Should You Use Wound Care on Acne Breakouts?

Medically reviewed by Michele Farber, MD, FAADFact checked by Anna Harris

If you've ever had a zit and you lack patience (raises hand), chances are you're no stranger to popping pimples—and the aftermath (read: open wound acne) it leaves behind. Having hoped to find relief after picking, instead, you've got another situation on your hands: figuring out the best way to treat an acne lesion. Some say that popular wound care is the answer, but does applying hydrocolloid patches or Neosporin on popped pimples actually work? We turned to a slew of skincare pros to find out.

Keep scrolling for the best expert-approved treatments for open wound acne—and whether Neosporin and hydrocolloid patches made the cut.

The History Behind Hydrocolloid Patches

Eastern countries took note of the concept of treating pimples as wounds many years ago, employing hydrocolloid patches (the same treatment used in medicine to heal wounds and burns) that are meant to draw buildup out of the breakout rather than dispense medicine onto the area to treat blemishes. Several mainstream brands have begun marketing similar patches, including Peace Out, Clearasil, Peter Thomas Roth, and Peach & Lily. However, the question remains as to whether they are really the be-all, end-all acne treatment we need in our lives.

Related: Learning How to Use Pimple Patches Made My Breakouts Heal Faster—So I'm Spreading the Word

How Hydrocolloid Patches Work

While the mechanics of wound dressings may not solve all your pimple problems, their physical design alone intrigues dermatologists. For instance:

• They hydrate: The dressings foster a moist environment meant to allow for faster and improved healing time.

• They block you from picking: "For me, this is one of the biggest benefits, since it's human nature to want to pick and squeeze," says Michele Farber of Schweiger Dermatology Group in New York City. "But picking a pimple increases inflammation and not only slows down the healing process, it increases pigmentation and scarring."

• They protect: Covering a breakout with a patch protects it against sunlight, minimizing exposure to UV radiation, and thus preventing hyperpigmentation, explains Levin. But if you're tempted to use a regular ol' Band-Aid, think again. According to Farber, with continued use, plain bandages have the potential to irritate the skin on the face. Plus, they don't have the same moisture-inducing, water-attracting material that hydrocolloid bandages do.

Hydrocolloid Patches for Open Wound Acne

Raj Kanodia and Deepak Dugar, MDs, of Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeons aren't too impressed with the notion that hydrocolloid patches can help heal popped pimples. "Wound dressings may become another tool toward fighting acne, but alone, it will likely never be purely a solo treatment," they said. "There is excess oil in the sebaceous glands of the skin, which harbor bacteria, and the multiplication of the bacteria is what causes the breakouts."

Farber has a bit more optimism. "Wound dressings can be a helpful adjunct for acne. "Hydrocolloids do work for acne spot treatments and are already on the market as acne dots. They work by drawing excess oil out of skin to help acne resolve more quickly."

Similarly to Kanodia and Dugar, however, she wouldn't recommend them as a sole remedy, especially in the case of more severe lesions. "They are great for a few bumps, but depending on the severity of the breakout, other medications may be necessary," she says.

Melissa Kanchanapoomi Levin, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and clinical instructor at NYU Langone Medical Center and Mount Sinai Hospital, shares similar sentiments. "The water-attracting film [in a hydrocolloid dressing] is applied directly to an open wound. In dermatology, we use hydrocolloid dressings for the treatment of chronic wounds and ulcers. To me, hydrocolloid bandages are a part of treating breakouts but not the entire answer," she says. "It's important to stay on your skincare regimen with anti-acne ingredients."

Neosporin for Open Wound Acne

You may have heard of some skincare enthusiasts swearing by Neosporin as a spot treatment for popped pimples. It's antibacterial, so it has to help, right? Not so, says Farber. "Neosporin is best for actual cuts and scrapes—stick to your acne products for your face. Neosporin is in a petroleum base, which can potentially clog your pores. It's also best to use antibiotics directed at acne, as Neosporin is directed at different bacteria. Acne products contain combinations of medications that are aimed to treat the bacteria that cause acne as well as other causes of acne." Levin agrees: "We want the glands and pores to be cleared and not sealed over."

What Neosporin might do is help a popped pimple heal. It may keep the skin moisturized while protecting it from bacteria that can get into the open wound and cause infections. Even then, test it on your skin first—behind your ear or under the jaw—to ensure you don't have a reaction.

Traditional Open Wound Acne Treatments

Oral antibiotics

"Oral antibiotics can be helpful in dealing with wounds and acne breakouts," Kanodia and Dugar explain, but not without giving hydrocolloid bandages a bit of street credit. "This acne dressing is likely just another tool, which, if it helps, is exciting."

OTC products with benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid

Creams and gels formulated with benzoyl peroxide are also recommended for treating open wound acne. Unlike Neosporin, this antibacterial ingredient actually kills the bacteria that causes acne. To incorporate it into your routine, apply a 3 percent benzoyl peroxide pad, gel, or cleanser to your acne or pimples. Then, follow it up with a cleanser that contains .5% salicylic acid to clear and calm any redness.

Tips

Since benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid can be overdrying (they do remove excess oil, after all), after using products with these ingredients, apply moisturizer. Dry skin can actually lead to increased sebum production—and more breakouts.

Tea Tree Oil

If you prefer natural products, you can also try tea tree oil (always dilute it with water because it's pretty powerful stuff). The oil is known for fighting inflammation on the scalp and skin.

Witch Hazel

When combined with acne-fighting ingredients, witch hazel may help to treat open wound acne. That's because it's a natural disinfectant so applying it to your acne lesion will help to clean and remove any bacteria from the area.

Cold Compress

While it won't treat your acne, if your lesion is swollen, applying a cold compress for a few minutes throughout the day will soothe and address symptoms, especially inflammation.

The Bottom Line

While wound dressings may help draw out oil and reduce redness, topical retinoids or antibacterial topicals are more effective as a whole at ameliorating acne lesions, according to our experts. To choose the best measure for your specific type of acne, speak with a dermatologist.

Up Next: The Complete Guide to Treating Acne-Prone Skin

Read the original article on Byrdie.