By Dakota Rose
I have always laughed at the “Victorian-era child” memes that imagine the shock and disbelief a Victorian-era child would experience when seeing some marker of the modern age. Most recently, I’ve wondered how a Victorian-era child might respond to people wearing pimple patches out in public (and no, not the invisible ones). Everywhere I go I see more people – students and others – sporting neon stars and heart-shaped pimple patches as they go about their daily activities. Surprisingly, a Victorian-era child may not be as shocked as I was by people wearing these colorful patches in public.
In 16th-century Europe, smallpox was everywhere. Those lucky enough to survive the disease had to live with the scars born from it. The elite covered their scars with fabric patches – often cut into creative shapes like hearts or stars – turning something one might hide into a sort of badge of honor. According to the Pitt Rivers Museum, the patches “were a good way of concealing the scars caused by disease such as smallpox” and quickly “went from being a mark of shame to a mark of pride.” Eventually, patches were worn whether there was something to be covered up or not. They became an accessory. “Conspicuous black patches were made out of expensive materials like silk or velvet and cut into shapes such as hearts, circles, diamonds, stars, and crescent moons” according to Pitt Rivers. The placement and shape of the patch also meant different things.
Flash forward to 2025 and these pimple patches are worn like an accessory: de-stigmatizing acne and clearing your skin at the same time.
“Whenever I break out, I don’t really mind that much because I can put a cute little heart on it and walk around with it all day” said one SMU junior.
Just like how patches were a beauty statement years ago, students at SMU also will wear pimple patches just for the fun of it.
“Sometimes I’ll wear one that matches my outfit just because I like to have a little something extra” said another student.
Celebrities have found comfort in pimple patches as well. Most noteabley, Hailey Bieber and Florence Pugh have posted photos sporting star pimple patches on multiple occasions. Seeing women praised for their beauty share photos where they are utilizng products most people have access to instead of some lock and chain hidden beauty secret is comforting for many people. Furthermore, it breaks down the idea that acne is something to be ashamed of, leading women and men both to think “if they can be comfortable in their own skin, pimple patches and all, why can’t I be as well?”
Just like the status symbol of small-pox patches in 16th century Europe, wearing pimple patches in public sends a message. Wearing that patch to your local Whole Foods or even to class says “I have nothing to hide.” Wearing the patches could even stand as a symbol of health, telling everyone around you that you are proactive about skin-care. The pimple patch, whether used as an accessory or to actually cover acne is an acquired taste but has deep roots in history as a fashion-forward statement on resilience.
