Acne Emergency? These Editor-Approved Pimple Patches Are the Fastest Fix (2025)

TL;DR

Our favorite option overall is the Hero Cosmetics Mighty Patch Original—simple hydrocolloid patches that are comfortable to wear, discreet, and can clear whiteheads swiftly. We also loved our budget option, the COSRX Acne Pimple Patch, which pulls congestion to the surface, reduces redness, and comes in three size options for a snug covering.

Our Top Picks

Key Ingredients: Hydrocolloid | Amount: 36 patches | Sizes: 1 | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Our overall winner, the Mighty Patch, proves that sometimes simple really is best. It uses only one ingredient—medical grade, clinically tested hydrocolloid—and it works like a dream. Our tester applied the patches to her hormonal acne before bed, and they completely cleared out her whiteheads by morning. Although they only come in one size, they were perfectly proportioned to cover her zits and were comfortable to wear. Once applied, the patches stayed firmly in place, no matter how much she tossed and turned during the night. She also appreciated their skin-like appearance, which was so discreet she even felt comfortable wearing one to the office, keeping her skin clean and protected all day.

Hannah, tester: “The acne patch did exactly what it was supposed to do, which was extract gunk from my zits quickly to reduce my acne. They are my new go-to whenever I have monthly hormonal acne.”

Key Ingredients: Hydrocolloid, liquid paraffin | Amount: 24 patches | Sizes: 3 | Cruelty-Free: Yes

This acne pimple patch from the Korean skincare brand COSRX is a solid, budget-friendly option. Made from hydrocolloids to absorb gunk and facilitate speedy healing, they noticeably calm pimples overnight. Our tester was dealing with a pesky hormonal breakout when she tried these patches, including on a couple of chin zits that were about to erupt. They pulled congestion to the surface and reduced redness, improving the look of her complexion after only a few hours of wear. The patches adhered well, even to the tricky curves around the nose, and although she could feel them on her skin, they were comfortable to wear. Her one gripe is that they are quite obviously visible, so they wouldn’t be ideal for daytime wear if you prefer something more discreet.

Bianca, tester: “What I noticed first was the pimple was less red and then that it had pulled the gunk in my chin pimple to the surface. I couldn't really tell through the patch, but once I took it off, there was a very noticeable difference.”

Key Ingredients: Green Tea, niacinamide, gotu kola (cenetella asiatica) | Amount: 9 patches | Sizes: 1 | Cruelty-Free: Yes

As anyone who deals with acne knows, clearing a breakout is only part of the battle; once a pimple has healed it can leave scarring and stubborn pigmentation in its wake. Enter, Solawave’s Bye Acne patches, which deliver a soothing serum formula directly into pimples via dozens of self-dissolving microdarts. They contain green tea extract and gotu kola (aka tiger grass) to calm inflammation, and niacinamide to help fade pigmentation—a combo that worked well on our tester’s chin acne. After using the patches for two nights, her breakout cleared without leaving any scarring. The patches adhere easily (press them firmly onto your skin for 20 seconds), and they look transparent once affixed. Heads up: While perfect for covering smaller pimples, our tester noted these patches might be too small for larger ones.

Shauna Beni-Haynes, senior editor: “I noticed a significant reduction in the size of my acne on my chin after using the patch for two nights. It works to visibly evens dark spots, and I didn't get any scarring after using this pimple patch.”

Key Ingredients: Salicylic acid, hydrocolloid | Amount: 32 patches | Sizes: 1 | Cruelty-Free: Yes

These playful patches from Starface are amazing at gripping every contour and hard-to-reach tiny nook of the face, and our tester says they’re equally good at tackling body breakouts. She applied the blue stars to her chest acne and it was gone within 24 hours, making them a great solution to have stashed for summer, when issues like bacne tend to flare up. Infused with exfoliating salicylic acid, the patches help remove dead skin cells and unclog pores while protecting against bacteria and aiding healing. Our tester says the patches were just as effective at stalling deep, painful breakouts as they were clearing surface-level whiteheads, leaving her complexion clearer and calmer.

Starface is known for instigating a pimple-positivity movement and making acne treatment fun and playful. We’re all for it, but if wearing a big blue star on your face feels too conspicuous, you might want to use these at night, as our tester did.

Amanda Rosenthal, writer: “I found this to be great for any body acne I had. I recently switched body washes, and my sensitive skin did not agree with it. I applied a patch to a breakout on my chest and found that it was gone within a day.”

Key Ingredients: Hydrocolloid | Amount: 60 patches | Sizes: 1 | Cruelty-Free: Yes

We all know popping pimples is a bad for the skin, but when faced with a gooey whitehead, it can be oh-so tempting to squeeze it. Instead, apply one of Good Molecules’ Pimple Patches to the area. Made from hydrocolloids, they protect the skin, absorb fluid, and create the perfect conditions for healing. Our tester says the patches helped flatten her whitehead, removing gunk and improving the appearance of her breakouts. She found it easy to peel each patch off the plastic sheet and said they adhered well to her skin, practically vanishing upon application thanks to their ultrathin edges. However, the patches do tend to cling a little, so be gentle when it’s time to remove them.

