what do hydrocolloid patches do

Hydrocolloid patches are clear bandages that stick directly onto pimples and claim to speed up healing. They are essentially small stickers that can be applied to breakouts to help absorb the pimples contents and encourage the spot to heal. Hydrocolloid is a polymer, a type of substance that forms a gel when mixed with water. When applied to a small piece of material, it makes a hydrocolloid patch. The hydrocolloid creates a moist environment that helps heal the skin. Hydrocolloid patches work by absorbing the drainage from pimples, which then reacts with the gel-like substance of the patch, forming a moist and clean environment that helps shield the spot and prevent microbes from entering the blemish. At the same time, hydrocolloid pimple patches help absorb oil and bacteria from within the pimple. Hydrocolloid patches were originally used for general wound care like leg ulcers or pressure sores, and experts found they worked better than traditional coverings. Doctors also put them on after a skin procedure, like having a mole removed. In recent years, researchers found these patches worked well on open acne, too.