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Though you might not think of them as wounds, your pimples might still improve when protected under a hydrocolloid bandage over the course of hours. Hydrocolloid bandaids can help reduce inflamed acne and speed up healing time, says Marina Peredo, M.D., F.A.A.D., dermatologist and founder of Skinfluence. The bandaids work by absorbing excess fluid and moisture, like oil and pus. As an added bonus, they might keep you from picking at your pimples, which can make them worse, she notes.
That said, pimple patches of the skin-care variety tend to contain acne-fighting ingredients like salicylic acid or tea tree oil, which you won t find in your run-of-the-mill hydrocolloid bandaid. The bandaid alone can still help reduce redness and protect from bacteria, but you can also combine it with a treatment to incorporate the ingredients found in pimple patches, says Dr. Peredo. Applying a spot treatment like benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid