Can Pimple Patches Make a Zit Go Away?

Pimples shouldn’t be popped. But let’s be realistic here: It can be really tough to keep your hands off what looks like a ready-to-explode zit.

Enter pimple patches, which may help minimize pimples or heal the open-and-oozing wound you just created.

Dermatologist Amy Kassouf, MD, explains what these over-the-counter spot treatments can (and can’t) do.

What are pimple patches?

Pimple patches are small stickers made with a slightly gummy wound-healing gel called hydrocolloid. They’re designed to shrink pimples and help your skin mend a bit faster if you’ve clawed at it.

“Ideally, of course, you don’t pick at your skin or pop zits,” says Dr. Kassouf. “But if you’ve already gone down that road, a pimple patch may help your skin recover and minimize damage.”

Pimple stickers entered the market a little more than a decade ago. They evolved out of hydrocolloid wound patches that emerged during the 1970s as doctors began trying more moisture-based healing techniques.

How do pimple patches work?

Pimple patches are most effective when placed over open-and-oozing zits, though there’s some evidence they can reduce the size and redness of closed pimples, too. The stickers serve two main functions:

• They absorb fluids (like pus and oil) to help drain picked-open zits and unclog pores.
• They cover the blemish to protect against infection or any (further) picking.

“Pimple patches are really just wound healing dressings for a very specific type of lesion,” explains Dr. Kassouf. “They’re spot treatments that can be helpful IF you have a certain type of pimple that has opened.”

That would include:

• Papules: Small, inflamed bumps caused by excess oil in your skin
• Pustules: Pus-filled pockets
• Whiteheads: Closed white or yellowish bumps filled with oil and dead skin cells
• Cysts: Raised bumps filled with thick yellow or white fluid

How to use pimple patches

As you might imagine, “zit stickers” aren’t exactly a complicated product to use. It’s always best to read and follow the instructions on your specific product, but here are some general guidelines.

1. Wash the affected area before applying a pimple patch. (This is especially true if you’re dealing with a freshly popped zit and the yucky stuff that came out.)
2. Thoroughly dry the area, as the adhesive on the patches won’t stick as well to wet skin.
3. Apply the pimple patch over your zit and leave it on for the manufacturer’s recommended amount of time. Most pimple patches need to be worn for a few hours to do their thing. Many are made to be worn overnight while you sleep.
4. Remove the sticker when you reach your target time. “When you peel it off, your blemish may be smaller and less inflamed,” says Dr. Kassouf.

When not to use pimple patches

Though pimple patches can sometimes be effective on zits here and there, they’re limited in the broader context of acne management.

“For overall acne treatment, there is little use for pimple patches,” emphasizes Dr. Kassouf. “They cannot prevent acne from coming, nor can they clear clogged pores or other precursors to acne flares.”

Remember, too, that zit stickers don’t work as well on closed pimples. They also don’t offer much help when it comes to eliminating blackheads, those clogged pores that look like a speck of dirt on your skin, or deeper whiteheads.

If you have sensitive skin, you may want to steer clear of pimple patches. Some brands use ingredients such as salicylic acid or tea tree oil to dry out pimples, which may irritate an already irritated area.

“They also use a bit of adhesive to stick to your skin,” notes Dr. Kassouf. “So, if you’re allergic or sensitive to adhesive, this may aggravate the skin surrounding the lesion, too.”

Putting together a pimple defense plan

Ideally, you won’t need pimple patches because you simply don’t have pimples. Dr. Kassouf recommends these products to help keep your skin clean and healthy and prevent pimples from forming.

• Adapalene: This vitamin A derivative, available in topical form, can help make skin cells less sticky so they don’t hang around and clog your pores. It can help prevent acne and aid in healing, too.
• Salicylic acid: This beta-hydroxy acid is available in cleansers and topical applications to help exfoliate and clean your skin and lower inflammation from acne.
• Benzoyl peroxide: This common over-the-counter medication fights pimples by killing acne-causing bacteria and reducing inflammation. It can be drying and irritating to skin, though, so it’s important to use as directed and follow with a moisturizer.
• Foaming cleansers: These face washes are great for removing dirt and pollutants that can increase inflammation and breakouts. It’s best to use products without added fragrance, too.

Now, if a massive pimple appears despite your best efforts (and at the worst possible time), know that you have alternatives other than a pop-and-patch approach. Talk to your dermatologist about quick-turnaround options, like cortisone and antibiotic injections.