Zap That Zit: Here Are The Best Acne Patches For Every Kind Of Pimple
Have you ever had one of those days where you can see a tiny red bump on your face and in a bid to prevent it from turning into a full-blown breakout, you've picked on it till it turns into said full-blown breakout? Because, same! If you are a serial skin picker, acne patches are going to be a blessing for you. And if you're a skincare beginner who doesn't know your hyaluronic acid from your retinol, but still want to get on the patch bandwagon, don't fret. Here's a complete guide to this acne treatment.
To know more about which patch will work best for your acne, keep reading...
What is an acne patch?
Acne patches are usually made up of hydrocolloid material and these work by creating a moist environment for the wound to heal. They attract the fluids of the zit to the surface, allowing it to heal quickly. The patches also absorb excess oil, pus and sebum when applied and literally seal acne from any added infection (and prodding).
Plus, the bandages mould themselves around the wound (here, breakout) without sticking to it. So, how do you go about picking the right patch? This depends on the type of acne you're looking to combat since these patches are coated with anti-inflammatory and anti-acne ingredients to soothe and treat skin woes.
Ideally, these patches should be work for seven to eight hours but if need be, they can be worn for up to 12 hours. Any longer than that can cause damage to the skin, making acne worse.
Patches for cystic acne
Acne patches don't work that efficiently on cystic acne, mainly because there is no open wound to pull out gunk from. Look for options that have micro darts or microneedles that gently penetrate the skin and deliver soothing ingredients like niacinamide to the zit. This might help with the redness and inflammation.
Patches for active acne
To tame active acne, it is best to look for patches that have a coating of active ingredients like benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid as well as something soothing like aloe vera extract. These will zap other upcoming acne as well as calm any redness.
Patches for whiteheads
Whiteheads are the type of acne that forms when your closed pores are clogged with dead skin cells and sebum. Even though whiteheads at the surface level may not be inflamed, at a cellular level, they can get infected which eventually leads to redness and irritation. To fight this, look for a BHA-rich patch. It has anti-bacterial and exfoliating superpowers that enable it to sink deep into the skin, dissolve sebum and deep clean pores.
However, before slapping on a patch on your acne and throwing a Hail Mary to the acne-calming gods, we suggest you consult your dermat. Sometimes deeper breakouts may not respond to just a patch and may require future examination and care.
Featured image: Instagram
