9 Ways to Make a Homemade Pimple Patch for Acne or Breakouts

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Can household items like apple cider vinegar hide your pimples?

Co-authored by Chloe Goldman and Elaine Heredia, BA

Last Updated: March 31, 2025 Fact Checked

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9 DIY Pimple Patches

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Identifying Your Acne Type

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Other DIY Skin Treatments

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FAQs

Pimple patches are all the rage on TikTok and among skincare gurus for their zit-zapping benefits. But what if you don't have any (or are tired of buying new ones all the time)? No pimple patch, no problem! If you're looking for an inexpensive, DIY solution, we've got 9 effective homemade pimple patch ideas you can try! We'll also share expert acne treatment insights from dermatologist Chloe Goldman.

How to Make an At-Home Pimple Patch

Make a pimple patch by cutting up a hydrocolloid bandage to the size of your pimple. Apply it and keep it on for up to 3-5 days. You can also make a spot treatment by combining 1 part apple cider vinegar and 3 parts water, then applying the mixture to your pimples and leaving it on for a few minutes.

Section 1 of 4:

9 Homemade Pimple Patch Remedies

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1
Hydrocolloid bandages If you're tuned into TikTok skincare, no doubt you've already heard of the seemingly magical powers of hydrocolloid bandages . The bandages' inner layer, which touches your skin, contains particles that form a gel barrier over your skin. This keeps the area moist and promotes healing while also absorbing the pus and other fluid (called exudate) leaking out of the pimple. Meanwhile, the outer layer, which is made of foam or film, seals the area around the pimple to keep bacteria out. ^{[1]
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PubMed Central
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- How to Use: Cut up a hydrocolloid bandage to a size slightly larger than your pimple. Wash your face with your regular face wash, let the skin dry, then apply the bandage and change it whenever it appears full of fluid. Reapply new bandages for up to 3-5 days. This gives it plenty of time to heal your skin. ^{[2]
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- Can you put a hydrocolloid patch on a popped pimple? Yes, hydrocolloid patches are actually best used on pimples that are already oozing fluid—aka pimples that have already been popped or picked at. The bandage will be able to help absorb the fluid and protect the area for faster healing. ^{[3]
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Bandaids Bandaids can make a good pimple patch in a pinch. They don't absorb pus and exudate like hydrocolloid bandages, but they do protect it from the dirt and bacteria in your environment. They also help the area stay moist, which aids in the healing process. ^{[4]
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- How to Use: Trim the adhesive bands of the Bandaid with scissors so you don't have an unsightly bandage stretching across your face. Then apply it directly over your pimple. Change it at least once daily until you notice the pimple clears up.
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3
Apple cider vinegar According to Dr. Goldman, apple cider vinegar lowers the pH of the skin when it's applied topically. Lowering the pH level of the skin barrier (and thus raising its acidity) dries it out. That, combined with its antibacterial and antifungal properties, is why some doctors suggest treating your acne with apple cider vinegar . But use caution! Stripping your skin barrier of its natural oils may eliminate the pimple in the short term, but using it too much or on sensitive skin can cause even more acne breakouts. ^{[5]
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Cleveland Clinic
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- How to Use: Make a toner with 1 part apple cider vinegar and 3 parts water and store it in a glass jar. Pour a few drops onto a cotton ball or pad and wipe it onto your pimples. Leave it on for a few minutes (but no longer than 15 minutes), then rinse it off with warm water. Apply a moisturizer after rinsing. ^{[6]
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- Warning: Consult your doctor before using this at-home pimple patch if you have sensitive skin.
4
Aspirin Studies have shown that aspirin has a positive, anti-inflammatory effect on many skin conditions, leading some people to believe it can also soothe red and inflamed pimples. ^{[7]
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Research source} It works because it contains a chemical called acetylsalicylic acid, which is very similar to salicylic acid. Salicylic acid is a common ingredient in acne face washes, toners, and leave-in products because it breaks down and dissolves the oil and dead skin cells in pimples. It's also very drying, so beware of that effect and apply aspirin to your face only to treat stubborn acne. ^{[8]
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- How to Use: Crush 3-4 aspirin tablets and mix the powder with 1 US tbsp (15 ml) of warm water. You can also add a couple of drops of honey or aloe vera if you want it to be more soothing and paste-like. Apply the mixture to your pimples and leave it on for 10-15 minutes. Then rinse it off with warm water.
