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Do Pimple Patches Really Work?

Are zit stickers just another trendy accessory, or do they actually help clear up acne?

AS YOU READ, THINK ABOUT what causes pimples.

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.

Phoenix Nichols is an eighth-grader from Florida. When she gets a pimple, she doesn’t pop it. Instead, she covers it up with a colorful pimple patch. “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.

Pores are small openings in the skin. When they get clogged, pimples form. Clogs come from dead skin cells, bacteria, and sebum. That’s oil made by the skin. Some people pop their pimples. This may feel good to do. But it’s also more likely to leave a scar or cause an infection, says Dr. Jules Lipoff. He’s a dermatologist, or doctor who treats skin disorders, in Pennsylvania. Pimple patches prevent you from picking your acne. That’s their biggest benefit, he says.

Pimple patches are lined with a sticky material called hydrocolloid. It soaks up any fluid coming from the skin. Fluid mixes with the hydrocolloid to form a white gel. This creates a moist environment, and it helps pimples heal faster. Some patches are also lined with superthin points called microdarts. They pierce the zit. Then the microdarts dissolve and release compounds like salicylic acid. These compounds can kill bacteria.

It’s normal for teens to get breakouts. When they do, “pimple patches can help,” says Lipoff. But they don’t stop you from getting zits in the first place. If acne is a problem, talk with a dermatologist. They’ll help you find the right pimple-preventing treatment for your skin.

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What You Need to Know About Skin
Watch a video about skin.

ASKING QUESTIONS: Think about the types of skincare treatments you use. What questions do you have about how they work?

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