Blackhead comedones. Methods for removing comedones

Closed comedones are a common problem. They appear on the face and can even spread to the back. The cause of their occurrence can be stress, diseases of the internal organs, but most often teenagers suffer from them when their body experiences a hormonal surge, as well as women during pregnancy, menopause and in case of malfunctions in the menstrual cycle.

Sebum accumulates under the skin and turns into a small nodule. Often they are small and almost invisible, but sometimes they are quite large and also cause pain. Being under the skin, they do not have the opportunity to finally mature and come out; and if an infection penetrates into such a comedone, then there is a high probability of developing serious inflammation. How to get rid of them? Let's figure it out.

Open and closed comedones - what's the difference?

Skin rashes, called comedones, are divided into two types - open and closed comedones. The first are formed when the contents of the mouth of the follicle appear on the surface of the skin. This species is considered the most noticeable, as it visually represents black dots. Such formations are easy to remove even at home.

Getting rid of closed comedones is not so easy. An attempt at conventional mechanical removal can only result in them turning into red, inflamed pimples with a white top. This type of comedones is popularly called "millet" because they look like millet grains. In dermatology, the term milia is used to define them.

What causes the appearance of closed comedones on the skin of the face? The main reason is the accumulation in the sebaceous glands of a secret secreted in excess. The inability to release secretions into the pores and contributes to the formation of small whitish nodules under a thin layer of skin (subcutaneous acne).

Among the many causes of closed-type rashes, the main factors in their appearance are improper skin care (especially oily or dry), as well as the use of cosmetics that cause closed comedones.

Causes of closed comedones

The main reason for the appearance of closed comedones are various hormonal disorders, but doctors note a number of other factors:

Excessive activity of the sebaceous glands.
Improper skin care or complete neglect of personal hygiene, resulting in clogged skin pores.
In some cases, certain medications may be the cause.
Genetic predisposition, as a result of which comedones can appear even in those who monitor the condition of the skin.
In men, an excessive amount of testosterone in the body also leads to the appearance of comedones.
In exceptional cases, the appearance of comedones can be influenced by environmental pollution. As a result, the clogging of skin pores with particles of dust, dirt and various compounds, which leads to the appearance of closed comedones.

As a result of hormonal disorders, comedones often appear in pregnant women, even if all hygiene requirements are met. Endocrine diseases and problems with the gastrointestinal tract also increase the likelihood of such acne.

What do closed comedones look like?

Closed comedones are small, flesh-colored or white bumps that protrude slightly above the surface of the skin. From the outside, they can be completely invisible and can only be felt by touch, if you run your hand over the skin. They are felt as a slight roughness or unevenness.

Medical treatment

It is necessary to treat closed comedones comprehensively. First you need to identify the cause of their appearance and cure, and then deal with cosmetic skin defects.

Preparations for the treatment of acne and comedones are aimed at reducing the activity of the sebaceous glands, eliminating comedones and skin defects from their occurrence. Medicines can be both internal and external use.

The most used drugs for comedones:

Zerkalin (ointment) is a remedy related to antibiotics. Production - Croatia. Able to treat acne and other similar formations on the skin. Effectively fights comedones.
Roaccutane (in capsules) is a drug aimed at suppressing acne and comedones. Made in Switzerland. Contains beeswax, soybean oil. The drug should be started with small doses with a gradual increase.
Zincteral (tablets) - catalyzes metabolic processes. Producer Poland.
A series of cosmetics - Hollyland. It produces drugs in the form of ointments, lotions, masks for the treatment of problem skin. Made in Israel.

Any drug may have side effects or incompatibility with other drugs. Before using drugs, you should consult with your doctor about the appropriateness of their use.

Skin cleansing

First of all, at home, it is necessary to thoroughly cleanse the skin of the face with a special cosmetic product using a sponge or sponge. Hygiene care begins with the fact that the composition for washing is applied to wet skin, and then rubbed without pressure until bubbles appear and removed with a wet sponge. This helps to cleanse the epidermis of particles of fat, layers of dead cells and dirt.

Every week you need to peel with fruit acids or use a scrub to cleanse the skin of dead cells. Masks with bodyaga or clay also help to expand the pores and renew the epidermis. However, when using peeling or scrub, they can only be done once a week. If masks are the only method in the fight against closed comedones, then in a day or two.

