10 Best Pimple Patches for Acne (Tested and Reviewed in 2024)

Yes, pimple spots actually Doing work. But not how you think. If you don’t have a whitehead yet, don’t expect your pimple to magically pop your pimple for you. Instead, they use a material called hydrocolloid, which helps “absorb fluid from a pimple that has already formed a ‘head,’ or a whitehead,” says dermatologist Deanna Mraz, MD. This makes them great for soaking up excess oil on your skin, which can make your acne look flatter and less inflamed. Plus, they help protect your pimple from further irritation, especially from picking/touching, which can minimize healing time and prevent scarring, she adds.

But there are also newer types of pimple patches that can also be great for treating and preventing acne. “A medicated patch will actively smother the pimple in ingredients such as salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxideand/or tea tree oil,” says Dr. Mraz. “These active ingredients target inflammation and bacteria to speed healing.”

Plus, there are now microneedling patches with tiny dots that penetrate your pimple and help deliver the active ingredients deeper into your skin, explains Dr. Mraz out. “These are great for those deep, cystic pimples that you may not even really see on the surface of the skin, but can feel underneath,” she says. These can usually also be filled with soothing ingredients, such as centella asiatica, allantoinand bisabolol.