How to make pimple patches

How do you make DIY pimple patches?

A hydrocolloid patch is a manufactured dressing with an inner layer that absorbs fluid and an outer layer that protects the area. The material forms a gel when it meets water, creating a moist environment that supports healing. Making a sticker from household ingredients cannot be assumed to reproduce those properties. A hydrocolloid patch has an absorbing inner layer and a protective outer layer, so making one involves more than giving tape a skincare name.2

Choose a product labelled as a hydrocolloid acne patch and follow its directions. If you are considering cutting a larger wound dressing into smaller pieces, check that dressing's instructions rather than treating acne patch directions as permission to modify another product. Pimple patches evolved from hydrocolloid wound dressings, so the skincare aisle did not invent the entire concept.3

How to apply a hydrocolloid pimple patch

1. 1Wash the affected area. If a pimple has already opened, clean away the fluid before covering it.
2. 2Dry the skin thoroughly. The adhesive does not stick as well to wet skin.
3. 3Apply the patch over the pimple without squeezing or picking the spot first.
4. 4Leave the patch on for the time stated on its packaging. Most acne patches need several hours, and many are intended for overnight wear.
5. 5Remove the patch at the instructed time. Follow that product's directions for further applications rather than inventing a replacement schedule.

Which pimples will a patch help?

Hydrocolloid patches work best on pimples that are already open and releasing fluid. After the instructed wear time, the spot may look smaller and less inflamed. Do not pop a closed pimple to make it suitable for a patch. Patches offer less help for closed pimples, blackheads and deeper whiteheads, and they do not prevent future acne.3

The benefits are promising but limited. Small studies of hydrocolloid acne dressings have found improvements in inflammation, size and texture. One study involving 20 people found reduced acne severity and inflammation from day three to day seven. Those results describe repeated use of manufactured dressings, not a homemade recipe or a promise that one sticker will erase a pimple overnight.2

What if your skin is sensitive?

An unmedicated hydrocolloid patch is an option if added acne medicines irritate your skin. Medicated patches containing benzoyl peroxide can cause irritation, and tea tree oil can cause allergic reactions. Adhesive itself can also aggravate sensitive skin. Avoid patches if you know you are allergic or sensitive to their adhesive. Homemade additions are not necessary for a patch to absorb fluid or discourage picking.34

What if the pimple is deep and painful?

Do not rely on a patch to treat deep acne. A patch can protect the surface, but nodules and cysts develop farther beneath the skin. Do not squeeze them: picking increases the risk of infection, discoloration and scarring. Apply a clean, warm, damp washcloth for 10 to 15 minutes three times daily to help the pimple move toward the surface. Use a clean washcloth each time. See a dermatologist if the painful pimple does not go away with home care or you develop several deep, painful pimples.15