Pimple Patches: I Finally Figured Out How to Use Them Correctly
Updated: Sep 3
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TL;DR for my fellow skimmers 💕
Pimple patches aren't inconsistent, most of us are just using them incorrectly. Here's the system that finally made them work every single time for my oily, hormonal, acne-prone skin!
Timing is everything: only apply a patch once you can see a whitehead forming, not before. Before that stage it can't pull anything out.
Day patches: a traditional round pimple patch, PICcircuit Pimple Patches, discreet and quick for daytime wear
Night patches: YHOVID Hydrocolloid Roll for Wound Care - cut your own patches out, fraction of the cost for how much you get, works exactly the same
Don't stop after one night: keep patching morning and night until the spot is no longer pink, open, or puffy
Why it matters: consistent patching prevents picking, protects the spot from your other products, and significantly reduces hyperpigmentation
Is it just me or do pimple patches not work sometimes?
For the longest time I assumed pimple patches were just inconsistent and that's how it was. I would slap one on whatever was forming on my face, wake up in the morning, and get mixed results.
Sometimes the pimple was gone
Sometimes it had progressed into a whitehead
Sometimes the patch just sat there and did absolutely nothing
And since pimple patches are not cheap, inconsistent results started to feel like wasted money (and none of us have time for that).
Then I finally looked into how they work and how I should be using them, and everything changed. For the past month I've been using them in a very purposeful way and they have been working consistently, every single time. I'm not guessing anymore and want you to be done guessing too!
Before I get into it, the usual disclaimer: I am not a dermatologist or an esthetician. This is just my experience with my own skin and what's been working for me. I have oily, acne-prone skin and most of what I deal with is hormonal acne with the occasional random breakout. This method is part of my full skincare routine and if you want to see how everything fits together, my skincare hub post is here!
If you're also in your 30s and dealing with more acne than you ever expected, I wrote about why I think this is happening to us and what I've been using for the hyperpigmentation here. Now, back to the pimple patches.
The rule that changed it all: Timing is everything....
The biggest thing I changed is when I apply the patch. I used to put one on anything that looked like it might become a pimple. Now I wait.
If I can feel something forming under the skin but nothing is visible yet or it's a skin colored bump with no visible whitehead, I leave it alone and just continue my normal skincare routine.
I only apply a pimple patch once the bump has reached whitehead stage or is very clearly about to become one. That is the moment the patch can actually do its job. Before that point it is not going to pull anything out, it is just sitting on top of your skin.
The two products I use (And how one saves me so much money)...
The first is a traditional round pimple patch: PICcircuit Pimple Patches. I typically use these during the day because they are discreet, already cut, come in 2 different sizes, and quick to apply.
The second is the one that has saved me so much money and gives me proper protection over larger breakouts: YHOVID Hydrocolloid Roll for Wound Care. The reason these work is because:
Regular pimple patches are basically pre-cut hydrocolloid patches
Hydrocolloid pimple patches draw out the ick (pus, oil, etc.) while keeping the spot prime for healing. The roll does the same!
If you have ever had a cluster of breakouts or a larger area that needs covering, using individual pimple patches means going through half your entire pack in one night. Buying a roll and cutting your own custom sizes and shapes is a fraction of the cost and works just the same as the individual patches.
I primarily use these during my nighttime skincare routine, but will use them during the day if a larger area needs covering. And if you want to see the soothing nighttime routine that has greatly improved the clarity and softness of my skin, check it out here!
How I keep going until it's actually healed...
This is the other thing I changed. I don't just put a patch on one night and move on. I keep going until that spot has entered the healing stage. My actives routine also doesn't stop when I'm patching a spot, and if you want to see how I use retinol and exfoliants on non-patched areas, that routine is here!
In the morning:
I remove the patch then wash my face with water
If appropriate I put a fresh patch on before applying any other skincare products
Then in the evening:
I remove the patch and wash my face, and then I assess the spot...
Is it still a whitehead? New patch.
Is it no longer a whitehead but still pink, open, or puffy? New patch.
I keep repeating this cycle, morning and night, until the spot is no longer pink, no longer looks open, and no longer feels irritated or puffy. That is when I stop patching and just treat it like the rest of my skin!
This new routine of consistent protection has helped my skin so so much:
It keeps me from picking at my skin
It protects the spots from being accidentally aggravated by my hands, clothes, or other skincare products during application.
Paired with daily SPF, this method has made a real difference in preventing dark marks / hyperpigmentation from forming in the first place. Here are the two sunscreens I wear every single morning with no white cast.
The bottom line on pimple patches in your 30s...
Acne isn't something to be embarrassed about, especially in your 30s when a lot of us are dealing with huge hormonal changes and other external factors. But with the soothing nighttime routine I do, the hyperpigmentation products I love, and the pimple patches I've been using, my skin has improved beautifully and I feel more in control of the process then ever before.
I track every breakout cycle and product in my Glow Skincare Log so I can actually see patterns over time instead of guessing. If you want to start doing the same, you can grab it there!
If you try this method I would love to know how it works for you! Be sure to drop a comment below.
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