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Beauty lovers can't resist the acne hack in drugstores.

Therefore, when TikTok users began to bandage their acne — and miraculously clean their skin — this trend took off on video sharing platforms.

The label "Hydrocolloid" refers to a bandage product commonly used to treat blisters and other wounds. It has been viewed more than 20.4 million times on TikTok and contains countless videos of acne-prone users' skin before and after treatment. .

"If you have an acne with white pus and want it to disappear overnight, this is my best kept secret. It only costs $3 at Walmart, and it allows you to use it for a whole month-or more," the platform The skin and beauty enthusiast on @shannon.bruno told her 58,000 fans in a video posted earlier this year. Since then, her life hacker has won 1.1 million likes on the platform. "About five years ago, I searched the Internet for alternatives to expensive acne patches, and one day I saw a blog that said these products worked well. So I tried it and it worked."

Since then, other users have praised similar products.

"I won't lie, even if it's really red, it's really smooth," @rotel_ella said in a multi-part series, comparing Band-Aid Hydro Seal bandages ($4 and above) with premium acne product Mighty Patch (12 dollars and upwards).

"In fact, it does pull out mucus," she concluded, holding the pus-filled bandage to the camera. Her before and after videos made using cheaper alternatives to band-aids have received more than 3 million likes.

Dr. Julie Russak, a dermatologist on the Upper East Side, told the Washington Post that these TikTokers have been used by dermatologists for "years."

"It can really reduce inflammation and allow the skin underneath to heal."

"What is its effect on acne," Russak said, "It can really reduce inflammation and heal the underlying skin.

"The patches we used in the past-containing salicylic acid, retinoids, and benzoyl peroxide-they help, but they also dry out the skin on the surface too much, and then the skin actually becomes more red and swollen. Peeling NS."

"Use colloidal dressings," she continued, "it can actually be avoided. You really just calm the skin, and the skin will heal from the inside out." They are also "skin-neutral," she said. This means that there is no substance on the dressing that can irritate or trigger the skin.

However, as some video bloggers have reported, timing is the key to obtaining all the benefits of hydrocolloid dressings and reducing potential irritation.

"I recommend leaving it for nearly 48 hours, or even longer," Russak said. That's because it takes time for bandages to form "this white, viscous soup" on acne, blisters or wounds-a mixture of gelatin, pectin, cellulose and other polymers-this is how you know the skin is healing . After two days or so, "it comes off easily."

The best part of this clinically tested life trick is that it works regardless of the brand. Although some brands claim to be designed for cystic acne and blemishes, Russak says, “When you actually look at the ingredients or description, it’s exactly the same.”