At home, vegetable masks made from carrots, cucumbers, zucchini and apples will help to cope with closed comedones. Finely grind the vegetables, you can use a grater or a blender, and if they do not contain acids, then lemon juice is added. The composition is supplemented with vegetable oil, most often olive oil. But in the advice of cosmetologists and reviews of many women, you can read that this oil can clog pores. In this case, you need to use a cosmetic vegetable oil suitable for your skin.

Folk remedies

Traditional medicine will help to deal with such a problem. Herbal decoctions, various masks made from natural ingredients have a positive effect on the skin, no worse than expensive pharmaceutical products.

Effective remedies for closed comedones:

Chamomile. Take 2 tablespoons of dried chamomile, pour a little boiling water over it. Wait 30 minutes, strain, apply the gruel on your face, hold for 15 minutes, do such manipulations every day. After a week, you will notice that the comedones have decreased in size, and over time, the millet will completely disappear.
Protein treatment. Take one fresh chicken egg, separate the protein from the yolk, beat it with 1 tablespoon of sugar, divide the mixture into 2 equal parts. Apply the first half to the face, wait until it dries completely, then do the same with the second half of the mass. Rinse off the mask with cool water, do not forget to lubricate the skin with a nourishing cream after the procedure. Such manipulations remove impurities, cleanse pores, and contribute to the opening of millet;
Vitamin mask. Grate carrots, zucchini, cucumber (in equal amounts), add 1 tbsp to the mixture. spoon of olive oil, mix thoroughly. Put the resulting slurry on your face in a thin layer, wait 10-15 minutes, then rinse with warm water;
Salt. Take a glass of boiled water, dilute a finely grated piece of antibacterial soap in it, add 1 tablespoon of fine salt. Moisten a cotton pad in the solution, use it to rub into problem areas on the skin for no more than three minutes, do not overdo it, this method should be used very carefully so as not to damage the skin;
Citrus tonic. Dilute 1 tablespoon of lemon or grapefruit juice with 1 cup of boiled water. Moisten a cotton pad with this product and wipe the places of accumulation of millet. Use this remedy in the morning and evening.

Do not expect lightning-fast action from these recipes, for a high-quality result, 2-3 weeks should pass. Do not be alarmed if millet on the nose lasts longer than on all other zones, this is a natural process.

Treatment with a laser

This procedure not only has no consequences in the form of scars or scars, but is absolutely painless.

There are three types of such laser peeling:

pulsed laser. During processing, bacteria die, and the secretion of the sebaceous glands also decreases. As a result of this decrease in the intensity of secretion, less sebum is produced, which is a breeding ground for bacteria. As a result, old comedones dissolve, and the likelihood of new comedones formation decreases.
Processing with a blue laser (frequency 405-420 nm). This procedure destroys bacteria that are deep in the skin and promotes the resorption of comedones.
diode laser. Unlike the previous type, this procedure contributes to the complete cessation of sebum secretion. It is quite effective in the treatment of acne, when comedones are formed in large quantities over the entire surface of the face.

This effective method allows you to achieve visible results after the first procedure, and thanks to the ability to adjust the depth of penetration, the specialist can work with problem areas without affecting the surrounding tissues.

Why is the medicine not helping?

This impatient question is asked to dermatologists and cosmetologists by many patients after several weeks of treatment with the recommended drug. Doctors usually explain that there are several reasons why a drug is ineffective:

the medicine was taken constantly and in the indicated dosage;
the use corresponded to the instructions attached to the drug;
if it was used only in the place where acne appeared;
when using the medicine, all hygiene rules were observed.

If the comedones on the nose or in another part of the face have not disappeared a week after starting the drug, this is quite natural. At the first stage, the medicine prevents the occurrence of new acne. The old ones disappear on their own, but this takes time, at least a month. It is advisable to change drugs only if an allergic reaction occurs.

How effective this or that medicine can be evaluated no earlier than two months later. You can not take two drugs at the same time, as it is difficult to understand which of them brings real benefits. And we can talk about the ineffectiveness of treatment only after two months, when it becomes clear that there is no improvement, new foci of acne appear. In this case, you need to contact your doctor again.

This must be remembered constantly and throughout the course of treatment with medicines, cosmetics or folk remedies, adhere to the following simple recommendations.

Daily use facial cleansers (milk, tonic, lotion), weekly - scrubs or gommage.
Self-extrusion of comedones is strictly prohibited, which in 95% of cases leads to their inflammation, which has to be treated with antibiotics.
Choosing the right line of cosmetics for skin care.
Do not leave makeup on your face overnight.
Limit the amount of fatty, fried, spicy, pickled, salty, sweet, flour foods in your diet.
Stop taking long-term medications.
It is useless to fight comedones if you smoke a lot or abuse alcohol. It's time to say goodbye to bad habits with problem skin.
Try to be less affected by stressful situations.
Treat existing stomach diseases.
Move to an area with a more favorable environmental situation.