Anna, tester: “I used a patch two nights in a row for a stubborn pimple that did not have a whitehead on the surface initially.By the second night, a small one appeared and I found that the patch did help to remove the surface of it."

Key Ingredients: Hydrocolloid | Amount: 24 patches | Sizes: 2 | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Wearing a hydrocolloid patch during the day makes a lot of sense—it keeps the area clean and protected, prevents fluid buildup, and guards against the temptation to pick. The downside is that many patches have a shiny, raised appearance that’s hard to mask. But, this option from Rael has extra-thin beveled edges and a matte look, which our tester says layered well under makeup, creating a flawless and virtually imperceptible finish. It took two or three uses for her to see results, but her patience paid off; the patches cleared out whiteheads, soothed blind pimples, and helped reduce post-breakout pigmentation.

Jessica, tester: “I loved that it was invisible. I could wear it during the day, and I barely noticed it. I wore this pimple patch under my makeup, and it worked well.”

Key Ingredients: Hydrocolloid, salicylic acid, succinic acid | Amount: 22 patches | Sizes: 2 | Cruelty-Free: Yes

If you’re all too familiar with the inflamed nodules and throbbing pain of blind pimples (aka cystic acne), this is the hydrocolloid patch for you. Infused with exfoliating salicylic acid and antimicrobial succinic acid, it unclogs pores, kills bacteria, and soothes inflammation. The brand also claims it’s clinically proven to curb breakouts within four to six hours, which our tester put to the test. She applied a patch (which was comfortable and adhered easily) to a blind pimple, and within six hours, it was smaller and less red. However, it wasn’t quite as effective on her whiteheads, requiring several applications to completely remove the gunk.

Bianca, tester: “It took the redness and pain out of my pimple and shrunk the size too.This product was great for pimples still under the surface of the skin.”

Key Ingredients: Hydrocolloid | Amount: 42 patches | Sizes: 2 | Cruelty-Free: Yes

You never know when a zit will rear its ugly head or how big it will be, which is why this variety pack should be stashed in your bathroom cabinet. It contains a total of 42 hydrocolloid patches divided into two sizes (10 millimeters and 14 millimeters). Our tester was impressed with how quickly they got to work on her pimples, extracting impurities and healing her skin in one-to-two uses. The patches are thin and flexible, which makes them really easy to affix to the contours of the face, but she noted the edges were prone to peeling up, especially during nighttime wear.

EnJanaém, tester: “Using the patches reduced the size of my breakouts. Most of the time it would just take one night for the blemish to go away using the patches. It never took more than two days/nights.”

Key Ingredients: Salicylic Acid, niacinamide, succinic acid | Amount: 8 patches | Sizes: 1 | Cruelty-Free: Yes

According to Dr. Wolinsky, a beta-hydroxy acid (aka BHA) chemical exfoliant like salicylic acid can work wonders for acne. You’ll find the ingredient in these Peace Out patches, which contain 430 self-dissolving microneedles to tackle blemishes forming beneath the skin’s surface. It’s also packed with niacinamide to aid barrier integrity and fade post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, and succinic acid to tackle excess oil. Our tester says the patches delivered on their promise of tackling cystic acne. If she applied them to a painful blind pimple that was just forming, it helped reduce its size by soothing any inflammation. The patches only come in one size, which isn’t ideal for those who get pimple clusters, but they adhere well and work fast—our tester noticed effects after just one use.

Jessica, tester: “After the first time using this patch, I saw a significant reduction in size of my pimple, which is rare. I didn’t see gunk on the patch after each use but the pimple underneath was less inflamed.”

FAQ

• How do acne patches work?

  "Most acne patches work by providing a moist, occluded environment so that the acne lesion can heal underneath," says Dr. Maguiness. They typically contain hydrocolloid, which, as Dr. Wolinsky explains, speeds up healing. "The added bonus is that they keep fingers off and prevent picking," notes Dr. Maguiness.
  

• How do you apply acne patches?

  Starting with freshly washed hands and clean, dry skin, carefully peel the patch off the sheet. Then, gently stick it on the pimple in question, aligning the center of the patch with the center of the pimple. Leave it on for 12 to 24 hours or until it turns opaque.
  

• How often should you use acne patches?

  Generally speaking, you can use acne patches as often as needed. Since they target only a very small portion of your skin, you shouldn't have to worry about irritating the rest of your face or neck. In some cases, you might need to use two or three consecutive patches to get rid of a particularly stubborn pimple.
  

• Can you use acne patches on popped pimples?

  According to a clinical trial completed by Johnson & Johnson in 2021, you can use a pimple patch on either popped or un-popped pimples and after one week of use, testers saw results.