If you’re someone that deals with constant breakouts and stubborn acne, you’ve probably heard of hydrocolloid bandages and all the great benefits they can offer. Acne is no fun, but at least (for the most part), those pimples will come and go. However, acne scars can be there forever - and nobody wants to deal with the hassle of concealing those scars every time they leave the house.
Not only do hydrocolloid bandages help to clear up acne, but they are also known to help prevent and heal acne scars. Here at Doe Lashes, we believe everyone should feel beautiful in their skin without feeling insecure about acne scars or blemishes - especially if they’re preventable.
How Hydrocolloid Bandages Work
The idea of hydrocolloid bandages stemmed from hydrocolloid dressings, which are commonly used in the medical field to help heal wounds. Hydrocolloid dressings have two layers. The inner hydrocolloid adhesive and the outer layers are film or foam, protecting the wound from bacterial contamination.
Hydrocolloid bandages (or pimple patches) are very similar to hydrocolloid dressings. The moist environment and ultra absorbing qualities provide a moist and clean area for the pimple to heal from the inside out. In contrast, the outside film offers a layer of protection so no bacteria or dirt can get in to slow down the healing process.
Hydrocolloid bandages have been used in the medical field for decades, but they have recently picked up popularity in the skincare world. Up to 15% of adult women are still dealing with acne despite being well past puberty-caused acne, so it only makes sense that there are constantly new trends and products that gain popularity with the promise of clearing stubborn acne and acne scar prevention.
The key is to know which products are dos and don'ts. Well, we’re here to explain why you should use hydrocolloid bandages to help combat acne scars and how they work.
How Hydrocolloid Bandages Heal Acne Scars
Hydrocolloid Bandages heal acne scars similarly to how they erase bothersome pimples. Hydrocolloid is a hydrophilic material that attracts water. Hydrocolloid bandages are meant to soak up excess liquid to dry out the pimple while offering secure outside bandaging that prevents bacteria from entering the infected area.
Since hydrocolloid bandages offer a clean and moist area for the pimple to heal, it allows the wound to recover from the inside out, lowering the chances of scars occurring.
How Hydrocolloid Bandages Prevent Acne Scars
Everyone’s skin is different; some can pick and prod at their skin all day without a single scar, while others will develop scars just from minor breakouts.
Of course, acne that is rooted deeper in the skin is more likely to cause more prevalent or permanent scarring, but scarring shouldn’t be an issue if you’re able to treat those pimples properly.
We get it - it can be so tempting to pop that huge zit you’ve been dealing with for weeks. It can be a big blow to your self-esteem if you’re walking around with (what feels like) a third eye on your forehead. But trust us, it’s not as big as you think, and we’ve all had our fair share of breakouts, so there is no need to feel insecure.
Picking at your pimples can be one of the worst things you can do! Pimple picking damages the outer layer of your skin, which causes further dermal disruption. Have you ever noticed that after an intense picking session, your acne and skin are much more irritated and inflamed than before?
The best and easiest way to prevent picking is by covering up your zits. It’s much harder to pick at your pimples if they’re covered up. That’s why hydrocolloid bandages work great at preventing scarring - because they prevent picking.
What To Look For In a Hydrocolloid Bandage
Here at Doe Lashes, we take skincare seriously, and we know just what your skin needs to heal properly - post break out.
When shopping for the perfect hydrocolloid bandage (aka pimple patch), you should look for products with other ingredients - not just hydrocolloid.
These other additives can kickstart the healing process as well as reduce inflammation.
Great additives to look for are ingredients like BHA and Tea Tree Oil. BHA exfoliates the outer layer of the skin while also penetrating down to the pores. BHA is also an anti-inflammatory which helps to reduce redness.
While no studies show that tea tree oil can help acne scarring, considering tea tree oil is meant for surface-level scarring and acne scars are often below the skin, it still does its job when managing active breakouts. This will help prevent future scarring.
Our Midnight Patches are jammed packed with both BHA and Tea Tree Oil, making them the ideal candidate for acne healing and acne scarring prevention.
Walk with Confidence
As we said, acne scars are no fun. Breakouts and scarring can leave your self-esteem and confidence low. Yes, there are always concealers and makeup, but sometimes you just want to walk out of the house without a full face of glam going on. In fact, a 2016 study shows that 45 percent of people with acne experience social phobia. While we think that the right makeup look and the perfect falsies can help cure your breakout-caused blah mood - we also believe that you deserve a more permanent solution.
If you’re struggling with constant breakouts and acne scars, don’t be scared to try something new. You never know - maybe a pack of pimple patches is all you’ve ever needed.
Sources:
Do Those Pimple Stickers Actually Work | Healthline
Do Hydrocolloid Bandages for Acne Actually Work? | Glamour
The 5 Most Common Questions About Acne Scars | The Dermatology Specialists.
The Psychosocial Impact of Acne, Vitiligo, and Psoriasis: A Review | PubMed