The Nicotinell patches are used to help you stop smoking as part of an overall treatment programme. When you apply the patch to your skin, nicotine passes through your skin and into your body. The Nicotinell patch programme involves up to 3 steps; each with a different patch size. As your body adjusts to not smoking, you should gradually reduce the dose of Nicotinell over a period of up to a maximum of 12 weeks until you no longer need to use the patches.