How do pimple patches work? Back in the day, getting a zit meant caking on disguising layers of foundation, concealer, powder … or maybe just a strategically angled hairstyle. But now, the game has changed: Why hide a pimple when you can dress it up? No frantic blending or pore-clogging products are required. Today, we’re embracing a radically different (and refreshingly low-key) approach to clogged pores: slapping a bright yellow star-shaped sticker on it and calling it a day.
Welcome to the era of the pimple patch, where blemishes aren’t shameful secrets to conceal but just part of the human experience. While putting a literal sticker on a zit may seem bold, it’s also an effective way to treat blemishes. Here, we dive into the science, benefits, and best ways to rock a hydrocolloid pimple patch.
If you're interested in skin science, don't forget to check out our guides to red light therapy masks and LED devices, exosome treatments, and the ancient history of snail mucin.
Updated November 2025: We’ve added Curology Emergency Spot Patch Holographic, La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo+M Multi-Target Blemish Patches, Hero Cosmetics Micropoint for Dark Spots, and Starface Hydrostar + Salicylic Acid as new picks. We’ve also added an FAQ section and updated prices and links.
What Is a Hydrocolloid Patch?
In simplest terms, pimple patches are tiny, adhesive stickers made to tackle different types of acne, one blemish at a time. These patches unclog pores and absorb excess fluid, speed up wound healing, and keep you from picking at your skin—no small feat. Pimple patches come in various formulas, with different ingredients for different breakouts, but the most popular are hydrocolloid acne patches.
How Do Hydrocolloid Patches Work?
Photograph: Andrew Youngberg/Getty Images
Hydrocolloid patches are a type of wound dressing that helps retain moisture and create a moist, healing environment for pimples, burns, or lesions. “They’re made of a water-attracting material, which is attached to a really thin plastic film,” says cosmetic chemist Michelle Wong. “So if you have an open pimple, for example, it can suck out the pus.”
Although hydrocolloid dressings has been used for wound care since the 1960s (the dressings were originally developed in the 1930s by a dentist), it wasn’t until the early 2010s that pimple patches started showing up on skin care and beauty shelves.
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