
COSRX Acne Pimple Master Patch – Type: Non-medicated
Cosrx is a leading K-Beauty brand around the world, so it is not surprising that they made it onto the list. Their hydrocolloid pimple patches come in a pack of 24, with two different sizes to accommodate your skin needs. They are also transparent allowing all day wear without the attention.
If you are like me then playing the waiting game with zits and pimples can be frustrating. I always end up making frequent trips to the mirror or opening up my front camera to see if they are gone yet. Inevitably I end up touching them which can cause a whole of problems, such as scarring and transfer of bacteria to the rest of your face. Which is why pimple patches are so great. They take your mind off your breakout, whilst the patches take care of rest. So, go ahead and try them out!