Can pimple patches make acne worse? Experts weigh in

Admin August 15, 2024

Sleeping through your alarm. Coffee spills on your crisp, white shirt. Socks scrunched down inside your sneaker. It doesn’t take much to start your day on the wrong foot. Yet, sometimes, nothing is more demoralizing than waking up to a glaring red blemish on your face.

Unfortunately, zits happen to just about everyone. In fact, a cne affects more than 50 million Americans, according to the American Academy of Dermatology Association (AADA). Though pesky bumps are normal, they can be painful, distracting and embarrassing. Pimples patches won’t banish acne forever, but they can help those one-off blemishes that seem to erupt out of nowhere.

SKIP AHEAD The best pimple patches of 2024 | How to shop for pimple patches | Why trust NBC Select?

Not familiar with these spot treatments? “Pimple patches are small stickers that are made with a soothing gel called hydrocolloid,” says Dr. Bradley Glodny, a board-certified dermatologist and owner of Park Avenue Dermatology in New York City. As this hydrocolloid gel adheres to the skin, it absorbs excess oil and dirt away from pimples, says Dr. Hadley King, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City.

“While stuck to the skin, acne patches also have the added benefit of preventing you from picking or trying to pop the pimple,” says King. This is key because when you pick at a pimple, it increases inflammation, can prolong healing time and boosts the risk of infection, discoloration and scarring.

To help you determine the best pimple patch for your skin, we spoke with dermatologists about what to look for when shopping and added in highly rated options from retailers like Amazon, Target and Sephora that align with our experts’ guidance.

How we chose the best pimple patches

To choose the best pimple patches, we asked experts what key factors to prioritize when shopping. Here is what they say to keep in mind:

Acne-fighting ingredients: A hydrocolloid gel pimple patch is great for tackling your everyday blemish. However, if you have more specific skin needs, you may want to take a closer look at the patch’s ingredients, says Dr. Orit Markowitz, a board-certified dermatologist and founder of OptiSkin Medical in New York City. Consider patches infused with salicylic acid or tea tree oil if you you struggle with stubborn zits. Or, if you have deep, cystic acne, Glodny recommends a patch with micropoints (also called micro darts), which gently penetrate the skin to send ingredients below your skin’s surface.
Size: Pimples patches come in different shapes and sizes, just like your breakouts. Larger stickers could be best for a cluster of pimples, while small circles are perfect for a singular blemish.

The best pimple patches of 2024

We consulted three New York-based dermatologists about their top pimple patch recommendations, plus considered options that earned high ratings from NBC Select staff members and reviewers who have used them.

Best overall: ZitSticka Killa Kit

Both King and Markowitz recommend Zitsticka patches, which come with priming cleaning swabs to use before applying the patch. “I like that they have micro darts filled with salicylic acid, niacinamide and oligopeptide-76 to treat pimples,” says King. “It enables these ingredients, all of which help reduce acne, to really get in there.” They also contain hyaluronic acid, which balances out the potential drying effect of salicylic acid so your zit doesn’t start to flake and scab as it heals, according to Markowitz.

Key ingredients: Salicylic Acid, Oligopeptide-76 and Niacinamide | Size: N/A | Count: 8 patches per pack

Best discreet pimple patch: Peach Slices Acne Spot Dots

These highly-rated acne patches are ideal for dry or sensitive skin since they skip potentially drying agents, like salicylic acid. The translucent, hydrocolloid patches come in three sizes — 7mm, 10mm and 12mm, which you can use as needed to cover a single small zit or a cluster. “The smallest is one of the smallest options I’ve seen, and they are also thinner than most hydrocolloid patches — so this makes them easier to wear without it being obvious,” says King. To use these, cleanse your skin first, apply the patch and then remove after eight hours, according to the brand.

Key ingredients: Hydrocolloid | Size: 15 small patches (7 millimeters), 6 medium patches (10 millimeters) and 9 large patches (12 millimeters) | Count: 30 patches per pack

Best for sensitive skin: Hero Cosmetics Invisible Mighty Patch

“The patches are very effective at extracting a pimple, but it may take a couple rounds of patches depending on how deep or large of a pimple it is,” says NBC Select’s editorial projects manager Rebecca Rodriguez, who tried them for NBC Select’s Wellness Awards. “I like that they’re a little more translucent than other patches I have tried because they blend well with my skin tone and don’t scream ‘hey I’ve got a pimple.” Unlike other patches that have additional acne-fighting ingredients, these solely rely on the hydrocolloid gel to draw out any sebum or debris from your skin, which makes them gentle for sensitive skin.

