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9 best pimple patches in 2024, according to experts

We consulted three board-certified dermatologists on the efficacy of pimple patches against breakouts, and are sharing their top-rated recommendations.
Pimple patches can help prevent you from picking your acne and diminish inflammation and discoloration, according to experts.
Pimple patches can help prevent you from picking your acne and diminish inflammation and discoloration, according to experts.Kara Birnbaum / NBC News

There are few things more frustrating than waking up to a glaring red blemish and wondering how you could have possibly prevented it. Unfortunately, zits happen to just about everyone. In fact, acne affects more than 50 million Americans, according to the American Academy of Dermatology Association (AADA). Though breakouts are common, they can be painful and distracting — but pimple patches can help. While they won’t get rid of acne forever, these patches can help with sudden one-off blemishes.

Not familiar with these spot treatments? “Pimple patches are small stickers that are made with a soothing gel called hydrocolloid,” says Dr. Bradley Glodny, a board-certified dermatologist and owner of Park Avenue Dermatology in New York City. As this hydrocolloid gel adheres to the skin, it absorbs excess oil and dirt away from pimples, says Dr. Hadley King, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City.

"While stuck to the skin, acne patches also have the added benefit of preventing you from picking or trying to pop the pimple," says King. This is key because when you pick at a pimple, it increases inflammation, can prolong healing time and boosts the risk of infection, discoloration and scarring.

SKIP AHEAD The best pimple patches of 2024 | How to shop for pimple patches | When are pimple patches most effective?

To help you determine the best pimple patch for your skin, we spoke with dermatologists about what to look for when shopping and added in highly rated options from retailers like Amazon, Target and Sephora that align with our experts’ guidance.

Selected.Our top picks

How we chose the best pimple patches

To choose the best pimple patches, we asked experts what key factors to prioritize when shopping. Here is what they say to keep in mind:

  • Look for acne-fighting ingredients: Some pimple patches are made using only hydrocolloid gel, while others are infused with additional acne-fighting ingredients. What will work best for you will depend on your skin type, according to Dr. Orit Markowitz, a board-certified dermatologist and founder of OptiSkin Medical in New York City. If you have sensitive skin, you may want a basic hydrocolloid patch;if your zits are more stubborn, consider patches with blemish-busting ingredients like salicylic acid or tea tree oil. If you are dealing with a deep, cystic pimple, Glodny suggests looking for a patch with micropoints (also called micro darts), which are tiny points that gently penetrate the skin to deliver ingredients deeper.
  • Size: No two pimples are exactly alike, so different sized and shaped patches will help you target different types of breakouts. A larger sticker can tackle a cluster of pimples, while a little circle is a good choice for a small whitehead.

The best pimple patches of 2024

We consulted three New York-based dermatologists about their top pimple patch recommendations, plus considered options that earned high ratings from Select staff members and reviewers who have used them.

ZitSticka Killa Kit

Both King and Markowitz recommend Zitsticka patches, which come with priming cleaning swabs to use before applying the patch. "I like that they have micro darts filled with salicylic acid, niacinamide and oligopeptide-76 to treat pimples," says King. “It enables these ingredients, all of which help reduce acne, to really get in there.” They also contain hyaluronic acid, which balances out the potential drying effect of salicylic acid so your zit doesn’t start to flake and scab as it heals, according to Markowitz.

Peace Out Acne Healing Dots

King is also a fan of these pimple patches, which are available in packs of 20 and 60. The patches combine hydrocolloid and salicylic acid to help remove oil and debris from clogged pores. They also contain aloe vera leaf extract, which has anti-inflammatory properties that help soothe and calm redness, according to King.

Peach Slices Acne Spot Dots

These highly-rated acne patches are ideal for dry or sensitive skin since they skip potentially drying agents, like salicylic acid. The translucent, hydrocolloid patches come in three sizes — 7mm, 10mm and 12mm, which you can use as needed to cover a single small zit or a cluster. "The smallest is one of the smallest options I've seen, and they are also thinner than most hydrocolloid patches — so this makes them easier to wear without it being obvious,” says King. To use these cleanse your skin first, apply the patch and then remove after eight hours, according to the brand.

