Yes, really button patches TO DO work. But not in the way you think. If you don’t already have whiteheads, don’t expect your pimple patch to magically make your pimple appear for you. Instead, they use a material called hydrocolloid, which helps “absorb fluid from a pimple that has already formed a ‘head,’ aka a whitehead,” says dermatologist Deanna Mraz, MD. For this reason, they are great for sucking up any excess oil on your skin, which can make your acne appear flatter and less inflamed. Plus, they help protect your pimple from further irritation, especially from picking/touching, which can minimize healing time and prevent scarring, she adds.

But there are also new types of pimple patches that can also be great for treating and preventing acne. “A medicated patch will actively smother the pimple in ingredients like salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxideand/or tea tree oil,” says Dr. Mraz. “These active ingredients target inflammation and bacteria to accelerate healing.”

Additionally, there are now microneedling patches, which have tiny tips that will penetrate your pimple and help introduce the active ingredients deeper into your skin, says Dr. Mraz. “These are perfect for deep, cystic pimples that you may not even see on the surface of the skin yet, but can feel underneath,” she says. Typically, these can also be filled with calming ingredients, like centella asiatica, Allantoinand bisabolol.