• Pimple patches are becoming increasingly popular as a spot treatment for pimples and one-off blemishes.
  • We consulted two New York City-based dermatologists, Dr. Joshua Zeichner and Dr. Marisa Garshick, to determine how to find the best pimple patches for all types of blemishes.
  • Mighty Patch is our top pick because the patches work well for most blemishes, are affordable, and do a great job of diminishing the size of your pimples.

Blemishes are a normal, albeit frustrating part of life. Even those with the clearest skin have to deal with a pimple popping up every now and then.

The best way to deal with breakouts is to prevent them from developing in the first place – with a consistent skincare routine and a focus on ingredients that treat the acne you’re most prone to. Still, sometimes a pimple erupts and you need something to calm it down, fast. In those moments, pimple patches are a great option.

Pimple patches are essentially adhesive stickers that you can apply directly on top of a blemish. These stickers serve two main purposes. According to dermatologist Dr. Joshua Zeichner, “Pimple patches both provide a protective barrier over the skin to enhance wound healing, and some deliver active ingredients to the skin as well.”

What are the different types of pimple patches?

Beyond just protecting your pimple from your own picking and prodding, a pimple patch can deliver blemish-busting ingredients quickly and easily. If you’ve been doing some research about pimple patches on your own, you’ve probably come across these two options: hydrocolloid patches and salicylic acid patches.

Hydrocolloid is the same ingredient used in wound-healing bandages, according to dermatologist Dr. Marisa Garshick, so these patches are designed to provide a protective barrier over the skin and absorb fluid and oils from the pimple. Ultimately, this will help the blemish diminish in size.

Salicylic acid patches work by delivering the ingredient to the affected area. Because salicylic acid is an exfoliant, Dr. Garshick tells us, it helps to unclog the pores and improve the appearance of blemishes.

Dr. Garshick also says that hydrocolloid patches tend to work best for cystic, inflamed breakouts while salicylic acid patches work best for blackheads and whiteheads. You may find patches that are a hybrid of both as well as options that feature a host of other skin-soothing ingredients, like hyaluronic acid.

Are pimple patches the best way to get rid of blemishes?

If you're just looking to get rid of a single pimple, then pimple patches are a great option, but both of the dermatologists we spoke to agreed they should not be used as your main form of acne treatment. Pimple patches, quite literally, put a bandage on the problem itself. If you're looking for a long-term acne solution, you'll want to use products that get to the root of your problems. "Rather than addressing individual spots that arise, it is better to prevent new pimples from developing to begin with," Dr. Zeichner says. He recommends acne medications with ingredients like salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide, and adapalene, depending on your specific concerns. Dr. Garshick also recommends going to your dermatologist's office for a cortisone injection if you're dealing with a deep cystic breakout that won't budge.

Here are the best pimple patches you can buy:

The best pimple patches overall

The Mighty Patch Original patches do a great job of absorbing pus from pimples, resulting in noticeably smaller and less inflamed blemishes every time.

We love the Mighty Patch Original patches because they're low maintenance, affordable, and do a really great job at calming down our blemishes overnight.

These hydrocolloid patches are particularly sticky, so they won't fall off your face even if you're tossing and turning in your sleep. The hydrocolloid dressing not only provides a barrier to stop you from picking at your pimple, but it draws out excess fluid and water. These patches work best on pus-filled pimples (think: ones with a visible whitehead). Each patch is about a half-inch wide, which makes them ideal for covering pimples of most sizes.

To use, just clean your skin, stick a patch over the blemish before going to bed, and peel it off when you wake up. Once you take off the patch, you can actually see all of the gunk that's been absorbed - it's kind of gross, but also kind of satisfying.

Mighty Patch has a range of other offerings, including a Surface strip that can treat multiple blemishes at once and Invisible+ patches that are thinner and less noticeable so you can wear them out during the day. At $12.99 for 36 patches, these are pretty fairly priced compared to what else is out there.

If you're looking for a hydrocolloid patch, Dr. Garshick recommends Mighty Patch, and Insider Reviews senior reporter Connie Chen is a big fan of the Original patches too.

Pros: Don't fall off, effective, easy to use

Cons: May not be as effective for blackheads and whiteheads

The best pimple patches for sensitive skin

Foto: Source: Amazon

If you have sensitive skin, Avarelle's Acne Cover Patches will help get rid of your pimple while also providing soothing botanical ingredients.

Having sensitive skin can make you wary of trying new skincare products. While most pimple patches are generally safe for all skin types, patches like these ones from Avarelle are a good way to go if you've had any problems with irritation in the past.

The Avarelle Acne Cover Patches are simple hydrocolloid patches with the added benefits of skin-soothing ingredients. So, not only do these patches protect and cover your blemish, but they deliver tea tree oil, cica, and calendula oil. Cica is an herb that's commonly used to treat wounds and has been featured in many skincare products. You'll find it in some K-beauty favorites like the Dr. Jart+ Cicapair Tiger Grass Color Correcting Cream. Tea tree and calendula oils both bring anti-inflammatory properties to help heal your pimple.

A pack of the Avarelle Acne Cover Patches comes with 40 patches in three different sizes. It'll cost you just $8.50 for the whole box, making these a great value as well. Dr. Zeichner recommends these patches for anyone with sensitive skin.

Pros: Gentle, good for sensitive skin, affordable, multiple patch sizes included

Cons: Some of the patch sizes may be too small

The best pimple patches for recurrent pimples

Foto: Source: Peace Out

The Peace Out Acne Healing Dots contain salicylic acid to clear up acne, aloe to soothe skin, and vitamin A to prevent future breakouts.

