Are Acne Patches Worth it?

What are acne patches?

Acne patches are a piece of adhesive with one side coated in ingredients that help to fight acne-causing bacteria and heal pimples. They are meant to be applied on a pimple and left on the skin for at least 6 hours. According to the American Chemical Society, popping a pimple can slow down the healing process of a pimple, which is something a patch fixes quicker.

It’s important to note that acne patches are not only for sufferers of acne, these tiny pieces of plastic also work wonderfully on people who get pimples here and there.

Acne patches work by covering the pimple, which protects the skin from environmental stresses. On one side of the patch is a thin layer of hydrocolloid and/or other acne-fighting ingredients that help heal a pimple faster.

When to use acne patches?

Acne patches are meant to be used on a freshly washed face. I like to use my AbsorbZit Patches with Microneedles on pimples that are yet to come to a head, or stubborn pimples that take forever to heal. I reserve these acne patches for night-time only.

If you’ve never heard of the Absorbzit Microneedle Patches, you’re missing out. These are larger than average pimple patches and have microdarts on them with acne-healing ingredients like salicylic acid.

Anyway, I digress.

I prefer applying the acne patch before applying anything else on the skin so that it adheres better and no serum or moisturiser is disturbing it. Once I put the acne patch on, I lightly tap the patch down to stick better to my skin. Then I go ahead and apply my serum and moisturiser around it.

Can I wear acne patches during the day?

Typically, acne patches are best used at the end of your day or late at night when you know you’ll be indoors all day. This is mainly due to most acne patches being see-through, and when they start working patches tend to turn white or yellow. This is the gunk inside the spots, which can be a bit gross to wear in public. But if you do not care, then kudos to you!

Lady applying moisturiser to her face. Whilst wearing a head towel and facing the sun, seemingly relaxed. — You can wear acne patches any time you want, just make sure you have them on for the minimum recommended time.

However, there are now several types of acne patches. Some of which you can comfortably wear during the day. There are patches in different shapes and colours so that the gunk from your pimple isnt visible.

It has even become a trend now to see star or heart-shaped stickers on people’s faces on a normal day.

My favourite at the moment is the Abzorbzit Everyday Acne Patches. Although these are see-through, they are also super thin and I can put makeup on top of it if I need to have it on during the day. The surface of these patches is also matte, so it seamlessly blend with your skin even under makeup.

I also found the Everyday Clear Pimple Patch to be faster at healing a spot.

Why do acne patches work?

Most acne patches are coated with a gelatinous gel that is hydrocolloid on its own or with other ingredients added such as salicylic acid, niacinamide, tea tree oil and benzoyl peroxide. Pimple patches may have one of these ingredients solely or more!

In some cases, they may have other ingredients added such as hyaluronic acid to keep the skin hydrated as it heals.

Which acne patches are the best?

Okay, these are my current absolute favourite acne patches that actually work. These range from inexpensive to slightly more expensive ones, but they all work for me and are used on rotation.

So, are pimple patches worth it?

The simple answer is yes. Even if you do not get pimples often. It’s not a common belief that we should be mindful and take clinical steps to care for pimples because they seem like a mundane occurrence. But popping pimples in an unhygienic way or not caring for it after it, can cause all kinds of issues such as recurrence and infections. Pimple patches, help to heal spots, protect it from environmental stressors and it is simple to use.