Colorful pimple sticker goes viral and doctor explains when it should be used Pimple drying stickers, used to camouflage themselves on the skin, have taken on a new look. Now, they appear colorful and in cartoon formats, such as hearts and stars, becoming evident on the face. Wellbeing showed that these products can help with limitations, favoring slightly faster healing. But when acne stops being a one-off problem, it needs deeper treatment. How do colored stickers work? Most of these adhesives are made with hydrocolloid, a polymer that, when applied, creates a moister environment and improves healing. Other patches are made from substances such as tea tree, salicylic acid, niacinamide, and benzoyl peroxide. There are also products with the presence of dissolvable microneedles, which aim to deliver the assets more deeply. Dermatologist Júlia Rocha explained in Bem-Estar that these products work mainly for specific acne and more consistent studies are still needed to confirm that they work. The doctor explains that the stickers help reduce the manipulation of the acne lesion, guarantee protection to the lesion, reduce contact with bacteria, absorb acne fluids and secretions and improve the scar aspect. In this way, they help reduce inflammation and absorb the liquid present. They are not capable, for example, of treating blackheads or deeper lesions, such as nodules and cysts that some people have, in addition to not preventing the recurrence of acne, according to the doctor. "If you want to use it on a more emergency basis because you have a party or event and you don't want to have that more visible acne, that's no problem. It's quite possible that healing will occur more quickly, especially if in parallel, you are also undergoing some suitable treatment for acne on a more global basis", explains Rocha. Are there any risks associated with use? Adhesives that contain active ingredients such as salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide in their formulation may be more drying, but have a greater chance of irritation. The doctor adds that people with more sensitive skin or with a wound in the area where they intend to apply the patch should avoid using it, as the product can intensify the dryness of the area to which it is applied and even make the treated area more irritated. If the person knows that they are allergic to any active ingredient in the formula, they should not use the product either. What is the best treatment for acne in teenagers? Rocha explains that, to provide the best treatment for acne in teenagers, it is necessary to understand each person's reality. In general, there are topical sanitizers, which are gels and soaps. For the most part, doctors recommend that soaps and cleansing gels aimed at oily and acne-prone skin be used (they normally contain salicylic acid, zinc, benzoyl peroxide, among others). The doctor also highlights that it is necessary to understand whether what is recommended for the patient will be a topical or oral treatment (systemic treatment). Topical treatments can be very useful, for example, with the use of adapalene, azelaic acid, retinoic acid, salicylic acids and benzoyl peroxide, in addition to dapsone. Oral treatments depend on gender, age and other conditions that need to be understood before indication. There is the use of spironolactone as a therapeutic possibility, which helps in the hormonal androgenic blockade of the gland. Oral contraceptives also help with acne. Additionally, isotretinoin may be recommended. In more selected cases, antibiotics may be indicated. “We can use steroid injections locally that help reduce local acne. Today, we also have possibilities with very interesting technologies, such as lasers and peelings - understanding, of course, the basic condition of each skin”, says Rocha. Around 70% of Brazilians between 16 and 24 years old have never been to a dermatologist According to a survey by the Brazilian Society of Dermatology, acne is the most common condition in private dermatology practices, especially among young people aged 13 to 24. But 70% of Brazilians between 16 and 24 years old - precisely the age group most affected by acne - have never spoken to a dermatologist.