Whether you only suffer an occasional outbreak or if you have fought acne all your life, there is one thing that remains constant: the desire to seek a definitive cure. From the moment we feel a stain that begins to burn under our skin, we panic and grab something, anything, that promises to make it disappear.
For decades we have treated pimples with everything from home cures - Green tea! Crushed aspirin! - even toothpaste or countless creams, with mixed and disappointing results. Why? It is usually because these gels and topical creams usually only act on the upper layer of the skin , without actually penetrating the grain. And as Dr. Marnie Nussbaum, a dermatologist certified by the board in New York, told us: "Many people over-apply the treatment, resulting in irritation, dryness and redness." More to complain about: applied at night, those creams often end up in our pillowcases.
And the stickers?
Fortunately, all that is changing with the appearance of patches or stickers for pimples and acne spots. For a fundamental reason: they work .
"Pimple patches come in the form of hydrocolloid bandages, which doctors have used for decades in wound healing," says Nussbaum. "They are an effective way to attack a pimple with a previously measured dose of ingredients to fight acne."
" Grain patches work because they absorb excess fluid and have a vacuum-like effect that removes dirt and oil that could be causing an outbreak, " says Dr. Debra Jaliman, a dermatologist from New York City. "Then convert those impurities into a gel-like substance that adheres to the patch and separates from the face."
Another advantage of the patch, according to Nussbaum: less temptation to touch the grain. "Not only do they directly treat specific lesions, but they also make it extremely difficult to burst a pimple, which causes dark spots or even scars," he says.
What to expect from stickers
It is important to remember that these stickers are not miracles and each case is unique, but they can shorten the duration of a pimple or, in some cases, prevent it from coming to the surface completely, according to these dermatologists. " The patch should help the skin absorb the ingredients to fight acne and the lesion should flatten and resolve in a shorter time ," says Nussbaum.
Jaliman says the patches will not always work overnight, but they work if they are used correctly. "They should be used for at least six hours," she says. “When you remove it, you should be able to see that the presence of the shin is not so visible. It may not look so red or irritated. It should also reduce healing time. ”
More data: Standard hydrocolloid patches will work best for formed grains, especially white dots, as they will extract and absorb pus, oil and more. Hydrocolloid bandages with acne-fighting ingredients, such as salicylic acid, will be best for pimples that are just beginning, preventing them from seeing daylight.
Well, there you have it. Goodbye, old school creams. Hi, grain stickers. We've put together the favorite brands of doctors, some of Amazon's favorites and some of our favorite patches below .
Peter Thomas Roth Acvis-Clear Invisible Dots ($ 32; nordstrom.com)
From the revered skin care brand Peter Thomas Roth, these stickers are definitely the most invisible on our list , and could easily be used throughout the day without being detected. Jaliman counts them among his favorites.
"They have salicylic acid, tea tree oil and hyaluronic acid," she says. "Salicylic acid treats the pimple and stimulates skin exfoliation and unclogging of pores, while the oil has anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties." As for hyaluronic acid, Jaliman says it will hydrate the skin without clogging pores , avoiding the dry skin problem that often occurs when using certain acne products.
Zitsticka Kit Kit ($ 29; amazon.com)
Of all the patches on this list, these are definitely the ones that seem to come out of a science fiction movie, thanks to the lyophilized microneedles that penetrate the skin and deposit the ingredients that fight the grains directly in the kernel of the grain. Chrissy Tiegen and Keke Palme r are devotees of the brand and have promoted the patches in their Instagram stories, and it turns out that Nussbaum is also an admirer.
"ZitSticka patches contain microneedle technology to help infuse active ingredients into the skin and consequently prevent the breakdown of the pimple," she says.
Peace Out Acne Healing Dots ($ 19; sephora.com)
With over 2,000 positive comments on Sephora, these Peace Out acne treatment patches are the best sellers on the site and are perfect for pretreating a pimple. Jaliman also recommends: "They contain hydrocolloid along with some very good ingredients such as salicylic acid and aloe that help treat and fight acne."
Pimple patches of Alba Botany Acnedote ($ 7.99; target.com)
Made of 100% vegetarian ingredients, these patches fly off the shelves at Target locations throughout the US. UU., At one time, more than 30% of retail chain locations were sold out .
Nussbaum also recommends them . "These pimple patches are excellent because they contain witch hazel and salicylic acid, which reduces inflammation and separates fluids from the skin to help treat pimples," he says. "They also contain tea tree oil, which contains anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties and that help treat inflammatory acne lesions."
Avarelle Cover Patch ($ 8.50; amazon.com)
Amazon customers have spoken, and almost 7,000 have stated that Avarelle stickers are their favorites. Packed with tea tree extract and marigold oil , the hydrocolloid patches come in a tightly sealed bag (to prevent dust from entering) and acquire a milky white color when they are ready to be removed.
"This has changed my life," writes a critic. “Unlike other brands, this has been the only one that works on the protection and removal of pimples, and is absolutely the only one that is thin and transparent enough to use in public or under makeup. After sleeping with Avarelle patches, my pimples are usually completely flat or have been removed. ”
Nexcare Acne Cover ($ 4.50, originally $ 7.99; amazon.com)
Immediately after Avarelle in the Amazon recommended department are the Nexcare zit stickers, which have more than 5,500 positive reviews . By functioning as a sponge to eliminate toxins and bacteria from the skin, patches are the best for wilting white pimples .
"I don't know how these little ones work, but the work they do," writes a critic. “I had a stain for so long that I assumed it would be incinerated when that time came. Two of these guys later, and not only did the stain disappear, but the portal through which he came from the underworld to my life was miraculously not only closed but was cured. ”
Squish Flower Power acne patches ($ 14; urbanoutfitters.com)
Let's be honest and say that these are the cutest hydrocolloid patches on our list. Squish is a newly launched beauty brand that focuses directly on Generation Z and the millennial generation, offering products that are clean, fun and, oh yes, that also work. So far, these flowers have been seen on faces of celebrities like Camila Mendes and Barbara Palvin .
The Mighty Patch ($ 12.50; amazon.com)
These hydrocolloid patches may be small, but they are definitely also powerful. Perfect for attacking whiteheads (and absorbing pus and liquid), the patches have accumulated more than 3,000 positive reviews from Amazon, in addition to a lot of praise from beauty publishers. And they also come in different versions . Do you have a group of grains? Try the large patch. Do you need something ultra discreet for the day? Try the invisible patch.
CosRx Acne Pimple Master Patch ($ 12; amazon.com)
From the beauty brand K CosRx come these small discrete patches, which are more suitable for pimples, reduce redness and inflammation, and accelerate healing when used overnight .
Nearly 2,000 Amazon reviewers praise the product: “These patches have changed my life. I have sensitive and dry skin and suffer from hormonal acne. My face has transformed from being covered with acne to an occasional pimple that soon disappears. It doesn't work on all grains and sometimes a couple of applications are needed to work in the deep, but I would say it solves 90%. ”
Note: The prices above reflect the price at the time of publication of the article.
