I was never a teenager who had breakouts. A pimple here and there from eating a little too much sugar? Absolutely. But it was nothing a dot of concealer couldn’t fix.
When I moved to college, I began to notice changes in my skin. I had always considered my skin type to be dry, until I started waking up in the morning with noticeable oil on my face. I spoke with a few of my friends, who all mentioned feeling the same way, and we collectively blamed it on the city’s hard water, which we hadn’t yet adapted to. I started washing my face twice daily, instead of just when I showered, and moved on with my life.
I had always heard “second puberty” talked about on social media, but since my first time around had been pretty insignificant, I didn’t expect to notice much of a change in my 20s either. Unfortunately, I could not have been more wrong, and I began noticing a major difference in my skin following my 21st birthday. I began struggling with heavy hormonal acne that seemingly appeared out of nowhere, and despite trying countless products and medications to alleviate and prevent it, I never found anything that was able to effectively combat it.
Shop TODAY tapped Dr. Purvisha Patel, a board-certified dermatologist and Mohs surgeon, to explain some of the underlying causes of adult acne. She explained that hormonal fluctuations, high stress levels, and diet can significantly influence how skin changes in your 20s and even beyond.
“Changes in hormone levels, particularly androgens, can lead to increased oil production and clogged pores,” Patel explains. “Factors such as menstrual cycles, pregnancy, and hormonal contraceptives can influence these fluctuations. Stress can lead to increased oil production and inflammation in the skin. Certain foods, such as dairy products and high-glycemic-index carbohydrates, may exacerbate acne in some individuals.”
Luckily, Patel shares, there are still ways to control these seemingly random breakouts. “Lifestyle adjustments are very important,” Patel says. “If your skin is acne-prone, you need six glasses of water, eight hours of sleep, a probiotic, and no sugar or dairy. To banish hormonal acne, there has to be a combination of topical, diet, and lifestyle changes (looking at hair products and daily regimens). A lot of times, people do not make the necessary changes to address the above and resort to medication.”
Taking all of the necessary health steps into consideration, I still wanted to topically treat the acne. That's why I started leaning on Mighty Patch pimple patches and landed on this Shop TODAY Beauty Awards-winning pick from Hero.
How do Hero Mighty Patch pimple patches work?
Most pimple patches on the market are formulated with a key ingredient called hydrocolloid, which Patel compares to a bandage. "Pimple patches are hydrocolloid patches that work by physically pulling out the gunk inside your pores like excess oil, dead skin, and sometimes blackheads," the dermatologist explains.
While it may seem too good to be true, Patel notes that pimple patches are effective because they're so simple and contain no chemicals.
Aside from hydrocolloid and lifestyle changes, Patel recommends a few key ingredients that are easily found in skincare and over-the-counter acne control medications. "Besides hydrocolloid, ingredients like salicylic acid and other alpha hydroxy acids are great as they are natural exfoliants and help unclog pores," she suggests. "Benzoyl peroxide, a topical antiseptic, kills bacteria in the follicle that can cause acne."
How I tried Hero Mighty Patch pimple patches
Following the recommended instructions, I made sure to have a freshly cleansed face before applying a patch. The brand says not to moisturize or use any other skin care products before applying the patches. In my previous experience, it makes them slide off immediately and creates a barrier between the skin and the hydrocolloid, preventing it from effectively drawing out gunk.
After waking from a full night's sleep (which for me was about seven hours), the patches had time to work their magic. I've had experiences where the other patches peeled off on their own by the morning because they've reached their maximum potential, but a Mighty Patch was firmly stuck to my face the whole night.
Why I like Hero Mighty Patch pimple patches
Personally, I’m someone who can’t stand to have bumps on my face, so I’m always trying to pop pimples when they do show up. Obviously, this practice is problematic as it can introduce bacteria to the spot and make matters worse, and can even lead to scarring. I love that the patches cover and essentially “seal in” my acne, so I don't have the desire to mess with it and never have to worry about subconsciously picking.
Aside from simply covering my acne, what I like most about these patches is their effectiveness. I can clearly see the gunk that's been pulled out of my skin, and I am always shocked by what once was an irritated red bump sitting flat and painless on my face.
I also love that the product is easy to use, and I don't have to make any adjustments to my normal nightly routine (aside from not moisturizing before application). The product is also perfect for overnight, so it's not a big deal to cover multiple places on my face with the patches. That being said, on the occasions I have used them in the daytime, they blend into my skin pretty naturally and can go completely unnoticed.
As someone with sensitive skin, I also appreciate that this product never leaves my skin irritated or with a rash. The affected areas that the patch covers always come out soothed and moisturized after use.
Lastly, the patches are affordable. For a product like this that really works, I'm willing to dish out cash, even as a college student on a budget. At $13 for a pack of 36, even with a few weeks of covering spots, a single box lasts me at least a month, if not more. The brand even offers a variety pack for different sizes of pimples.
What to consider
One thing to note about the patches is that I occasionally notice a sticky residue on the area that was covered, especially if the patch doesn't completely fill up overnight. However, a quick wash of my face or simply using a toner gets it off quickly and painlessly.
If you have a bigger spot on your face or your acne is cystic, it may take more than one patch to draw all the gunk out. While the patches are designed to cover the entire surface area of a pimple, I've certainly had times where it took two or even three patches before the gunk was entirely gone. But, with every use, there was always noticeable improvement in terms of redness, pain and size.
While there are a few things to consider about this product, none of them could ever outweigh the results I get time and time again using these patches.
More acne relief products to shop
This clarifying exfoliant is something I've recently started incorporating into my routine, and it's been a useful addition. While it works to dry out acne, it's done so without irritating my face further during breakouts. The key ingredient in this product is salicylic acid, which, as Patel explains, is a natural exfoliant that works to unclog pores.
This face wash is another popular over-the-counter acne relief product. As someone with sensitive skin, it was a bit too harsh on my face, but it worked wonders on my chest and back. Made up of benzoyl peroxide, Patel explains that it's "a topical antiseptic that kills bacteria in the follicle that can cause acne," which means this product gets a dermatologist-approved check mark.
If you're acne tends to leave dark marks, these post-treatment patches contain dissolving micropoints to help fade post-acne hyperpigmentation over time.
Meet the expert
- Dr. Purvisha Patel is a Mohs surgeon and dermatologist based in Memphis, Tennessee. She's the founder of Visha Skincare, and focuses her products on addressing acne, hyperpigmentation, fine lines, cellulite, stretch marks and more.
Why trust Shop TODAY?
The Shop TODAY editors and writers search the internet to find the best products out there. We interview expert sources, look through hundreds of customer reviews, and use our own experiences with products and brands to make shopping easier for our readers.
Grace Cardinal is a Commerce Intern with Shop TODAY.
