When Phoenix Nichols, an eighth grader from Florida, gets a pimple, she doesn’t pop it. Instead, she reaches for a colorful pimple patch to cover it up. “I wear them fairly often, whenever I feel a pimple coming on,” says Phoenix. Her classmate Liam del Castillo does too. “I wear pimple patches mostly the whole day and put new ones on before I go to sleep,” he says.
Pimples form when pores, or small openings in the skin, become clogged with dead skin cells, bacteria, and sebum—oil made by the skin. Sometimes, people pop their pimples. While this may feel satisfying, it’s also more likely to leave a scar or cause an infection, says Dr. Jules Lipoff, a dermatologist, or doctor who treats skin disorders, in Pennsylvania. The biggest benefit of pimple patches, he says, is that they prevent you from picking your acne.
Pimple patches are lined with a sticky material called hydrocolloid that absorbs any fluid oozing from the skin. When fluid mixes with the hydrocolloid, it forms a white gel. This creates a moist environment that helps pimples heal faster. Some patches are also lined with superthin projections called microdarts, which pierce the zit. The microdarts dissolve, releasing compounds like salicylic acid that can kill bacteria.
It’s normal for teens to get breakouts. When they do, “pimple patches can help,” says Lipoff. Of course, they don’t stop you from getting zits in the first place. If you’re experiencing acne, it’s best to talk with a dermatologist to find the right pimple-preventing treatment for your skin.