Skin Health Acne Causes and Treatment of Closed Comedones By Angela Palmer Angela Palmer Facebook Angela Palmer is a licensed esthetician specializing in acne treatment. Learn about our editorial process Updated on January 26, 2022 Medically reviewed by Casey Gallagher, MD Medically reviewed by Casey Gallagher, MD Casey Gallagher, MD, is board-certified in dermatology. He is a clinical professor at the University of Colorado in Denver, and co-founder and practicing dermatologist at the Boulder Valley Center for Dermatology in Colorado. Learn about our Medical Expert Board Print Is your skin rough and bumpy? Most of us call those pesky little bumps blocked or clogged pores. You might be surprised to learn that these bumps are actually small cysts called closed comedones. A single bump is called a comedo. This article discusses closed comedones and why you have them on your skin. It also discusses how you can get rid of them. This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing. See Photo Closed comedones on forehead. DermNet / CC BY-NC-ND Symptoms Closed comedones look like little bumps across the skin's surface. They're not red and inflamed like your typical pimple, and they don't hurt. A closed comedo develops when a plug of skin cells and oil becomes trapped within the hair follicle, the tunnel-like structure that hair grows from. The plug fills the follicle, causing it to swell and creating that bump you see on your skin. Closed comedones can happen anywhere on the skin. But they most often pop up on the face, neck, chest, and back. Some comedones are open. They are also known as blackheads. But in closed comedones, the pore openings are blocked. The oil plug is not exposed to air, so it doesn't turn a brown or black color. In fact, some closed comedones develop a very obvious white head. If bacteria invade or the follicle wall ruptures, closed comedones can develop into inflamed pimples. Other Types of Comedones Causes Some people are more likely to develop comedones than others. Everyone gets closed comedones every now and then. But if you have a lot of them, and they're fairly constant, you probably have a type of acne called comedonal acne. Closed comedones are really common during the tween and teen years. This is because when you are a pre-teen or a teenager, the skin's sebaceous glands (also known as oil glands) speed up production. With all that extra oil, comedones are more likely to form. Teens aren't the only people who get these blemishes. They're also common in adults with oily skin. Some studies suggest that smokers are more likely to develop closed comedones, too. Certain products that you put on your skin might be contributing to these blemishes. Heavy creams and lotions often clog pores and cause skin problems. Makeup, especially oil-based products, can also do it. If your breakouts are mostly around the hairline, you might want to take a closer look at your hair products. They might be triggering your blemishes. Overview of Comedonal Acne 1:31 Click Play to Learn More About Closed Comedones This video has been medically reviewed by Casey Gallagher, MD. Treatment Closed comedones can be super annoying, but you can treat them. If you have mild bumpiness and minor breakouts, you can first try an over-the-counter (OTC) acne treatment product. Over-the-Counter Treatments Over-the-counter salicylic acid or glycolic acid are ingredients that speed up the shedding of dead skin cells, and they help keep pores from getting clogged. Over-the-counter products take some time to work. Try them for at least eight weeks before expecting to see improvement in the way your skin looks. Prescription Medications If you have more than just a few closed comedones, or if you've been battling these bumps for a long time, you'll want to see a dermatologist (skin doctor) for prescription medication. Topical retinoids are a great choice and most likely what your dermatologist will have you try first. These medications include: Retin-A Retin-A Micro Differin Tazorac They help clear out existing pore blockages and keep new ones from forming. They also have the added benefit of smoothing and softening the skin. Other treatments that your dermatologist might suggest are azelaic acid or benzoyl peroxide. For women, birth control pills (when used along with topical treatments) can also help keep those closed comedones from showing up on their skin. Extractions Blemish extractions can also be helpful. This is where a dermatologist or esthetician uses their fingers or a special tool called a comedone extractor to remove the plug causing the blemish. Extractions don't keep closed comedones from forming. You'll still need a treatment to prevent them from coming back. But they can help jump-start your treatment. They also may make the skin look better while you're waiting for your comedonal acne treatments to work. Summary Closed comedones are tiny bumps that show up on your skin. They're a type of acne blemish that is common in tweens, teens, and adults with oily skin. If you have a mild case of closed comedones, you can use an over-the-counter treatment. If it's more severe, you may need to see your doctor. Doctors may prescribe topical creams to help get rid of your closed comedones and keep them from coming back. A dermatologist or esthetician can also manually extract those tiny bumps to help your skin look smoother while you wait for the topical treatments to work. A Word From Verywell No one wants to have tiny bumps like closed comedones blemishing the skin. It can be embarrassing, making you feel less confident about your appearance. If you are experiencing this kind of acne and need help, talk with your doctor. Doctors can provide treatment or refer you to a specialist who can improve your skin's health. Frequently Asked Questions What causes closed comedones? Closed comedones occur when pores on the skin are clogged by oil and skin cells, causing a small acne bump to form. Acne is typically caused by hormonal changes, meaning teenagers are the most affected by it, but closed comedones can happen to anyone at any age. How can I get rid of clogged pores? Clogged pores can be treated and prevented using over-the-counter products like salicylic acid or glycolic acid. It may take eight weeks to see improvement. For more severe cases, a dermatologist can prescribe medication for treatment. Additionally, they can remove closed comedones by performing a blemish extraction. Where can comedones appear? A comedone can show up anywhere on the skin, but usually occur on the face, neck, chest, and back. An open comedone is called a blackhead, while a closed comedone is called a whitehead. How does comedone extraction work? Comedone extraction is performed by a dermatologist using a small, metal instrument with a hook on the end. The dermatologist uses this sterile equipment to safely remove blackheads, whiteheads, and other acne. This should only be performed by a trained professional due to the risk of damaging the skin or making acne worse. How Comedonal Acne Is Treated 10 Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. MedlinePlus. Whiteheads. Tanghetti EA. The role of inflammation in the pathology of acne. J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2013;6(9):27–35. Stanford Children's Health. Treating teen acne. Patterson AT, Tian FT, Elston DM, Kaffenberger BH. Occluded cigarette smoke exposure causing localized chloracne-like comedones. Dermatology. 2015;231(4):322-325. doi:10.1159/000439046 Leyden J, Stein-Gold L, Weiss J. Why topical retinoids are mainstay of therapy for acne. Dermatol Ther (Heidelb). 2017;7(3):293–304. doi:10.1007/s13555-017-0185-2 Słopień R, Milewska E, Rynio P, Męczekalski B. Use of oral contraceptives for management of acne vulgaris and hirsutism in women of reproductive and late reproductive age. Prz Menopauzalny. 2018;17(1):1–4. doi:10.5114/pm.2018.74895 Steventon K. Expert opinion and review article: The timing of comedone extraction in the treatment of premenstrual acne--a proposed therapeutic approach. Int J Cosmet Sci. 2011;33(2):99-104. doi:10.1111/j.1468-2494.2010.00610.x MedlinePlus. Acne. Reviewed July 12, 2019. MedlinePlus. Comedones. Reviewed October 10, 2020. American Academy of Dermatology Association (AAD). Pimple popping: Why only a dermatologist should do it. Additional Reading Bowe W, Kober M. Therapeutic update: acne. J Drugs Dermatol. 2014;13(3):235-238. Titus S, Hodge J. Diagnosis and treatment of acne. Am Fam Physician. 2012;86(8):734-40. By Angela Palmer Angela Palmer is a licensed esthetician specializing in acne treatment. See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Medical Expert Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Other Helpful Report an Error Submit