Patches for Blackheads: Are they effective?

Patches for blackheads are cosmetic products used to remove open comedones that form on the skin of the face, especially in areas particularly sensitive to the problem, such as the nose, chin and forehead (the so-called T-zone of the face).
Also known by their English names “pore strips” or “patches”, blackhead patches are considered by many women to be an indispensable beauty tool.

A Step Back To Understand: Blackheads And Their Causes

Blackheads – also known as open comedones – are skin impurities resulting from the opening of so-called closed comedones (or whiteheads).

Closed comedones are formed by accumulations of sebum, keratin and microorganisms. which accumulate in the hair follicles. Due to the pressure exerted by their contents, closed comedones can open and – following oxidation reactions – give rise to the dark hat from which blackheads take their name.

Characteristics

How Blackhead Patches Are Made And How They Work

Patches for blackheads consist of a support – generally made of fabric – on which mixtures of different substances are distributed. These substances (of synthetic and/or natural origin) are capable of absorbing excess sebum and – when they come into contact with water – they soften, becoming “sticky” and adhering perfectly to the skin.

Once dry, the aforementioned substances harden, remaining however linked to the superficial impurities present on the skin. By removing the patch, therefore, the impurities associated with it will also be removed.

How To Use Them

How To Apply Blackhead Patches

Blackhead patches should be applied carefully following the instructions on the package. In fact, not all of these products are created equal. For example, some plasters can be applied with damp hands, while others require to be applied with dry hands.
However, to promote its effectiveness and avoid unpleasant side effects, it may be useful to follow some simple tips.

Skin Preparation

First of all, before proceeding with the application of patches for blackheads, the skin should be prepared by favoring the dilation of the pores. For this purpose, it may be useful to apply the patches after a shower or after a hot bath: hot water and steam, in fact, help dilate the pores.
Alternatively, you can soak a towel in warm water and apply it to the affected areas for a few minutes. Again, the heat should help open the pores.

Plaster Application

As mentioned, to ensure their effectiveness, it is important that blackhead patches are applied correctly and following the instructions.
Many of these products require that the area to be treated be previously moistened with water and that the application takes place with dry hands. However, the application area must not be excessively wet, otherwise the sticky substances have difficulty drying and remain of an excessively soft consistency which makes it difficult to remove. In such conditions, the treatment would therefore be completely useless.
Another fundamental aspect is the laying time, which must always be respected: too short a laying time would not allow for correct drying of the sticky substances; while an excessively long exposure time could annoy and irritate the skin.

Patch Removal

After the processing time indicated on the product packaging, the patch must be gently torn off and any residues can be removed from the skin with a little warm water. In addition, the application of moisturizing or soothing products can be useful.

Blackhead Patches Online

Deep pore cleansing strips are available online in packs of 48 strips, 24 for nose cleansing and 24 for facial cleansing, individually wrapped for convenience.
The patches are made with quality materials, which include water and a balanced amount of titanium dioxide. They are hypoallergenic and suitable for all skin types.
These strips are really easy to use: just take them out of the package and apply them. They are also easy to remove as they contain just the right amount of adhesive.

You can also try using a blackhead vacuum cleaner if you want.

Alternatively, you can opt for 3 packs of strips for the T-zone enriched with Citric Acid, with a travel pouch.
These patches activate with water by binding to blackheads and impurities to deeply purify the skin. Thanks to the special and soft fabric, they adhere better to the area affected by imperfections, especially the nose, while the lemon extracts give a pleasant sense of freshness to the skin.
It is recommended to use the product once a week.

Effectiveness

Are Blackhead Patches Really Effective?

Patches for blackheads cannot be considered as a solution to counteract these impurities.
In fact, to be honest, blackhead patches mostly remove what are defined as oxidized sebaceous filaments, i.e. impurities very similar to blackheads, but not in relief and slightly lighter in color than blackheads proper. However, that doesn’t mean the patches don’t remove blackheads, but it does mean that they only get rid of a fraction of them. Despite this, the use of patches for blackheads – in combination with careful and regular skin care – can undoubtedly be useful in limiting the problem.
However, to permanently eliminate blackheads, rather than using plasters, one should resort to aesthetic and/or dermatological treatments of a different nature (such as, for example, peelings or surgical enucleation).