Currently, it’s not unusual to see a curious new little bit of bric-a-brac adorning the faces of Gen Z-ers: pimple patches.
Prior to now, it could’ve been laborious to think about wanting to attract consideration to your zits. However these child bandages, which are available all kinds of kinds for each pores and skin kind, are all of a sudden all the fad.
So do they really work?
That’s what we — Raj Punjabi and Noah Michelson, the co-hosts of HuffPost’s “Am I Doing It Incorrect?” podcast — requested Dr. Kunal Malik, board-certified dermatologist at Spring Avenue Dermatology in New York Metropolis, when he lately dropped by our studio.
“Even a few years in the past individuals had been embarrassed to stroll out with a pimple patch and I believe with the present era, they’ve all of those enjoyable colours and shapes,” Malik informed us. “Persons are simply extra accepting of it and so they’re like open about it, which I believe is extremely destigmatizing.”
The principle goal of the patches is to assist heal blemishes whereas a offering bodily barrier that retains them protected from soiled palms and different probably bacteria-laden gadgets.
“From a scientific perspective, they completely do work,” Malik mentioned.
Those that supply one of the best outcomes are hydrocolloid bandages. “Principally, what they’re doing is that they’re form of drawing out or sucking up the particles in that pimple, and so they’re shielding it from the surroundings,” he mentioned.
Additionally they present “a bodily barrier from choosing at it,” which is essential, as Malik says popping your pimples is the very last thing you need to do.
“I do know that’s just like the human psychology response — simply squeeze it, proper? However that’s horrible,” he mentioned, and might really drive the an infection deeper into the pores and skin.
“I dwell in the actual world — I do know individuals will do it regardless of me telling individuals to not do all of it day lengthy — however pimple patches are a good way to guard the pimple.”
They’ll additionally ship focused acne-fighting remedy like salicylic acid on to the blemish.
Nevertheless, Malik warned us to go simple on our pores and skin.
“Generally much less is extra — that’s what I all the time preach to my sufferers,” he mentioned. “You actually need to fine-tune and be intentional together with your skincare and never overdo it, as a result of there’s this phenomenon of inflicting an excessive amount of irritation with aggressive remedies.”
As soon as that occurs, you’re being “counterproductive” and “not likely treating the zits, however inflicting extra injury.”
So wash your face with a mild cleanser, slap a pimple patch in your zit, and let it do its factor. You may make a classy assertion — and refuse to really feel ashamed of experiencing a completely regular a part of being a human being with pores and skin.
We additionally chat with Malik about whether or not or not chocolate actually causes zits, house cures that do extra hurt than good and much extra.
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For extra from Malik, go to his web site and his Instagram.
Want some assist with one thing you may be doing improper? E mail us at AmIDoingItWrong@HuffPost.com, and we could examine the subject in an upcoming episode.