- Note: Remember to wear sunscreen with a high SPF to protect your skin when you go outside, as salicylic acid can make it more sensitive to sun damage.
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Baking soda If you have oily skin and a lot of blackheads, baking soda may be the pimple patch you're looking for. According to Dr. Goldman, "baking soda may facilitate a drying type of…environment," which can be beneficial for people who struggle with overproducing oil and clogged pores. However, she cautions that this home remedy can also completely dry out your skin barrier and lead to more acne. So, use it sparingly as a spot treatment and consider avoiding it entirely if your skin is more dry than oily.
- How to Use: Mix equal parts baking soda and water to form a paste. Apply the paste with a cotton swab to your pimples and leave it for 10-15 minutes. Rinse it off afterward. ^{[9]
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Aloe vera Aloe vera gel won't stop new pimples from popping up, but it can calm and cool acne spots when they're red and irritated. If any of your pimples rupture, applying aloe vera gel after you clean them may help the wounds in your skin heal faster as well. ^{[10]
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PubMed Central
Journal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of Health
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- How to Use: Squeeze aloe vera gel onto the tip of a cotton swab and use it as a spot treatment for your pimples. ^{[11]
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  Cleveland Clinic
  Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
  Go to source} Let it dry on your skin; you don't have to rinse aloe vera gel off.
- Bonus Tip: Try making an aloe vera face mask to provide soothing, all-over hydration.
7
Green tea extract Got any green tea leaves on hand? When applied topically, the extract from the tea leaves can reduce inflammation, which is exactly the benefit you're looking for when you want to treat a pimple. ^{[12]
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PubMed Central
Journal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of Health
Go to source} Green tea also contains antioxidant properties that can help destroy free radicals (which are rogue cells from pollution or the sun that damage your skin). ^{[13]
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Cleveland Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
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- How to Make & Use: Pour 8 g (0.28 oz) of green tea leaves into a clean mason jar . Add 70 g (2.5 oz) of vegetable glycerin and 30 g of distilled water to the tea leaves and stir the ingredients to combine them. ^{[14]
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- Screw on a lid so the jar is airtight and store it in a cool, dry place for 4 weeks. Shake the jar at least once a day to keep the tea leaves from settling. ^{[15]
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- After 4 weeks, open the jar and stir the contents, then pour them into another jar through cheesecloth or a mesh strainer to remove the leaves. Then transfer the extract to a glass bottle with a lid. Store it for up to 2 years. ^{[16]
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- Soak a cotton swab in the green tea extract and apply it to your pimples. Leave it on for 10-15 minutes before rinsing it off.
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Tea tree oil Tea tree oil is a powerful ingredient with antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties – in other words, it's great at relieving and reducing pimples! ^{[17]
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Research source} It is harsh, though, so it's important to dilute it before using it. It may also not be a suitable pimple patch option for people with sensitive skin, so spot-test it first before applying it all-over. ^{[18]
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Cleveland Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
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- How to Use: Combine 2 drops of tea tree oil with 12 drops of witch hazel . Apply it to your pimples twice a day.
- Warning: Teenage boys may want to avoid using tea tree oil or lavender oil as pimple patches. These oils contain properties that can disrupt the production of hormones that help males develop during puberty. ^{[19]
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Lavender oil Lavender oil isn't just for making you smell good – you can also use it to treat acne! According to one study, lavender oil's antibacterial properties make it a useful pimple patch treatment. ^{[20]
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Research source} Just like tea tree oil, however, it must be diluted before it's safe enough to apply to your skin. Avoid applying pure lavender oil directly to your skin (even if it's not sensitive).
- How to Use: Combine 6 drops of lavender oil with 1 fl oz (30 ml) of carrier oil like coconut or jojoba . Then apply the mixture to your pimples. ^{[21]
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  Cleveland Clinic
  Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
  Go to source}