Key ingredients: Hydrocolloid | Size: 24 medium patches (12 millimeters) and 15 small patches (10 millimeters) | Count: 39 patches per pack

Best for hydrating skin: Mario Badescu Drying Patches

These patches are another favorite of King’s because of its ingredients: they have salicylic acid and hyaluronic acid to hydrate the skin, plus niacinamide, which can help improve skin tone and texture. NBC Select’s associate updates editor, Zoe Malin, is a fan of these because of how thin they are. “They are practically invisible when you put them on,” she says. “So you can totally wear them during the day when working from home — I doubt anyone would be able to tell you were wearing them on a video call.”

Key ingredients: Salicylic acid, hyaluronic acid and niacinamide | Size: 12 millimeters | Count: 60 patches per pack

Best for long wear: Rael Pimple Patches

Made from medical grade hydrocolloid, this pack of patches includes two different sizes (10mm and 12mm) to fit different sized pimples. They are clear, matte and have an extra thin edge to better blend into your skin, according to the brand. For maximum effectiveness, Rael suggests that you wear these patches for at least four to six hours. These patches have a 4.5-star average rating from over 66,285 reviews on Amazon.

Key ingredients: Hydrocolloid | Size: 10 small (10 millimeter patches) and 10 medium (12 millimeter patches) | Count: 24 patches per pack

Best for oily skin: Peace Out Acne Healing Dots

King is also a fan of these pimple patches, which are available in packs of 20 and 60. The patches combine hydrocolloid and salicylic acid to help remove oil and debris from clogged pores. They also contain aloe vera leaf extract, which has anti-inflammatory properties that help soothe and calm redness, according to King.

Key ingredients: Salicylic acid, aloe vera extract and retinol | Size: N/A | Count: 20 patches per pack

Best patch size: Cosrx Pimple Patches

King likes these because each package contains small, medium and large hydrocolloid bandages, giving you options for pimples of different sizes. These Cosrx patches rely solely on hydrocolloid gel to remove excess oil so they’re an ideal option for anyone with sensitive skin because there are no additional ingredients to irritate you, according to King. These are also one of the most consistently highly rated options on our list with an average 4.4-star rating from 52,505 reviews on Amazon.

Key ingredients: Hydrocolloid | Size: 9 large patches (.47 inches), 5 medium patches (.39 inches) and 10 small patches (.28 inches) | Count: 24 patches per pack

Best look: Starface Hydro Stars

These fragrance-free, star-shaped patches add a little fun to your acne-fighting journey. “Getting a pimple can be such a bummer,” says contributing editor Bethany Heitman. “These bright yellow stars add an element of fun to the entire experience. Because of the shape, I find they are best for smaller zits. I mostly wear them at home. But, I did wear a few to a recent Taylor Swift concert — they covered my breakout and felt festive.” A 100% hydrocolloid option, Markowitz also says they are helpful for reducing zit-related inflammation on sensitive skin.

Key ingredients: Hydrocolloid | Size: N/A | Count: 32 patches per pack

Best absorbent: Nexcare Acne Absorbing Cover

Another 100% hydrocolloid option, these patches from Nexcare come in a pack of 36 or 108 patches and are another favorite of Markowitz’s. Like the Mighty Patch option from Hero Cosmetics, these turn white once any oily secretion is absorbed, according to the brand. Do not combine these patches with other acne medications or treatments though, according to Nexcare.

Key ingredients: Hydrocolloid | Size: 24 patches (8 millimeters) and 12 patches (12 millimeters) | Count: 36 patches per pack

Best vegan friendly patch: Keyconcepts Pimple Patches

These patches, which have a 4.3-star average rating from over 20,022 reviews on Amazon, are made from hydrocolloid. They also are infused with tea tree oil, which Markoqwitz says can dry out pimples. You’ll get 120 patches in a pack and there are three different sizes (small, medium and large) to fit different sized blemishes.

Key ingredients: Hydrocolloid | Size: Offers 3 different sizes: 10 millimeters, 12 millimeters and 14 millimeters | Count: 120 patches per pack

Best for soothing irritation: Avarelle Zitout Original

These round, unscented patches, which have a 4.3-star average rating from 73,094 reviews on Amazon, contain tea tree oil to help shrink pimples. They’re also infused with calendula, which is known to soothe irritation, according to the brand. In the packet, you’ll get 40 patches in small, medium and large sizes.

