How Do Pimple Patches Work? Here’s Everything You Need to Know

How to pimple Do the fixes work? At the time, obtaining a zit meant to climb on layers of foundation of foundation, corrector, powder … or perhaps just a strategically inclined hairstyle. But now the game has changed: why hide a button when you can dress it? No frantic mixture or pore clogging products is necessary. Today, we are adopting a radically different (and refreshing and discreet) approach) of the wrapped pores: to slap a sticker in the shape of a bright yellow star and call it one day.

Welcome to the time of the button patch, where imperfections are not shameful secrets to hide but simply part of the human experience. While putting a literal sticker on a zit may seem daring, it is also an effective way to treat imperfections. Here we dive into science, the advantages and the best ways to shake a patch of hydrocolloid button.

If you are interested in skin science, do not forget to consult our guides to Red therapy masks and LED devices,, Exosomal treatmentsand the ancient history of Snail mucin.

Updated in July 2025: I added patches with hydrocolloid imperfection of DearCloud, cerave hydrocolloid imprecision patches and fishing slices like new choices. I also updated information, prices and links.

What is a button patch?

In the simplest terms, button patches are tiny adhesive stickers designed to tackle different types of acne, one defect at a time. These patches unlock the pores and absorb excess liquid, accelerate the healing of the wounds and prevent you from choosing your skin – not a small feat. Button patches are available under different formulas, with different ingredients for different eruptions, but the most popular are the hydrocolloid acne patches.

How do pimple fixes work?

Photography: Andrew Youngberg

Hydrocolloid patches are a type of dressing that helps keep humidity and create a damp healing environment for pimples, burns or lesions. “They are made of an attractive material of water, which is attached to a really thin plastic film,” explains Cosmetic chemist Michelle Wong. “So, if you have an open button, for example, it can suck the pus.”

Although hydrocolloid dressings have been used for wound care since the 1960s (dressings were initially developed in the 1930s by a dentist), it was not until the early 2010s that button plates began to appear on skin care and beauty shelves.

When applied to a fiery button – usually one with liquid – the heat of your skin softens the lining of the sticker, helping him to suck up impurities and grips. It also acts as a protective barrier which protects the lack of irritation or additional spread. If you have already removed a patch to find the underscore of a white substance to know, it is a mixture of hydrocolloid gel and excess oils from the skin. This healing process also prevents you from picking the button – a habit that can cause healing times, a longer infection and scars.

Our favorite button patches

Other spot treatments

“Appliances in cash [tend] Contain benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid or the witch hazelnut, ”writes Lindsey ZubritskyA certified dermatologist on the board of directors of the first dermatology and skin cancer center, in an email. “These are active ingredients – although they can work, they can also cause drought and irritation.” Pure hydrocolloid patches, on the other hand, do not contain active ingredients, which makes them ideal for sensitive or reactive skin types.

How often can you use hydrocolloid patches?

Photography: Yuliya Sheynina / Getty Images

According to most dermatologists, you can use button patches as needed. ZUBRITSKY (aka @dermguru on tiktok) Suggests to wear them until 12 noon, ideally overnight. But they can also be worn during the day. They are particularly effective on pimples filled with liquid, such as papules, pustulas or cysts.