How Effective are Pimple Patches?

Do you suffer from outbreaks of pimples or acne? If you do, you may have already heard of the latest beauty trend that people are calling an absolute godsend. A simple patch that some users claim can clear pimples within 24 hours. But surely this is just too good to be true right?

In reality, the effectiveness of pimple patches depends on a variety of factors. These mainly being dependant on the type of acne that you are trying to treat and of course its severity.

Although these patches aren’t considered to be a solution for severe acne, they can be used successfully when dealing with whiteheads and other surface-level breakouts.

So let’s look at the facts before you decide if using this skincare method may be an effective solution for you.

Acne patches and how they work

Used for healing acne

Many of the acne patches on the market today are made using a hydrocolloid dressing and don’t contain any active ingredients. They use either gelatin or pectin which will absorb the excess fluid from the spot once it has popped.

The impurities of dirt and oil from the pimple are then transformed into a gel-like substance which becomes stuck to the patch and is sealed away from the face. And while it will continue to dry out the affected area, the skin around the infection remains hydrated as the patch aids in the healing process.

These forms of patches are considered to be “non-medicated” or “non-active” and can be ideal when dealing with whiteheads or simple pimples.

Used for active acne

These are essentially the same as what was described above. However, they are classed as “medicated” patches and come with added “active” ingredients such as salicylic acid which are perfect in treating papules, pustules and nodular breakouts.

Used for deep nodular and cystic acne

Should you be treating a more serious acne outbreak however then microneedle patches may be needed. These micro-thin “needles” penetrate the skin so that the active ingredients can be dispersed into a deeper layer to treat the infected area.

There are also other benefits in using these acne patches when an unexpected pimple chooses to appear:

• Stops you picking, touching or squeezing the spot
• Reduces the chance of the pimple becoming infected or spreading to other areas of the face
• Provides fewer chances of scarring
• Helps to speed up the healing process
• Some products available also contain additional aloe vera and vitamin A which soothes the skin and reduces inflammation

However, there are times when a patch can’t be used when you have a sudden outbreak so you might need to consider these points:

1. Blackheads – these are a different form of acne and these particular plasters would be ineffective in treating them. Instead, you need to get some pore strips to ensure a positive result.
2. On-going Issues – acne can be caused by a variety of reasons including your hormones, stress or even certain medications that you might be taking. In cases like these, it’s always best to visit a dermatologist first as patches may not give you the results that you are looking for.
3. Poor Hygiene/Diet – here a stricter regime needs to be established before even considering using acne patches. Although useful, these products are seen to be effective as a quick-fix rather than a long-term solution to regular pimple problems.
4. Allergic Reaction – you should always check the label of the products you purchase. In this instance paying particular attention to the list of both active and non-active ingredients in case you may be allergic to any of the properties used.

So the next time that random pimple raises its ugly head you can now choose the most effective patch to use as part of your skincare routine to rid yourself of those irritating acne problems and smile with confidence.