This article explains the symptoms and causes of closed comedones, including how they are safely and effectively treated.
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Symptoms of Closed Comedones
Closed comedones look like tiny bumps across the skin’s surface.
DermNet / CC BY-NC-ND
They’re not red or inflamed.
Instead, they’re more often the same color as the surrounding skin.
Some whiteheads can develop an actual white head as the overlying skin is stretched by the underlying plug.
By contrast,open comedones(blackheads) develop when the plug pushes through the opening of the follicle.
Closed and open comedones can (and often do) occur together in the same area of skin.
Closed comedones develop when the plug is encased by overlying skin, creating non-inflamed whiteheads.
Some people are more likely to develop comedones than others.
When comedones are persistent, they are referred to ascomedonal acne.
This is why comedones are more common in tweens and teenagers when these sex hormones are surging.
Traditional Treatments
Closed comedones can be annoying, but it’s possible for you to treat them.
This can help keep pores from getting clogged.
Over-the-counter products can take time to work.
It can take eight weeks before visible improvement is seen.
Topical retinoidsare a great choice and likely the first medication your dermatologist will prescribe.
Options include:
These vitamin A-based medications help clear pore blockages and keep new ones from forming.
They also have the added benefit of smoothing and softening the skin.
Manual Extractions
Blemish extractionshelp smooth bumpy skin but should only be done by a dermatologist oresthetician.
This is especially true given that whiteheads are buried beneath the skin and can be hard to remove.
Squeezing or treating them roughly can cause bleeding and scarring.
Dermatologist and estheticians will use their fingers and a special tool called a comedonal extractor to remove the plug.
While extractions can improve the appearance of your skin, they don’t keep closed comedones from forming.
You’ll still need treatment to prevent them from coming back.
Remember that just because a product is natural doesn’t mean that it is safe for all people.
Summary
Closed comedones are tiny bumps on your skin, also known as whiteheads.
They are caused when dead skin cells and natural oils block skin pores.
Closed comedones can be treated with over-the-counter acne medications.
A dermatologist or esthetician can also manually extract them to help your skin look smoother.
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