This product is like a hammer. If you try to use a hammer to kill a bug, it's not going to work very well. You need to know what sort of zits these work on, and your own skin probably plays a role too. This is what I've found with my skin:
- If the zit is not ready to pop/doesn't have a head, this isn't going to work. It will just create a weird sort of seal over the lump which will make it impossible to pop. It will stay hard, stubborn, and unpoppable, and then flake away after about a week.
- If the zit is huge, it needs longer than 6 hours. You can tell it was still working when you pull it off and you see discharge still dangling. It should be a flat and clean. If you place another patch on right away at this stage, it will continue where it left off. If you just let it go, the zit will heal even slower (in my experience)
- If the patch is working, there will be visible discharge collecting on the strip after 4-5 hours. If it is not working, it will be clear. MAKE SURE to take it off if it isn't working! Otherwise you'll be left with irritated red marks. This is why sleeping in them can be dangerous.
- sometimes nothing will happen until literally the 5 hour mark, and then it breaks open and starts collecting into the strip. That's definitely a time when you should leave it on for an additional 4-5 hours. You might end up with a red mark in that case though.
- My forehead isn't very oily at all, this is where I got red marks. I never got them on my cheeks or chin where my skin is most oily. I think that is the difference but I can't be sure.
This is a great tool but use it appropriately or you'll make your skin worse! Experiment with them! I know they're expensive so it's frustrating to do that but this could be a great weapon if you learn how it works for you lol. And COVID is a great time to do this because of face masks can cover any failures haha.