Whether it is an adolescent boy or a girl or an adult migrant worker, it is often inevitable that the face will have acne (medically called "acne"), which is annoying.
The market is flooded with various products that claim to get rid of acne quickly, and one of them is the acne patch. It is not only convenient, but also looks reliable, and has become the first choice for many people to get rid of acne.
But can acne patches really get rid of acne? In this article, we'll take a look at the principles behind acne patches to help you make a more informed choice.
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Acne patches are useful, but not much
We know that acne patches are a product, not a medicine. Medically, it's not a very mainstream option, and doctors don't think much of it. However, objectively speaking, it is not an IQ tax, but it is really useful.
The reason why I say this is that some scholars have done scientific research on acne patches and found that they do have the effect of removing acne.
For example, a few years ago, scholars in mainland Taiwan compared a kind of acne patch with ordinary patches to observe the difference in their efficacy. In the study, the acne patch is a hydrocolloid patch, and ordinary patches do not have hydrocolloids as a key ingredient.
They recruited 20 people with mild to moderate acne and applied an acne patch (or regular patch) every two days for up to a week. The results showed that the severity and inflammatory manifestations of acne were significantly improved in people who used acne patches, especially those who used them for 3~7 days, and the improvement effect was much better than that of people who used ordinary patches.
Not only that, but scholars have also found that acne patches can improve redness, oiliness and pigmentation to a certain extent. As for safety, scholars have also made observations and found no special side effects. It can be seen that in terms of acne patches, there are really two brushes.
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But don't get too happy just yet, there's a splash of cold water on it – while acne patches are useful, they aren't much. There are several reasons for this:
There is too little research on acne patches and there is not enough evidence;
After all, acne patches have no drug ingredients, and the effect is likely to be inferior to standard drug treatment;
There are a large number of mainstream anti-acne programs in the medical field, and the results have been confirmed by a large number of studies and clinical practices.
As a doctor, the attitude of the acne patch is that it may be effective, but it is not worth exaggerating the efficacy.
Be vigilant about the risk of acne patches
It's worth emphasizing that there are occasional risks associated with using acne patches.
Relatively commonly, some acne patches themselves do not have good air permeability, or the acne is stuffed by pus on the surface after a long period of use, which will help bacteria grow and aggravate acne.
The reason for this is that the bacteria that cause acne, Propionibacterium acnes, prefers an oxygen-deprived environment, and when there is less oxygen in the living environment, they multiply better and have a more severe infection.
In addition, if you buy an unreliable acne patch with messy ingredients, there is a risk of skin irritation and allergies, which is manifested as redness, peeling, stinging, itching and other reactions in the area where the acne patch is used.
If you use acne patches and it is suspected that it will worsen, it is better not to use it, then you should stop it in time and seek medical attention.
Having said that, if the acne is severe and you are deeply troubled, it may be better to see a doctor first, and the doctor will evaluate and then individualize the symptomatic treatment.
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To get rid of acne
The dermatologist's approach is ......
There are too many ways for doctors to get rid of acne, and the specific ideas, to sum up, are as follows:
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Idea 1: Look at age
If it is a child or adolescent, oral drugs such as doxycycline, minocycline, isotretinoin will be more cautious, and topical drugs such as benzoyl peroxide and clindamycin will generally be preferred.
If it is a woman, for some people with severe disease, it is occasionally considered to add combined oral contraceptives to get rid of acne.
In addition, if there are special circumstances, such as pregnancy and lactation, then avoid retinoids, such as isotretinoin and adapalene.
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Idea 2: Look at the severity
Acne can range from mild to severe, and generally speaking, mild acne (e.g., few abscesses and pimples, just scattered closed mouths/pimples) can be treated with topical medications preferentially, and severe acne often considers oral medications combined with topical medications.
If there are sequelae of acne, such as red acne scars, black acne scars, and acne pits, you can add other treatment options or even measures other than drugs, such as medical acid brushing and photorejuvenation.
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Idea 3: See if you are prone to recurrence
If relapses are frequent, strategies to reduce or avoid them are also in place. The most common strategy is to treat with a combination regimen until the acne disappears, then slowly stop the oral medication, and then transition to topical medication for a period of time.
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Idea 4: Enhance care
In addition to medication, daily protection is also important. The recommended care recommendations that have proven to be effective are: pay attention to clean skin, use facial cleanser; Wear makeup moderately, and remove makeup in time on the same day; Keep your hands under control and try not to over-squeeze the pimple.
As for acne patches, it mainly depends on personal experience, and there are no standard and standardized recommendations for use on the doctor's side. It can be used alone or in combination with medications, and when used in combination, it is expected to be more effective in treating acne.
Finally, let's make a brief summary:
Acne patches are a commonly used, non-medicinal product, and studies have shown that acne patches can improve the severity and inflammation of acne, while helping to absorb sebum, water and breathe, reduce UV damage, and prevent hand-touched breakouts. In general, there are some anti-acne effects, but it should be noted that acne patches are not a panacea, its effect is limited, and there is insufficient research evidence, so don't mythologize it too much.
In addition, there may be risks associated with improper use of acne patches, such as poor air permeability that may lead to bacterial multiplication and aggravate acne. For acne that is severe or prone to recurrence, it is recommended to seek professional treatment from a doctor. Doctors will generally prescribe a personalized treatment plan based on factors such as age, severity of acne and whether it is prone to recurrence. Specific programs generally include topical drugs, oral medications, medical cosmetology and other methods. Finally, it's also important to take care of your daily routine, including keeping your skin clean, applying makeup moderately, and avoiding pimples.
Resources
[1] Chao CM, Lai WY, Wu BY, et al. A pilot study on efficacy treatment of acne vulgaris using a new method: results of a randomized double-blind trial with Acne Dressing. J Cosmet Sci. 2006; 57(2): 95-105.
[2] Kuo CW, Chiu YF, et al. Gelatin/Chitosan bilayer patches loaded with cortex phellodendron amurense/centella asiatica extracts for anti-acne application. Polymers (Basel). 2021; 13(4): 579.
[3] Jaturapisanukul K, Udompataikul M, Kanokrungsee S, et al. Efficacy and safety of a novel water-soluble herbal patch for acne vulgaris treatment: A randomized, assessor-blinds controlled, intra-individual split-face comparative study. Dermatol Ther. 2021; 34(3): e14925.
[4] Overview of the treatment of acne vulgaris. UpToDate. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/zh-Hans/acne-vulgaris-overview-of-management.
Planning and production
Author丨Tang Jiaoqing, Attending Physician of Dermatology, MD
Audit丨Feng Jun, Deputy Chief Physician of the Department of Dermatology, Sinopharm Tongmei General Hospital
Planning丨Yang Yaping
Editor丨Yang Yaping
Reviewer丨Xu Lai, Lin Lin