When To Use Acne Patches In Your Skincare Routine?

Use acne patches when a spot has come to a head and the skin over it is still closed. The easiest time is at night, straight after you cleanse, because the patch then gets six or more hours without being touched. A thin patch can also go on in the morning, under make-up. In both cases it goes on clean, dry skin before any serum or moisturiser.

Knowing when to use acne patches also means knowing when not to. Blackheads, deep sore lumps and anything you have already squeezed are better left alone. This guide covers how to judge a spot, which time of day suits which situation, and exactly where a patch fits in a morning or evening routine. If you want the science, we explain what actually happens under a pimple patch in a separate guide.

Is This Spot Ready for a Patch?

A patch sits on top of the skin, so it suits spots that are close to the surface. The NHS guide to acne describes six types of spot. Here is how each one lines up with a patch.

A quick test: if you can see a white or yellow head and the skin over it is intact, it is ready. If it feels like a hard, sore lump with nothing on top, a patch will not reach it. For those deeper spots, the American Academy of Dermatology's advice on deep, painful pimples is to leave them unsqueezed and hold a warm, damp cloth on the area for 10 to 15 minutes, up to three times a day.

When to Use Acne Patches: Night or Day?

Both work. Our hydrocolloid patches for spots are made for day and overnight wear, with a minimum wear time of six hours. What changes is how much the patch gets in your way.

Overnight, After Your Evening Cleanse

Overnight is the simplest option. Six hours passes while you sleep, nobody sees the patch, and your hands are not near your face. Put it on after cleansing and before the rest of your evening products. In the morning, the patch should look cloudy or white in the middle. That change comes from the hydrocolloid absorbing fluid, so it is expected.

In the Morning, Under Make-Up

Nyla Rest patches are thin, matt and skin-toned, and make-up can be applied over them. Stick the patch on first, give it a minute to settle, then pat foundation or concealer on lightly. Rubbing or swiping over it is what lifts the edges. A small patch will hide better than a large one, so pick the size that only just covers the spot.

During the Day at Home

A working-from-home day or a slow weekend is a good chance to give a spot a daytime patch. The real advantage here is simple: you cannot pick what you cannot reach. The American Academy of Dermatology warns that popping spots yourself can lead to scarring and infection, and can push inflammation deeper into the skin.

Where a Patch Goes in Your Skincare Routine

The rule is the same morning and night: cleanse, dry, patch, then everything else. A patch needs bare, dry skin to grip. Serums, oils and moisturiser leave a film that stops it sticking, so they go on the rest of your face afterwards and around the patch, never under it.

Two steps in that list come straight from the NHS. It recommends washing your face twice a day with a gentle cleanser and taking make-up off at the end of every day. Scrubbing is out, because the NHS notes it can irritate the skin and make acne worse.

Why Nothing Goes Under the Patch

Apart from grip, there is a second reason. Nyla Rest patches already contain salicylic acid in the hydrocolloid layer. If your routine also includes a salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide spot product, use it at a different time of day rather than underneath the patch, and ask a pharmacist if you are not sure about combining them. Stop if the skin starts to feel dry, tight or sore.

Do Not Skip Sunscreen

The American Academy of Dermatology recommends a broad-spectrum sunscreen of SPF 30 or higher when you are using acne products. In the morning, apply it everywhere except the patch itself.

How Long Should a Pimple Patch Stay On?

Leave each patch on for at least six hours, or overnight. Peeling it off after an hour or two because you are curious is one of the most common mistakes. One wear per patch: once it is off, it goes in the bin. If the spot is still there that evening, cleanse, dry and use a fresh one.

Choose a size that covers the whole spot with a small border of clear skin around it, so the edges grip healthy skin rather than the bump itself. A pack of 80 gives you 40 star-shaped and 40 round patches in a range of sizes, so you can match the patch to the spot.

When to Leave the Patch in the Box

• The skin is broken. Popped, bleeding or weeping spots and open wounds are not for patches.
• The spot is deep and painful. Nodules and cysts sit too far under the skin.
• It is near your eyes. Keep patches away from the eye area.
• Your skin is already irritated or you have an active skin condition on that area.
• Sticking plasters have irritated you before. Sensitive skin? Try one on a small area of your arm before using it on your face.
• You are under a dermatologist's care, pregnant or breastfeeding. Check with a healthcare professional first.

Patches are for the odd spot, not a full plan for ongoing breakouts. Book in with a GP or pharmacist, as the NHS suggests, if your spots are not improving with home care, are severe or painful, look infected, or are affecting how you feel about yourself.

Common Mix-Ups

Are acne patches and pimple patches the same thing?

Yes. Acne patches, pimple patches and spot stickers are different names for the same kind of product. Nyla Rest calls its version hydrocolloid pimple patches.

Can I put a patch on a spot I have already squeezed?

No. Once the skin is broken, it is no longer suitable for Nyla Rest patches, which are designed for unbroken skin only.

Does the patch go on before or after moisturiser?

Before. Cleanse, dry the spot, apply the patch, then moisturise the rest of your face around it.

Is it fine to wear one every night?

You can use a fresh patch each night on a spot that is still there, as long as the skin underneath feels comfortable. If it becomes red, itchy or sore, stop using patches on that area.

Should I choose a star or a round patch?

Go by size and where the spot is. Both shapes are made from the same material, and the pack includes each in a range of sizes.