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 pesky bumps are normal, they can be painful, distracting and embarrassing. Pimples patches won’t banish acne forever, but they can help those one-off blemishes that seem to erupt out of nowhere.
“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.
To help you determine the best pimple patch for your skin, we spoke with dermatologists about what to look for when shopping and added highly rated options and NBC Select-staff favorites that align with our experts’ guidance.
How we picked 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:
- Acne-fighting ingredients: A hydrocolloid gel pimple patch is great for tackling your everyday blemish. However, if you have more specific skin needs, you may want to take a closer look at the patch’s ingredients, says Dr. Orit Markowitz, a board-certified dermatologist and founder of OptiSkin Medical in New York City. Consider patches infused with salicylic acid or tea tree oil if you struggle with stubborn zits. Or, if you have deep, cystic acne, Glodny recommends a patch with micropoints (also called micro darts), which gently penetrate the skin to send ingredients below your skin’s surface.
- Size: Pimples patches come in different shapes and sizes, just like your breakouts. Larger stickers could be best for a cluster of pimples, while small circles are perfect for a singular blemish.
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The best pimple patches of 2025
We consulted dermatologists about their top pimple patch recommendations, plus considered options with high ratings from NBC Select staff members and reviewers who have used them.
Best overall
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.
Best for sensitive skin
These 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.
Editor’s pick
“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 NBC Select’s editorial projects manager Rebecca Rodriguez, who tried them for NBC 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.
Thinnest patch
Former NBC Select associate reporter Bianca Alvarez uses these pimple patches, some of the thinnest ones she’s tried, to disguise blemishes during the day. “As much as I love wearing fun and bright alternatives, these blend so well into my skin that even I don’t notice I’m wearing them,” she says. By day’s end, she notices her acne spots are significantly less inflamed, and the inside gunk is out and on the patch.
Best for hydrating skin
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. NBC Select’s reporter Zoe Malin is a fan of these 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.”
Best for long wear
Made from medical grade hydrocolloid, this pack of patches includes two different sizes (10mm and 12mm) to fit different sized pimples. They are clear, matte and have an extra thin edge to better blend into your skin, according to the brand. For maximum effectiveness, Rael suggests wearing these patches for at least four to six hours.
Best for oily skin
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.
Most diverse patch sizes
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, according to King.
Best look
These fragrance-free, star-shaped patches add a little fun to your acne-fighting journey. “Getting a pimple can be such a bummer,” says NBC Select contributing editor Bethany Heitman. “These bright yellow stars add an element of fun to the entire experience. Because of the shape, I find they are 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.
Most absorbent
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.
Most versatile
These patches are infused with hydrocolloid. They also are infused with tea tree oil, which Markowitz says can dry out pimples. Reviewers say these stick on easily to the skin, are gentle and are effective when it comes to reducing the size and redness of pimples.
Best for active lifestyles
Malin loves wearing these pimple patches because they successfully blur the appearance of and flatten blemishes; plus, they help reduce redness and irritation. “These patches are thin and pretty transparent, so I can wear them during the day without drawing attention to them, and sometimes I totally forget I have them on,” she says.
Most soothing
These round unscented patches 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.
Best preventative patch
“These patches are specifically designed for pimples that haven’t totally reached the surface of your skin yet, so I use them when I feel a blemish forming or start to see early signs of one,” says Malin. The NBC Select-staff favorites use 430 self-dissolving microneedles on each patch to allow the ingredients of the patches to penetrate the blemishes and combat them before they break the surface, according to the brand. “It doesn’t hurt at all when you place them on a pimple, and it helps solve the problem before it becomes even bigger and more noticeable,” says Alvarez. Both say they also notice decreased healing time when using these at the start of a pimple forming.
Best multi-shaped patches
NBC Select updates editor Mili Godio loves using these heart-shaped, cloud-shaped, and flower-shaped pimple patches on her acne because they come in fun shapes that never peel off or fall off while wearing them. The tri-colored spot treatments absorb the impurities while simultaneously exfoliating and soothing the skin.
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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.”
Meet our experts
At NBC Select, we work with experts who have specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and/or experience. We also take steps to ensure all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and without 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 NBC Select?
Nicole Saunders is a former associate commerce editor for NBC Select.
Christina Colizza is a former editor for NBC Select. Ashley Morris is an associate SEO reporter for NBC Select who regularly covers skin care, wellness and more, including stories on night creams and hyaluronic acid products.
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