Allow us to quickly preface this article by making it clear that there is nothing wrong with having pimples or zits. They’re a natural reality of life for virtually all of us, and though they can admittedly be annoying, turning up out of nowhere when they’re least expected, they’re harmless and usually go away in a few days.

All that said, I can clearly think back to a time in my life when I would have paid good money to get rid of the pimples that seemed to plague my skin. I was younger back then, and the idea of having a red welt on my face just wasn’t in the least bit appealing.

Now, I’ll be the first to admit that I hadn’t heard of a ‘pimple patch’ before stumbling upon an article a few weeks back, but it appears that’s simply because I’m late to the game.

By all accounts they’re a popular tool today, helping to take the fight to pimples in a way that allows the subsequent blemishes to heal better and leave smaller impacts (i.e. no scarring). As per the New York Times, the patches can be purchased in various drugstores or online, and can be found in a multitude of shapes, sizes, and colors.

Actress Millie Bobby Brown – of Stranger Things fame – made headlines earlier this year when she appeared as a guest on Drew Barrymore’s show wearing a purple butterfly-shaped patch on her cheek.

Needless to say, viewers were curious as to the sticker’s significance, sparking an interest in pimple patches similar to when Hailey Bieber posted an Instagram story back in 2020 sporting a pair of yellow stars on her cheek. In 2023, meanwhile, Justin Bieber was seen out and about with no less than three black stars plastered on his face.

According to the New York Times, pimple patches are typically lined with hydrocolloid, an absorbent, gel-forming material used by medical professionals to dress wounds.

The hydrocolloid soaks up a wound’s excess fluid and creates an environment that promotes healing. The patch or sticker itself, meanwhile, protects the wound beneath from infection.

As we stated at the top of the article, there is nothing wrong with having pimples, and the majority of us are well-versed in what to do when we do get them (often nothing at all). Even so, it’s nice to know there is an alternative readily available that might well be worth a try!

Did you know about pimple patches and what they meant? Let us know in the comments.