Pimple patches have taken the skincare and beauty world by storm. They are quick, convenient, and affordable when compared to other forms of acne treatment. They contain the same ingredients as over the counter acne products and lower doses of ingredients in prescribed acne products.
Some people absolutely swear by pimple patches, calling them a holy grail product. They are discreet and do a good job of covering up blemishes. You can sleep in them or wear them when you’re out and about.
They can be used for many different types of acne, but should not be used as the main source of treatment when it comes to your skin issues. Think of them as your secret weapon in the fight against unwanted and unwelcome pimples. With that said, here are the nine reasons you should use pimple patches:
1. Pimple Patches Are Full Of Active Ingredients
Pimple patches contain active ingredients that help destroy acne-causing bacteria while simultaneously soothing inflammation. Typically, these ingredients include salicylic acid or tea tree oil, but there are other ingredients that might be used as well. You have to look at both the active and inactive ingredients.
In order to know if the product will be effective, check to see if the active ingredient is an acne fighting ingredient (for example, salicylic acid). There might be a few inactive ingredients as well; check the entire list of ingredients to make sure you don’t have any allergies or sensitivities which could cause an unwanted reaction to the patch.
2. They’re Useful For All Kinds Of Acne
They can be used on all types of acne, such as cystic and whiteheads. No matter what type of pimple pops up on your face, there’s probably a pimple patch that will help. Don’t forget to use pore strips for blackheads though: these will be more efficient in pulling up the blackhead than a patch will.
If it’s cystic, the active ingredient will penetrate the skin, helping to either make the bump go away, or drawing out all of the gunk to the skin’s surface, resulting in a whitehead. If you already have a whitehead, the patch will suck all of the pus out of it, while simultaneously nourishing the skin underneath with calming ingredients.
3. Some Patches Can Help Your Acne Heal Afterwards
Some patches are specific for post-acne healing. These are non-medicated patches. Another name for these is a hydrocolloid bandage. These are commonly used on wounds to speed up the process of skin healing. They prevent infection and prevent the formation of acne scars. These are good to use once the pimple is almost completely gone, but there is still some redness left.
4. Certain Patches Can Help With Cystic Acne
There are different types, some of which have microneedles. These are more specifically used for cystic acne. Standard patches are for whiteheads and cystic acne. Patches with microneedles are more specifically for cystic acne. The needles penetrate the acne bumps and dissolve as the medicine works its way into your skin. And don’t worry; they’re not real needles, and they don’t hurt at all.
5. You Won’t Need To Go To The Dermatologist
They can save you a trip to the dermatologist. Have you ever had a pimple so bad, you had to go to the dermatologist to have it injected with cortisone? It’s not fun. It can be costly to do (especially if you’re getting pimples pretty regularly), and it can even leave you with a small bruise if your skin is sensitive. While a pimple patch doesn’t contain cortisone, it is still going to accomplish the same goal when used early on in the formation of a killer pimple.
6. Patches Keep You From Picking
They can prevent you from picking at your skin and popping pimples. One of the biggest struggles people face when it comes to acne is resisting the urge to pick and pop your pimples. It’s hard! Sometimes you think it will be harmless, and then you’re left with a scar for weeks.
Try your very best not to touch a pimple. If you cover it up with a pimple patch, you will be so much less likely to touch it. You won’t be able to see it, and you can’t poke at it when it’s under the patch.
7. Pimple Patches Can Be Worn In Public
You can wear them in public because they aren’t noticeable. If you buy the right size, it will easily fit right over the zit. It’s typically a band-aid-like material and is barely noticeable unless you’re right up close. Many people have a hard time going out in public because they feel embarrassed about their acne (don’t worry, you’re not alone!), and using a skin-colored pimple patch might be a great solution for you. No, it won’t look perfect, but it will definitely make the pimple less noticeable.
8. You Won’t Need To Cover Zits With Makeup
You can use them instead of covering a zit up with makeup. Acne is so frustrating, and as if it wasn’t bad enough as is, sometimes you can’t even cover it up with makeup. The red still shows through, it’s bumpy, and it can be dry and flaky around the zit.
If you aren’t careful, you might be using the wrong type of makeup for your skin, and it can clog your pores and make acne worse. This is definitely a lose-lose situation. One of the best things about pimple patches is that the skin-colored ones actually do a decent job of covering the pimple up. Not only do they easily conceal the redness, they actually help to cover up the bump as well.
9. Patches Can Help Protect Your Skin From The Sun
It can act as another form of sun protection, which will help prevent sun discoloration and worsening of acne scars. While you should use SPF every single day (even if it’s cloudy, rainy, or snowing), sometimes sunscreen can irritate acne or clog an active pimple. If this is the case, a pimple patch can work to both improve the pimple and shield it from the sun. This way, your skin is still protected and less likely to clog.
When Should I Not Use A Pimple Patch?
As you can see, pimple patches can really work wonders for your skin. They are safe and effective, with ingredients that dermatologists themselves typically recommend for acne. There are a couple of instances when you would not want to use a pimple patch.
One of these instances is when you have blackheads. These can be related to acne but should be treated differently. Blackheads are the result of dirt and oil clogging your pores, but they do not result in a whitehead or cystic bump. You should use a pore strip or see an esthetician to eliminate blackheads.
Pimple patches should not be used to treat acne as a whole, or as the only product you use to treat acne. There are so many causes of acne: hormonal, stress-induced, caused by lack of personal hygiene, poor diet, and more: patches are not a one stop treatment and should be used as an addition to a solid skincare routine and healthy lifestyle.
Acne can flare up on your period or be brought on by a reaction to a skincare product. It’s extremely difficult to treat and can require medication, birth control, topical treatments, and a variety of other remedies before it gets under control.
While pimple patches contain acne-fighting medication, they are not the be-all, end-all for acne. If you get a huge pimple while on your period, that would be a good time to use one. Maybe you ate too much dairy or greasy food and woke up with a whitehead; go for the pimple patch. If you have acne on your face pretty much every day, it’s time you head to the dermatologist.
Another situation where you should not use a pimple patch is if you are allergic to any of its ingredients. This could cause your face to break out more, have an allergic reaction, and cause excess redness and inflammation. Always read the label of any product you’re going to put on your skin to ensure you aren’t allergic or sensitive to any of its ingredients.
In Summary
Pimples are, unfortunately, a part of life. But there are steps that you can take to remedy that, and Doe Lashes is here to help. Once you have the skin that you’ve always dreamed of, you can experiment with all the incredible makeup looks out there and top them all off with the perfect pair of lashes.
Sources:
https://www.healthline.com/health/do-cortisone-shots-work-for-acne#about-cystic-acne
https://www.everydayhealth.com/skin-beauty/pimple-patches-what-they-are-how-they-work-and-the-best-brands/