What is a Comedo? Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment Methods

Comedo

A common skin problem, a comedo is a type of acne that is the same color as the skin tone and causes a rough texture on the skin. Unlike acne and inflammatory pimples, a comedo manifests itself as black or whiteheads. Oil, dirt, or makeup residue accumulating in hair follicles causes swelling on the skin tissue. It can be experienced very frequently, especially during adolescence due to hormonal changes. Although it is generally seen in the face area where oil glands are dense, such as the chin, forehead, and nose, it can also be encountered in the back, neck, and chest area in some people. Comedo treatment can be performed by a dermatologist depending on the cause and type of the problem.

What is a Comedo?

Comedones are acne-like structures known in common parlance as blackheads or whiteheads. The accumulation of excess oil, dead skin cells, and certain bacteria in the skin pores causes the pores to become clogged. The clogged area creates a raised, rough texture that is the same color as the skin. It is mostly seen in areas of the face prone to oiliness, such as the chin, forehead, and nose. It is divided into two as open and closed comedones. An open comedo is also known as a blackhead. The components causing the blockage emerge from the pores and turn black when they come into contact with oxygen. A closed comedo, on the other hand, is a whitehead. It is generally the clogging of pores located in the lower layers of the skin, far from the surface. Since the pores are completely closed, the components causing the blockage cannot come into contact with oxygen and manifest themselves as white-colored swellings. Blackheads are more common in combination and oily skin types, but white comedones can be seen in any skin type.

What Are the Symptoms of a Comedo?

A comedo is generally seen commonly in areas where oil glands are dense. Raised, small lesions that are the same tone as the skin or dark-colored on the skin surface are among the most common comedo symptoms. On the face, comedones are especially in the forehead, chin, and nose area. When the pores in this area, where oil glands are dense, are clogged for any reason, open or closed comedones can form. The components that cause the comedo turn black when they emerge from the pores and come into contact with oxygen. Blackheads are observed on the skin tissue. When the blockage occurs in deeper skin layers, the components within the comedo cannot reach the skin surface and, because they do not come into contact with oxygen, white-colored swellings form on the skin. In some cases, oil glands located at the edge of the lip can become clogged, and white comedones can be seen on the lip. These acne-like structures are usually painless but can cause an aesthetically disturbing appearance.

What Causes a Comedo?

A comedo is commonly seen especially during periods when hormonal fluctuations occur, such as adolescence, menstruation, pregnancy, or polycystic ovary syndrome. In addition to this, the causes of comedones may include the following:

Excess Sebum Production: Sebum is a high-oil-content component produced by oil cells in the skin that ensures the skin surface is protected from external factors and moisturized; however, excess sebum production can contribute to comedo formation by causing pores to clog.

Dead Skin Cell Accumulation: Skin cells have a specific life cycle and die at the end of this cycle. Dead skin cells actually help protect the skin surface and synthesize new skin cells. In some cases, dead skin cells can accumulate excessively on the skin surface and lead to clogging of the pores. Comedones can form due to clogged pores.

Use of Incorrect Cosmetic Products: Not using skin care products and makeup materials suitable for the skin type can cause pores to clog, increasing the risk of comedones.

Not Paying Necessary Attention to Skin Cleaning: The biggest cause of a comedo is clogged pores. To remove the components that cause pore clogging from skin cells, the skin must be cleansed of makeup, dirt, and excess oil with cleansing products suitable for the skin type. Otherwise, these components accumulate in the pores and lead to clogging, resulting in comedo formation.

Incorrect Diet: Consuming excessively oily, salty, or sugary and processed foods can disrupt the oil balance in the skin and cause excess sebum production. This situation can pave the way for pore clogging and comedo formation.

Stress: Stress affects almost everyone's life, and a sufficient amount is necessary for life to continue; however, under excessive stress, the body's hormonal balance can be disrupted, and sebum production from skin cells can increase. Excess sebum plays an important role in comedo formation.

Genetic Factors: The risk of seeing comedones may increase in those who have skin problems such as acne, pimples, blackheads, and whiteheads in their family.

How is a Comedo Diagnosed?