Key ingredients: Hydrocolloid and Tea tree oil | Size: Offers 3 different sizes: 10 millimeters, 12 millimeters and 14 millimeters | Count: 40 patches per pack

How to shop for pimple patches

Picking the best option is all about considering your skin’s specific needs. Simple hydrocolloid patches are ideal for sensitive skin, says Glodny. If you don’t have sensitive skin, you can consider patches that either have micro darts (little points that help ingredients get deeper into a zit by creating small pricks in the skin) or the following acne-fighting ingredients:

Salicylic acid is a beta hydroxy acid that can help unclog pores or remove excess sebum. Patches containing salicylic acid could be a good option for a fairly inflamed pimple, but may irritate dryer, sensitive skin.
Tea tree oil or tea tree extract can be very drying, says Markowitz. This makes it a great tool for drying out pimples. However, if you have dry or sensitive skin, it’s probably best to skip it.
Hyaluronic acid is often paired with other, more drying ingredients like salicylic acid. That’s because it helps to hydrate the skin and can prevent drying caused by other ingredients associated with fighting acne, says King.
Niacinamide is another great addition to a pimple patch because it can improve skin tone and texture, according to King. “Plus, it has stabilizing effects on the skin’s barrier function, which can help improve moisture retention.”

Frequently asked questions

As long as you’re not allergic or sensitive to an ingredient found in the patches, pimple patches should not make acne worse, according to our experts. As mentioned, patches with salicylic acid or tea tree oil can be more irritating — if you have sensitive skin, skip patches with these ingredients in them.

Worried peeling the patch off will hurt or cause damage? Don’t be. Pimple patches aren’t like bandages for cuts or wounds. The hydrocolloid gel makes them less sticky, so they gently sit on top of your pimple and then easily (and gently) peel off when you’re ready. In fact, they can actually prevent scarring. These patches prevent you from picking at your blemish or trying to pop it on your own,which is what can lead to scarring and hyperpigmentation , says Glodny.

Pimple patches can be very effective on mild breakouts and superficial pimples like small whiteheads and pustules that are just popping up or that recently came to a head, says King. They can also work on cystic acne. “This type of acne sits deeper underneath the skin, making it more challenging for acne-fighting ingredients to get to,” says Glodny. “The prolonged contact that a pimple patch has (you usually keep them on for six to eight hours) means that the ingredients have time to really penetrate.” However, deeper pimples may require multiple nights of treatment with a pimple patch before they’re fully gone.

Another pro of over-the-counter pimple patches is that hydrocolloid patches generally don’t dehydrate your skin or leave it flaky, compared to more harsh acne spot treatments featuring salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide, according to King. She adds that pimple patches are most effective on sensitive skin and mild acne patients, although those with oily, combination, normal and even dry skin can also use them and see results.

To avoid transferring bacteria to your pimple, wash your hands before applying a patch. Make sure your skin is clean and dry as well and skip any spot treatment creams, according to Glodny. By doubling up, you risk irritation or drying out your skin, plus, the patch won’t stay put if your skin is sticky with cream.

To adhere the patch to your pimple, peel it off the sheet and center it over your zit. Press down gently and it will stick to your skin. Then, if you need to apply other face products (like moisturizer or makeup), just avoid the area directly around the sticker, according to our experts.

Yes, hydrocolloid bandages can be an effective replacement for pimple patches, says Dr. Amy Huang, a board-certified dermatologist with Medical Offices of Manhattan and contributor at Lab Finder. “They provide a clean, moist environment for healing, and also deter pimple picking,” she adds. Most pimple patches are made from hydrocolloid. By using a hydrocolloid bandage, the only thing you may be missing out on is the ingredients (like salicylic acid or tea tree oil) that are sometimes infused in the patches.

Meet our experts

At NBC Select, we work with experts who have specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and/or experience. We also take steps to ensure that all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and with no undisclosed financial conflicts of interest.

Dr. Bradley Glodny is a board-certified dermatologist and the owner of Park Avenue Dermatology in New York City.
Dr. Hadley King is a board-certified dermatologist in New York City.
Dr. Orit Markowitz is a board-certified dermatologist and founder of OptiSkin in New York City.

Why trust NBC Select?

Nicole Saunders is a former associate commerce editor for NBC Select.

Christina Colizza is a former editor for NBC Select.

Bethany Heitman is a contributor at NBC Select and a journalist who regularly covers topics like beauty, home and lifestyle. For this story, she interviewed three experts to gather their guidance and product recommendations. She also researched highly-rated pimple patches based on their advice.