Skin comedones are those really bad looking bumps on your face that are better known as whiteheads or blackheads. They can pop up when skin pores become clogged with an oily substance called sebum ,which can then lead to the appearance of tiny black bumps (blackheads), or white bumps (whiteheads).Comedones are difficult to cover up with makeup or concealer, and spreading makeup on them will only make the issue worse because you are actually covering th skin pores up more than already are.
There are many different treatments for skin comedones, but the best treatment begins with a good cleansing program. The best thing to do is wash your skin with a mild soap and applying 2.5% benzoyl peroxide solution. Some people also get good results using Retin-A, but it can take several months to see results. People who want quicker results use a procedure known as comedone extraction which is a a process of manually removing comedones.
Comedone extraction is done with a special metal tool called a comedone extractor. This tool has a sharp blade at one end to puncture the head of the comedone. The other end of the tool is used to apply pressure to the comedone this opens the comedone so that the sebum blocking the pores can be removed. Many dermatologists have this instrument on hand in so that if necessary they can perform a comedone extraction when needed.
There are many internet sites that sell comedone extractors and you can buy them for home use as a sort of “do-it-yourself” way of removing comedones. A professional grade comedone extractor made of surgical stainless steel can be purchased for under $40.00. It may sound tempting to buy one of these - especially considering the cost of visiting a dermatologist - but it’s best to let a professional remove them since doing it incorrectly can lead to scarring. Not only can scarring be a problem when comedone removal is done at home, if the sebum isn’t completely removed it can become inflamed leading to a pimple.
The bottom line? It’s best to treat skin comedones with a good skin care routine and benzoyl peroxide. There are many skin care products on the market that contain benzoyl peroxide and in all fairness in the long run this is a much better way to treat comedones and acne. But If that fails to reduce the number of skin comedones after several months, prescription Retin-A can be added under the care of a doctor. It’s best to reserve comedone removal for only the most severe cases of blackheads and whiteheads since it could lead to scarring. |