If you have a pimple that keeps popping up in the same spot, a simple hydrocolloid patch may not be enough for it to be gone for good. For recurrent pimples, Dr. Zeichner recommends finding a patch that contains vitamin A derivatives. "They help reduce inflammation and prevent blockages within the pores to keep the pipes clean," he says.

So, if you're looking to stop that chin pimple from popping up yet again, Dr. Zeichner recommends Peace Out Acne Healing Dots. The patches contain multiple ingredients that work to calm existing breakouts and prevent new ones from developing. Hydrocolloid technology provides a barrier around the blemish and extracts impurities, while salicylic acid works to unclog pores and clear up the bacteria causing the blemish. The addition of vitamin A helps prevent the breakout from reoccurring and aloe vera leaf extract soothes the irritated skin.

These are on the thicker side of patches, so they won't blend in as well on your skin, but they are very tacky and do a good job of staying put throughout the day.

A pack of 20 Peace Out Acne Healing Dots costs $19, which is on the pricier side of the patches we've used. To save a few dollars, you can choose to subscribe to a new shipment every month and get 10% off.

Pros: Effective, has both acne-fighting and skin-soothing ingredients, doesn't fall off

Cons: Pricey, includes fewer patches than other packs

The best budget pimple patches

Foto: Source: COSRX

At just $6 for a pack of 24, the COSRX Acne Pimple Master Patches are one of the most affordable options we've seen for calming down breakouts.

A few years ago, Insider Reviews senior reporter Connie Chen compared the Mighty Patch and COSRX pimple patches. Today, I second her statement that the Mighty Patch Original patches are more effective, but I think COSRX is still worth knowing about.

The COSRX Acne Pimple Master Patches are hydrocolloid stickers that have added ingredients like anti-inflammatory white willow bark (a natural alternative to salicylic acid) to help exfoliate and treat the acne. Dr. Garshick recommends these as a good option for providing a protective barrier around your blemish.

The pack comes with 24 patches in three sizes, ranging from 7mm to 12mm. If you tend to get smaller pimples, these are probably great for your needs. I personally find the 7mm patches to be a bit too small and generally reach for the larger ones, so this variety could be a pro or con depending on what size pimples you usually get.

The biggest benefit of the COSRX patches is the price. A 24-pack costs just $6. While most pimple patches we found were relatively affordable, this is still the cheapest option when you consider the breakdown of the price per patch. If you're interested in trying pimple patches but you're also a bit skeptical, this low-cost investment may be a good place to start.

Pros: Very affordable, multiple patch sizes included

Cons: Sometimes fall off, the small sizes are often too small

The best pimple patches with microdarts

Foto: Source: ZitSticka

The ZitSticka patches feature self-dissolving microdarts that help ingredients better penetrate the skin for quicker results on tough-to-get-rid-of pimples.

Imagine this: You're getting ready for bed the night before a big party and everything has been perfectly planned, from your outfit to your makeup. Then, you look in the mirror and see a big zit plopped right in the middle of your face.

When you need to get rid of an early-stage pimple fast, you're going to want to bring out the microdarts. Microdarts are mini needles that help enhance penetration of the ingredients found in the patch.

That might sound scary, but they're totally safe. According to Dr. Zeichner, microdarts found on pimple patches shouldn't be sharp or long enough to cause breaks in the skin or penetrate the outer layer to a significant degree. So long as you don't have any open or raw skin in the treated area, they're safe to use at home.

Dr. Garshick recommends ZitSticka patches for their combination of self-dissolving microdarts, gently exfoliating salicylic acid, and hydrating hyaluronic acid. Because the microdarts help ingredients better penetrate your skin, the results tend to be quicker.

The first time I used a microdart patch I felt a small tingle, but no pain - the self-dissolving needles are so small you can barely feel them. These were some of the most effective patches I tried, but the catch is that they're expensive and not really necessary for your average blemish. I'd reserve these for times when you really don't want to roll the dice on whether or not your pimple will be gone by morning.

The ZitSticka Killa Kit also comes with eight CLEANA swabs that prime the skin before application. The patches themselves contain niacinamide, salicylic acid, and hyaluronic acid among other ingredients. After two hours, the microdarts should fully dissolve and the blemish-busting ingredients should be delivered to the source.

A pack of eight ZitSticka patches and eight CLEANA swabs is $29, but you also have the option to subscribe and get a new shipment for $26 a month.

Pros: Fast-acting, microdarts increase efficiency

Cons: Expensive, only a few per package

What else we considered:

Foto: Source: Starface
  • Patchology Breakout Box Blemish Treatment, $20: If you're not sure what kind of patch to start with, this kit could be a good introduction. It comes with 24 hydrocolloid patches, 24 salicylic acid patches, and 3 charcoal nose strips, so there's really something for every kind of blemish. Still, these weren't the most effective options in our trials.
  • Starface Hydro-Stars, $20: Unlike the clear patches we tried, these yellow star-shaped hydrocolloid patches are meant to be seen. The packaging and design are both super fun, but we found that the patches were not as effective as others on this list, especially at the higher price point of $20 for 32 patches.
  • Mighty Patch Micropoint, $12.99: These patches have 173 micropoints that deliver salicylic acid, hyaluronic acid, and other ingredients right to your pimple fast. We ultimately chose ZitSticka as our favorite microdart patch because they include priming pads that make them more efficient, but these are a great choice too.