These Before-and-After ZitSticka Photos Will Make You Believe In Pimple Patches
You've likely seen Zitsticka pimple patches advertised to you on Instagram at some point. They're having a moment and the aesthetically pleasing pink-and-white-packaging is def grid-worthy, but do they *actually work* IRL? Because we know you want to know, the Women's Health team decided to test them out and record our results. It's a tough job, but someone has to do it.
For starters, dermatologists say that pimple patches are a pretty solid way to tackle acne in general. They're similar to your typical spot-targeting treatment, except without the #struggle of dealing with a messy liquid formula, explains Marnie Nussbaum, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in NYC. She says that they help prevent you from under- or over-applying topical creams since the patches come packed with a convenient, pre-measured dose.
Many acne patches on the market work to soak up fluid and pus—making them perfect for whiteheads or pimples in their final stages. Zitsticka, on the other hand, is made of tiny, sharp little microdarts that literally *stick into your pores* (don't worry, the microdarts don't hurt). They're filled with all kinds of acne-fighting ingredients like hyaluronic acid (which moisturizes), oligopeptide-76 (an antimicrobial ingredient), salicylic acid (which unclogs pores), and niacinimide (which calms inflammation) to target the epicenter of those suuuper deep, under-the-skin pimples that you can feel pulsing and seem to last for weeks.
A major plus? Since they're transparent, you're free to wear them all day or night without anyone noticing. (FYI: It's best to leave them on for about six hours or longer for optimal zit-erasing results.) If you're feeling it, you can even dab concealer over your patch so that it matches your skin tone.
KK, this all sounds great, but do they really work? Keep reading for the WH team's take on Zitsticka.
Jasmine Gomez, 28
Editorial Assistant
What type of skin do you have?
"A combination of dry and oily."
What type of acne are you typically prone to?
"I don't really get huge breakouts, just smaller pimples that are typically gone within a few days."
What do you typically use to treat pimples?
"Honestly, just cleanser and water. When I was younger, I would use toothpaste and drugstore products, but experimenting so much left me more prone to breakouts. So to avoid that, I have a routine of soap and water."
What did you think of Zitsticka?
"I’m not really into pimple treatments because I have sensitive skin that usually ends up getting worse with any type of treatment except my face wash and water. But I think ZitSticka is a game changer. I was able to spot-treat my fresh zit effectively. I cleaned the area, left the sticker patch on over night, and by the next morning, almost all of my redness was gone. I would 100 percent use it again."
Jennifer Nied, 33
News Writer
What type of skin do you have?
"Normal to dry."
What type of acne are you typically prone to?
"I get a mixed bag of whiteheads and blackheads, usually in sync with my cycle, but thankfully what does pop up tends to be manageable with some concealer or spot treatment."
What do you typically use to treat pimples?
"Exfoliation is key for me, and getting rid of the layer of dead/rough skin cells does wonders for minimizing pimples before they start. I see a noticeable difference with acid and enzyme-based treatments on the number and severity of zits. It also helps when I leave any pimples that do emerge alone; picking is my own worst enemy. I try to get facials regularly to let a pro do only the necessary extractions and apply a salicylic acid spot treatment to zap them overnight."
What did you think of Zitsticka?
"After washing my hair, I discovered a pimple percolating on the back of my neck. It was something I would normally pick at and make much worse, so instead I plopped a ZitSticka on the spot and got some beauty sleep. Applying the ZitSticka kept me from picking, so it was already a win for me. Plus, I couldn't feel it (at all!) and it stayed on all night. When I removed it the next morning, I felt for the bump, but it was totally gone. There was a hint of red left where the pimple was, but it soon dissipated, too."
Kristin Canning, 28
Health Editor
What type of skin do you have?
"I have combination skin. Rrosacea makes my cheeks pretty dry, but the rest of my face is very, very oily."
What type of acne are you typically prone to?
"I tend to get pretty big zits and some cystic pimples around my mouth, chin, jawline, and neck."
What do you typically use to treat pimples?
"I usually just use a clarifying cleanser and a benzoyl peroxide spot treatment."
What did you think of Zitsticka?
"I used the sticker on the pimple on my chin, and after one night with it on, I noticed the size and swelling had gone down. It's hard to say if the healing was just the natural progression of the pimple or because of the sticker, but it was definitely less red and irritated."
Alexis Jones, 24
Assistant Editor
What type of skin do you have?
"Normal."
What type of acne are you typically prone to?
"Either tiny clusters or single bigger ones in the chin or temple area."
What do you typically use to treat pimples?
"Sometimes I use an acne cleansing face wash or, usually, if I up my water intake for a few days it will go away on it’s own."
What did you think of Zitsticka?
"I really like how easy it was to use ZitSticka. They were transparent, so I didn’t feel self-conscious about having to go out and pick something up from the store while they were on my face. The only complaint I had was a slight tingling/burning sensation from the ingredients in the treatment when I first applied the sticker, but it went away after a few seconds. I kept two on overnight, and the next morning those tiny pimples were barely there. That area of my skin was noticeably smoother and softer."
This article is part of Women's Health 2020 Acne Week. Click here for more.
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