Section 2 of 4:

How to Know What Type of Acne You Have

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Look at the size, color, and level of inflammation. Some types of acne are small and not very painful. Others are large and extremely tender, and you only find relief from them when they're drained by a professional dermatologist. Pimple patches work best on pimples or cysts that have already come to a head, but not as well on whiteheads, blackheads, or deep lesions like nodules. ^{[22]
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Cleveland Clinic
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Go to source} We explain what distinguishes each of these common acne types below. ^{[23]
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- Pimples or pustules have a red base with a white or yellow top.
- Cysts are deep lesions with wide tops, filled with pus, and painful to the touch.
- Papules are small, tender, inflamed bumps with no white or yellow top.
- Whiteheads are white bumps beneath the skin that come from plugged hair follicles.
- Blackheads are plugged hair follicles that open up on the skin's surface and turn black from exposure to oxygen.
- Nodules are large lesions that are solid, painful, and buried deep in the skin.

Section 3 of 4:

Other DIY Skin Treatments

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1
Face mask Face masks make excellent acne treatments because they unclog your pores, eliminate excess oil and grime, and soothe inflammation. They're also great for DIYers because they're easy to whip up at home with ingredients you probably already have in your kitchen! Try these face mask ideas the next time your acne-prone skin needs a little TLC.
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Toner Toner is a skincare product applied after face wash and before moisturizer and any other products. Its job is to wipe away any lingering dirt, oil, and grime, but also to hydrate your skin and restore your skin's pH balance – all great benefits for acne sufferers! ^{[24]
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Trustworthy Source
Cleveland Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
Go to source} If you don't want to buy toner, you can make your own at home out of 1 part apple cider vinegar and 3 parts water, or try this green tea toner recipe.
3

Face cream Face creams help rehydrate dry skin and reduce oil overproduction, thus preventing more acne breakouts. ^{[25]
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Research source} Storebought moisturizers can contain fragrances and other chemicals that irritate your skin, so consider making your own face cream with soothing natural ingredients like coconut oil, shea butter, beeswax, and more.

Section 4 of 4:

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

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1

Can you use a bandaid as a pimple patch? You can use a bandaid on a pimple, but it won't help heal it. It will just prevent bacteria from getting to the wound. A hydrocolloid bandage is a better option!
2

Should you put toothpaste on a pimple? No, never put toothpaste on a pimple. Toothpaste contains ingredients that may be harsh on your skin. Plus, US-based toothpaste brands no longer use triclosan in their formulas. Triclosan is an ingredient that was thought to help acne by killing off bacteria. ^{[26]
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Cleveland Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
Go to source}
3

Does putting salt on a pimple work? There's no scientific evidence that salt or homemade salt water will help your pimples go down. In fact, it may cause more damage by drying out and scratching your skin. ^{[27]
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Can you put lemon juice on your skin to treat pimples? Dr. Goldman recommends avoiding putting lemon juice and lemon oil on your skin. If you apply these ingredients to your skin and then go out in the sun, you may suffer a reaction that causes your skin to darken where you applied the juice. Lemon oil can also be very drying and damaging to the skin.
5

How do you cover up a pimple without patches? Hide your pimples with makeup concealer or green color corrector. You can also try reducing its inflamed appearance by holding an ice cube up to the pimple for about 1 minute. Finally, you can try applying spot treatments that contain benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid. ^{[28]
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PubMed Central
Journal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of Health
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9 Ways to Make a Homemade Pimple Patch for Acne or Breakouts

How to Make an At-Home Pimple Patch

Steps

9 Homemade Pimple Patch Remedies

How to Know What Type of Acne You Have

Other DIY Skin Treatments

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Expert Q&A

Tips

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