What is Comedonal Acne and How to Treat it?

There is a difference between a pimple and an acne. Both are skin conditions or disease where the pore below the skin gets clogged and a bump appears. A pimple is a kind of acne which causes due to blockage of oil or dirt while acne can be mild to severe which needs treatment.

Similarly, acne and comedonal acne are different. Blackheads and whiteheads also come under comedonal acne where if the oil block the pore and it appears black, it is called blackhead and if the oil blocks the pore (usually called as pus) and it is white in colour, it is Whitehead. So, let’s understand it more in detail.

What is Comedonal Acne and How to Treat it

What Is Comedonal Acne?

When the skin pore or hair follicle gets blocked by dead skin or oil then it is called comedone. It is a type of breakout like a pimple on your face but the difference is that it doesn’t turn red but either white or black. Comedones can be of two types; those inflamed breakouts and non-inflammatory bumps on your face are both comedones.

Again you can say, there are two types of comedones, i.e., open and closed. Open comedone is the one when the oil gets trapped into the pore and one end of it is open to air; this turns black and thus is called as a blackhead. Closed comedone is the one when the oil gets trapped in the skin pore and is not exposed to the air and thus stays white in colour; this is known as a whitehead. These neither turn red or get inflamed. They even don’t hurt at all but just are bumpy.

You can observe that these comedonal acne usually appear in wide skin area especially on the forehead, chin and jawline areas. However, these can also be observed on the chest, back and neck.

Causes of Comedonal Acne

Usually, comedonal acne appear during teenage but it can also be seen at any age.

If there is a comedonal acne in your family history then you have more chances of having it; it seems to run in families. If your parents, grandparents or siblings have it then you have more chances of getting them.

Those with oily skin have more chances of having comedonal acne. Since your skin releases more oil you have more chances of getting clogged pores.

The products you use for your face and hair also have great impact on your skin. You might have heard of non-comedogenic products. These products do not clog pores and thus cannot impact in comedones. If your products are comedogenic then you might get comedones. If you use greasy products for your hair, it can also result in comedones.

How To Treat Comedonal Acne?

  • Cleanse or wash your face not more than twice a day because washing face more than that can further irritate your sensitive skin. Wash your face once in the morning using a mild face wash and once before going to bed. Make sure to cleanse your face using a mild cleanser post workout.
  • Never sleep wearing your makeup. Remove it completely before going to bed.
  • Do not forget to exfoliate your skin at least twice a week to get rid of dead skin cells as these dead cells also clog skin pores resulting in comedones. You can try scrubs containing granules or chemical peels.
  • You might have oily skin and acne but still your skin needs moisturization. Never skip this step and choose the one that best suits your skin. Opt for non-comedogenic moisturizers.
  • You can use over the counter medicines for comedones. Try using ointments and creams containing salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide.
  • Try using retinoids as it proves to be life saviors. They increase the cell turnover and increase the cell production.
  • Reconsider your diet. Sometimes your food might be the reason behind your comedones. Check if you are allergic to certain food. Avoid junk foods and eat healthy for healthy skin.
  • Consult a dermatologist if over-the-counter treatments doesn’t work for you.
  • Choose hairstyles that keep hair away from face especially if you have oily hair. You can also wear scarf or hat to avoid contact of hair with your face.
  • Do not pop them inappropriately as they may further irritate your skin and may leave a scar on your face.
  • Avoid touching your face every now and then as this can transfer dirt and germs from your hands to face.

Now you know what are comedones and how to treat them but if you have severe acne and even the-over-the-counter medicines did not help you, they make sure you visit a good dermatologist immediately.