The last thing you want to see on your face is a pimple that looks and feels as if Mount Everest is sprouting on your skin. Apart from looking unsightly, these little suckers hurt. Of course, it is human nature to want to get rid of these disgusting bumps as fast as possible. You don’t want them to grow and multiply, so a quick and sudden zit death is a must. One of the most popular solutions now is an acne patch.
But before you jump into this zit-zapping bandwagon, you have to know and understand what they are all about. These patches for your acne are not made equal. They came in a broad range of variants, so you have to make sure that you get the right one for your problem. Find out more about these patches below, and learn how to put them on properly. Consider the following tips below for pimple patching success.
Learn Which Patch is Right for You
There are different kinds of acne patches, such as the medicated patch, micro-needling patch, and the non-medicated patch. The medicated patch has active ingredients like salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide to dry out your pustules, papules, or cystic pimples.
Microneedling patches don’t have huge needles, so calm your nerves. They do contain superfine needle-like substances that dissolve in your skin to prevent nasty cystic acne. This allows the active ingredient to penetrate a deeper layer and not just merely sit on the skin surface.
Finally, the non-medicated acne patch is akin to those hydrocolloid bandages. It is the same material they use for post-surgical wounds as they help speed up the healing process. These are usually circular and cut super thin, so they’re not so obvious when you use them. These babies suck out debris and moisture for faster skin recovery. This type of patch is excellent for protecting areas with whiteheads and regular pimples. Some even come with added UV protection to protect your sensitive skin.
Prep Your Face
Before any patch application, you have to make sure that your face is clean. Take off your makeup and wash your face. You may want to use a toner and serum on your face after cleaning, but make sure you skip the areas where you will be applying the patch. You don’t want these topical toners and creams to mess with the active ingredients of your patch. Moreover, keeps the area surrounding the offensive zit dry to ensure that the acne patch will stick properly and will not become undone.
Pick the Perfect Size
You have to choose the size that best matches the annoying pimple on your face. Everyone knows that pimples come in varying shapes and sizes. The round acne patches usually come in threes: small, medium, or large. However, the other medicated patches, you may have to cut them to fit the area you want to cover.
Place Properly and Let It Do Magic
You have to place the patch properly for it to work. Make sure the offensive acne is right smack in the middle of the patch. You want to make sure everything is covered so that your patch can effectively ward off all the undesirable elements in your skin. You have to leave the patch on for 24hours or up until your patch changes color and turn opaque. When it has discolored, that means this great patch has done its job to suck away the nasty debris within your pore where the pimple has invaded.
Acne patches are a great solution to this annoying problem. They offer protection, zap all the debris, and dry out that little sucker you don’t want on your face. However, acne patches don’t get to the root of your problem. If your acne is persistent, you may need to see a dermatologist and check if you have a hormonal imbalance. Sometimes, you also need to modify your diet because healthy glowing skin starts from within.