Can you use pimple patches on bug bites?

What would a pimple patch actually do?

Hydrocolloid is a gel used in wound dressings. Pimple patches absorb fluid and cover the spot, and they work best on open, oozing pimples. Covering a spot can discourage picking, which is useful work for a sticker with an acne department job title.1

A typical mosquito bite is a raised, itchy lump. Insect bites cause inflammation and local irritation, so fluid absorption is not the main job an ordinary bite needs done. Do not scratch or open a bite to give the patch something to absorb: scratching can break the skin and allow infection.34

Which patches should you be careful with?

If you try a pimple patch as a cover, choose a plain hydrocolloid version rather than one containing acne treatment ingredients. Salicylic acid and tea tree oil can irritate an already irritated area. Adhesive can also aggravate skin if you are sensitive or allergic to it. Remove the patch if the surrounding skin becomes irritated.1

How to care for the bite

1. 1Remove any remaining tick or stinger first. Scrape a stinger sideways; use fine tipped tweezers to grasp a tick close to the skin and slowly pull upwards.
2. 2Wash the area with soap and water. If you plan to apply a patch, dry the skin thoroughly so the adhesive can stick.
3. 3For swelling, apply a cloth wrapped ice pack or a clean cloth soaked in cold water for at least 20 minutes. Keep the affected area raised if possible.
4. 4If you use a plain pimple patch as a cover, follow its own wear and removal directions. Pimple patch timings are product specific, not a bug bite treatment schedule.

Hydrocortisone cream can reduce itching and swelling; an oral antihistamine is another option for itch. Follow the product directions. If you regularly take other medicines, check with a pharmacist or doctor before adding an antihistamine.245

Are bug bite patches different?

Bug bite patches and pimple patches have different jobs, even if the packaging files both under small things that stick. For example, Care Science Bug Bite Relief Patch contains 4% lidocaine, a medicine for temporary relief of pain and itching from insect bites.6

Care Science directs adults and children aged 12 and over to apply one patch at a time to clean, dry, untreated skin, no more than 3 to 4 times daily, and remove it within 8 hours. Do not combine it with other topical products or apply it to raw, blistered, wounded or damaged skin. For children under 12, consult a physician before use. If pregnant or breastfeeding, ask a healthcare professional before use. Stop and ask a doctor if symptoms worsen, last more than 7 days, or return within a few days.6

When a bite needs medical attention

Most bites improve within a few days. Seek medical attention the same day for rapidly increasing redness or swelling, hot skin, pus, or a red line spreading from the bite. Infection can develop 2 to 3 days after a bite, particularly after scratching. Do not simply cover these changes with another patch.45

Get prompt medical care for a new rash, fever, body aches or persistent headache after a bite. A bullseye shaped rash after a tick bite needs medical assessment. Call emergency services for difficulty breathing, a closing throat, or sudden swelling of the lips, tongue or face.7