A diagnosis of comedones on the skin can be made after a physical examination performed by dermatologists who have completed their specialization in skin diseases. The physician examines the skin tissue and can make a diagnosis of open or closed comedones depending on the condition of the lesions on the skin surface. There is no need for a special blood, urine, or hormone test for diagnosis.

How is Comedo Treatment Performed?

Comedo treatment is determined according to the type of comedo and the general condition of the skin. In mild cases, comedo cleaning methods that can be applied at home are usually recommended. It involves cleansing the skin with face cleansing products suitable for the skin type. The cleansing process may include tonics that ensure the tightening of pores and products containing salicylic acid. Generally, these methods can be recommended in the treatment of open comedones, i.e., blackheads, but closed comedo treatment may require more professional applications. Closed comedones, which manifest themselves as whiteheads, occur in deeper skin layers. For this reason, squeezing or trying to clean a closed comedo by hand can increase the risk of infection. A special comedo extractor can be used for the closed comedo cleaning process. A dermatologist or medical skin care specialists who are experts in their field should perform this procedure.

In comedo treatment, creams containing retinoids can be applied with the recommendation of a dermatologist. Retinoid creams can eliminate the blockage by ensuring the pores are opened. At the same time, lotions containing zinc or antibacterial creams can also be applied to eliminate the risk of inflammation. In addition, the dermatologist may prefer professional methods such as chemical peeling or laser applications when deemed necessary.

Frequently Asked Questions

A comedo is generally accepted as the first step of acne formation. It can be defined as small skin lesions that develop as a result of pores being clogged due to bacteria, dead skin cells, or excess sebum on the skin surface or in deeper skin layers. A comedo is divided into two as open and closed. An open comedo is a blackhead that develops on the skin surface and turns dark in color as a result of the contact of the compounds accumulated in the pores with oxygen. A closed comedo is a whitehead that develops in deeper layers of the skin and leads to the formation of hard, small swellings on the skin surface due to the components inside because the pores are completely closed. Squeezing a comedo is not recommended because it also damages the healthy skin tissue around it. Especially since a white comedo is located in the lower layers of the skin, incorrect squeezing can cause inflammation and permanent spots in this area. Mild comedo cases may pass on their own, but most of the time, regular skin care and professional treatment may be required for comedones. Comedo cleaning should be performed by a dermatologist according to the type of comedo and the condition of the skin. Generally, skin care routines that can be applied at home are recommended for open comedo cleaning. In addition, regular peeling and products containing salicylic acid can also be beneficial. However, closed comedo cleaning may require more professional skin cleaning procedures and must be performed under the supervision of a dermatologist. The dermatologist may recommend pore-tightening products and retinoid creams after comedo cleaning. In comedo treatment, products that ensure the cleaning and tightening of pores and those that do not clog pores are generally preferred. These may include clay masks, non-comedogenic moisturizers, tonics containing zinc, niacinamide, benzoyl peroxide, retinoid, and salicylic acid. Even if comedones are cleaned and treated, they can recur. The possibility of recurrence is high, especially in people with oily skin types and those who use incorrect products in their skin care. Doing regular skin cleaning and paying attention to using non-comedogenic products can reduce the risk of recurrence. In addition to this, you can help protect skin health by having healthy eating habits and doing regular exercise. To prevent comedo formation, a daily skin care routine can be created that includes basic skin care procedures such as morning and evening face cleaning, toning, and moisturizing. Care should be taken that the products used in the daily skin care routine are non-comedogenic, i.e., have the feature of not clogging pores, suitable for the skin type. Peeling can be done 1-2 times a week with products suitable for the skin type to remove dead cells on the skin. A dermatologist should be consulted for chemical peeling, laser application, or skin care procedures with steam. The risk of comedo formation is higher in oily and combination skin types where sebum production is intense, but comedones can also form in other skin types when skin care products not suitable for the skin type are used. For a comedo, it is necessary to go to a dermatologist, i.e., a skin doctor.

If you want to get an accurate diagnosis and a personalized treatment plan for comedones and other skin problems, you can make an appointment with our Dermatology specialists. Do not delay expert support for a healthy skin appearance.