I decided to try the equate brand because I met a woman that used them and said they didn't irritate her skin. I have tried Nicoderm CQ clear patches and they make my skin extremely itchy and red and they really really hurt to pull off, even on a hair less or minimal hair area. Also, the Nicoderm patches left a nasty residue on my skin that was nearly impossible to wash off. The equate patches do irritate my skin a little, I attribute that to the chemicals, but not nearly as bad as the Nicoderm patches. They are easier to remove and the residue left behind washes off easily. They don't adhere as well as the Nicoderm patches, but they do an adequate job.