Mario Badescu Drying Patches

These patches are another favorite of King’s because of its ingredients: they have salicylic acid and hyaluronic acid to hydrate the skin, plus niacinamide, which can help improve skin tone and texture. Select’s associate updates editor, Zoe Malin, is a fan of because of how thin they are. “They are practically invisible when you put them on,” she says. “So you can totally wear them during the day when working from home — I doubt anyone would be able to tell you were wearing them on a video call.”

Hero Cosmetics Invisible Mighty Patch

“The patches are very effective at extracting a pimple, but it may take a couple rounds of patches depending on how deep or large of a pimple it is,” says Select’s editorial projects associate Rebecca Rodriguez, who tried them for Select’s Wellness Awards. “I like that they’re a little more translucent than other patches I have tried because they blend well with my skin tone and don’t scream ‘hey I’ve got a pimple.’” Unlike other patches that have additional acne-fighting ingredients, these solely rely on the hydrocolloid gel to draw out any sebum or debris from your skin, which makes them gentle for sensitive skin.

Cosrx Pimple Patches

King likes these because each package contains small, medium and large hydrocolloid bandages, giving you options for pimples of different sizes. These Cosrx patches rely solely on hydrocolloid gel to remove excess oil so they’re an ideal option for anyone with sensitive skin because there are no additional ingredients to irritate you, according to King. These are also one of the most consistently highly rated options on our list with an average 4.4-star rating from over 49,800 reviews on Amazon.

Starface Hydro Stars

These fragrance-free, star-shaped patches add a little fun to your acne-fighting journey. “Getting a pimple can be such a bummer,” says contributing editor Bethany Heitman. “These bright yellow stars add an element of fun to the entire experience. Because of the shape, I found they were best for smaller zits. I mostly wear them at home. But, I did wear a few to a recent Taylor Swift concert — they covered my breakout and felt festive.” A 100% hydrocolloid option, Markowitz also says they are helpful for reducing zit-related inflammation on sensitive skin.

Nexcare Acne Absorbing Cover

Another 100% hydrocolloid option, these patches from Nexcare come in a pack of 36 or 108 patches and are another favorite of Markowitz’s. Like the Mighty Patch option from Hero Cosmetics, these turn white once any oily secretion is absorbed, according to the brand. Do not combine these patches with other acne medications or treatments though, according to Nexcare.

Avarelle Zitout Original

These round, unscented patches, which have a 4.3-star average rating from over 74,000 reviews on Amazon, contain tea tree oil to help shrink pimples. They’re also infused with calendula, which is known to soothe irritation, according to the brand. In the packet, you’ll get 40 patches in small, medium and large sizes.

How to shop for pimple patches

Picking the best option is all about considering your skin’s specific needs. Simple hydrocolloid patches are ideal for sensitive skin, says Glodny. If you don’t have sensitive skin, you can consider patches that either have micro darts (little points that help ingredients get deeper into a zit by creating small pricks in the skin) or the following acne-fighting ingredients:

  • Salicylic acid is a beta hydroxy acid that can help unclog pores or remove excess sebum. Patches containing salicylic acid could be a good option for a fairly inflamed pimple, but may irritate dryer, sensitive skin.
  • Tea tree oil or tea tree extract can be very drying, says Markowitz. This makes it a great tool for drying out pimples. However, if you have dry or sensitive skin, it’s probably best to skip it.
  • Hyaluronic acid is often paired with other, more drying ingredients like salicylic acid. That’s because it helps to hydrate the skin and can prevent drying caused by other ingredients associated with fighting acne, says King.
  • Niacinamide is another great addition to a pimple patch because it can improve skin tone and texture, according to King. “Plus, it has stabilizing effects on the skin’s barrier function, which can help improve moisture retention.”

At Select, we work with experts who have specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and/or experience. We also take steps to ensure that all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and with no undisclosed financial conflicts of interest.

  • Dr. Bradley Glodny is a board-certified dermatologist and the owner of Park Avenue Dermatology in New York City.
  • Dr. Hadley King is a board-certified dermatologist in New York City.
  • Dr. Orit Markowitz is a board-certified dermatologist and founder of OptiSkin in New York City.

Why trust Select?

Nicole Saunders is a former associate commerce editor for NBC Select.

Christina Colizza is a former editor for NBC Select.

Bethany Heitman is a contributor at NBC Select and a journalist who regularly covers topics like beauty, home and lifestyle. For this story, she interviewed three experts to gather their guidance and product recommendations. She also researched highly-rated pimple patches based on their advice.

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