Gustavo Campos writes in the student newspaper at the Windermere Preparatory School in Florida about a product launched in 2019 that turned a wound dressing into a bright yellow star, removing the stigma of “hiding” acne care and making it something destined for social media.
The product is called Starface, and if you have teen friends on social media, there’s a good chance you’ve seen pics of them wearing the medicated but decorative dressings on your feed.
“The stars were bold, funny, and impossible to miss,” Gustavo wrote. “They made acne feel less like a secret and more like a shared joke. When celebrities and influencers started showing up on TikTok and Instagram wearing the patches, it was game over.”
Research on Starface and other acne patches suggests that they aren’t a new cure, but rather a new format for treatments already in use. The original hydrocolloid patch was developed for wound care decades ago. In acne, hydrocolloid patches absorb fluid from a whitehead or pustule, protect the skin from dirt and bacteria, and prevent teens from picking at blemishes.
Randomized trials, including one as recent as 2024, have found that these patches can speed healing, reduce redness, and improve the overall appearance of spots compared to no treatment. They’re most effective on superficial, already-inflamed pimples.
Some Starface patches add 1% salicylic acid, a medication long used in over-the-counter acne treatments. Salicylic acid works by unclogging pores and gently reducing inflammation.
Guidelines from the American Academy of Dermatology include salicylic acid as an accepted option for mild acne; however, stronger evidence supports benzoyl peroxide and retinoids as the core of most acne treatments. In Starface’s case, the acid is delivered in a sticker rather than a cream or gel.
Taken together, the research suggests that hydrocolloid patches (and hydrocolloid patches combined with salicylic acid) can help pimples heal faster and may reduce scarring by preventing teens from squeezing or scratching.
They are, however, a spot treatment, not a substitute for full-face regimens in teens with ongoing breakouts. For persistent, widespread, or scarring acne, dermatologists continue to recommend daily use of topical retinoids, benzoyl peroxide washes, or oral medications as needed.
What Starface has changed most is the psychological approach to treatment. By turning a wound dressing into a bright yellow star, the company removed the stigma of “hiding” acne care and made it something shareable.
That smart repackaging may increase the odds that teens actually use the product, which is something doctors often struggle with when treatments are embarrassing or feel clinical.
A note for teens: Patches are fine for a few superficial inflammatory pimples, such as the red bumps and whiteheads that come and go. But if you notice deep, painful nodules, cysts, or scars that last for months, that’s a sign to see a doctor. Those forms of acne typically require more intensive, long-term medical treatments. In other words, stickers can help a breakout look better, but don’t wait too long to seek medical advice if the problem is widespread or leaving marks.
