I had been talking to this really cute guy for some time and we finally decided to meet up over the weekend! I was pretty excited and made a list of what I’m going to wear, the kind of makeup I’ll apply, how to do my hair – well, you know the drill. But just a day before, a pimple decided to give me a visit!
If this is something you can relate to, if it’s something you face all the time then today I’m going to tell you how to deal with these uninvited visitors. You don’t need harsh anti-acne treatments that leave your skin further irritated and dry. All you need is a pimple patch and it’ll help you get rid of the acne overnight. If my words aren’t enough, I’ve pictures to show you the proof!
WHAT ARE PIMPLE PATCHES?
A pimple patch or acne patch is made of hydrocolloid dressing that sucks out the fluids from acne and helps you get rid of it in a few hours.
If you didn’t know, hydrocolloid bandages have been used in hospitals to treat wounds for a long time. They heal your skin and protect it from bacteria, dirt, and sunlight.
Some pimple patches use the goodness of other skincare ingredients like Centella Asiatica, Tea Tree Oil, Salicylic Acid, etc in addition to the hydrocolloid dressing. The patch delivers these active ingredients straight into the skin and helps your acne calm down faster.
Benefits of Using Pimple Patches
- They absorb fluid from your pimples and help you flatten them quicker.
- Acne patches isolate your acne and keep them safer from sun exposure and infection.
- Treating an acne faster means you’ll have less scarring to deal with.
- Pimple patches are extremely helpful for people with dermatillomania (skin picking disorder).
- They’re non-drying and perfect for all skin types unlike other acne spot treatments like Benzoyl Peroxide which can be quite irritating & drying.
How To Use Pimple Patches To Get Rid Of Acne?
I can’t emphasize this enough – If you have acne-prone skin, you should always have your spot treatments ready. It’s a known fact that acne would arrive only when there’s an important event! But how do you use the pimple patches to make sure you’re able to get rid of them?
Hydrocolloid patches work the best only for pimples that have come to the surface. Whenever you notice the white head, you know it’s time to pop it out. Here’s how you do it:
- Cleanse your face first and pat it dry.
- Take a pimple patch and apply it over the acne.
- Keep the hydrocolloid patch on for 8-12 hours.
- Remove the patch. If you see there’s a deep wound, wash the area and apply another patch.
The last step is something that I discovered after multiple trials and errors. As soon as I removed the patch, I’d sometimes notice a deep wound. Applying another patch made sure the wound healed soon, there wasn’t any scarring left behind and all the fluid was finally out.
When To Remove Pimple Patches?
I wish I had a fixed number of hours but from my personal experience, I have noticed that it varies all the time. It really depends on the stage your acne is at but 8-12 hours is a good range.
Another way to know when to remove a pimple patch is to wait for the transparent patch to turn milky white. The white stuff is just hydrocolloid coming in contact with fluids (moisture).
As I mentioned earlier, do give it a round two to make sure you get completely rid of the acne with the pimple patch.
Disclosure: Contains affiliate links. I receive a small commission for purchases made via them. Sponsored by Spot Patch.
BEST PIMPLE PATCHES IN INDIA
I’ve used a couple of different brands of pimple patches in the past but I wanted something that’s easily available in India, is cruelty-free, and affordable. The amount of acne I get sometimes makes the latter extremely important.
Then I got in touch with Spot Patch, a South Korean brand that has recently entered the Indian market. The brand has cruelty-free & vegan pimple patches that are all available on Amazon India. They have 3 variants:
- Original
- Slim
- Free-Cut
Spot Patch Original
One size doesn’t fit all! The original variant of the Spot Patch acne patches come in a variety of sizes – small (8mm), medium (10mm) and large (12mm). If you’re someone who gets all sorts of acne – a tiny whitehead or a gigantic pustule – this variant would come handy. It’s transparent but still not completely invisible. I’d recommend using it when you’re at home/overnight.
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Spot Patch Slim
If I had to pick a favourite, the Spot Patch Slim variant has to be the one! True to its name, it’s slim and is nearly invisible on the skin. You can apply the patch and go out without worrying about irritating your acne furthermore. And also be assured that your acne is taken care of. The edges are tapered which makes it stick better over the pimple and not roll-off.
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Spot Patch Free-Cut
There are just so many patches that you can apply when you have a lot of acne! Free cut is highly economical in such cases. With this 10×10 hydrocolloid sheet, you can tailor the patch according to the size of the cluster of acne. Additionally, the sheet also has Tea Tree Oil & Centella Asiatica which calm down inflammation and treat acne faster.
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Do Pimple Patches Really Work On Acne?
“Yeah, Rifat! I get it. I finally understand what pimple patches are and how they work. Now I even know where to find the best pimple patches in India. But DO THEY WORK?”
I get this is what you’re probably thinking. So what’s a better way to show you that they actually work than to document how it worked on me with pictures! I’ve used the Centella variant in this picture but let me tell you, I have tried the other variants too and THEY WORK.
CONCLUSION
Pimple patches have been a true saviour for my acne-prone skin! I don’t have to pop the pimple and increase inflammation, neither do I have to go for harsh spot treatments. They’re the best way to deal with the unwelcome guests.
But remember, a patch can only pop your existing acne safely but not stop them from coming back. If you have oily, acne-prone skin, you can download my cheatsheet for The Ordinary Skincare Routine to take care of your skin in a better way!
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