All these measures are not only an effective fight against comedones, but also the prevention of this cosmetic defect. Not only will it change your life, but it is necessary if you want to look stunning.

Comedones are one of the manifestations of acne. Despite the use of numerous remedies for acne and acne in the beauty industry, the number of people suffering from the disease is increasing every day. According to statistics, in 90% of adolescents and 25% of the adult population, the skin is affected by this unpleasant cosmetic defect.

What are comedones?

Comedones on the face at first seem like a mere trifle. “You will outgrow,” parents brush off children’s complaints about acne, which generously “decorate” the forehead and nose of a teenager. But this is a typical mistake that adults make. After all, comedones, if they are not treated, from a cosmetic problem quickly and confidently develop into a medical one. These formations are clots of sebum that accumulate in the hair follicles. Comedones are even called a type of cyst, often their appearance is provoked by dirt and fat.

In a word, on the epidermis of each person there are pores through which he breathes. When they become clogged, the process is disrupted - comedones appear. These are the consequences of contamination of the skin ducts with fat, dead cells of the epidermis, dust, which form a plug that interferes with the normal functioning of the follicle. Stagnant fat becomes fertile ground for the emergence of microbes and toxins. This trio turns into a viscous substance. When there is not enough space for it in the hair follicle, it comes out and forms a comedone.

Causes

There are enough of them. Firstly, if acne appears on the skin of the face, most likely you have a genetic predisposition to this disease. If parents had juvenile acne, then children usually suffer as well.

Secondly, oily skin, which requires special care, is also to blame. When you choose the wrong cosmetics, then the problem, as they say, is obvious. Trouble also pops up if a person has an increased level of testosterone. Therefore, a young man or a man with oily skin is the first at risk. Very often, pregnant and lactating women, ladies experiencing menopause, complain of comedones. This means that the cause of their appearance is also an altered hormonal background.

Thirdly, disturbances in the work of the intestines also lead to acne. In this case, you need to carefully study the diet, exclude fatty and smoked foods, muffins and pastries, alcohol and caffeine from it. These products most often create problems with the digestive tract. Fourth, the use of decorative cosmetics is another common cause of comedones. If it is of poor quality or simply does not suit your skin type, you are not immune from acne.

Other factors

We have named the most common causes of the appearance of hated comedones. It remains to add a few more factors that can provoke the appearance of acne and blackheads on the skin:

Individual physiological features of the epidermis, for example, small pore diameter.
Disorder of the functions of the endocrine system: diabetes mellitus, disorders of the sex glands, hyper- or hypothyroidism.
Diseases of the nervous system, as well as frequent stress, neurosis, depression, sleep disturbances.
Taking medications, especially hormonal drugs.
Bad habits: regular drinking, smoking.
Poor ecology, polluted atmosphere, high content of heavy metal ions and chemicals in the air.

Comedones on the face can appear for a short time and after prolonged exposure to the sun. Therefore, before and after visiting the beach, it is imperative to apply a protective cream.

Comedones: main types

In order to know how to get rid of comedones, you first need to determine their type. Cosmetologists distinguish between two types of acne:

Open. They look like common blackheads - black dots on the nose, cheeks, forehead. When the sebum accumulated in the follicles mixes with dirt and dead cells of the epidermis, its upper layer is oxidized under the influence of oxygen. The fatty substance that has come out changes color, turning into painfully familiar dark formations on the face. Open eels are the least dangerous type.
Closed comedones. These are the same pimples. They look like knots or balls that rise above the surface of the epidermis. They differ from acne in that they remain under the skin, not having an exit to the outside. And this situation is already more serious, since closed acne is an ideal place for the reproduction of fungal infections, staphylococci. The skin around them becomes inflamed, purulent formations appear, which not only look unaesthetic, but are also terribly painful. Subsequently, they can provoke the appearance of abscesses and boils, scars and uneven skin.

Whatever the comedones, they must be treated. To do this, you should contact a dermatologist and a cosmetologist.

Treatment

The first thing the specialist will advise is regular washing with warm water. Twice a day, it should be mixed with a germicidal soap or foam. After this procedure, be sure to wipe the skin with a cotton swab dipped in a lotion that does not contain alcohol - this way you will avoid overdrying the epidermis. If after that you still continue to suffer from comedones, the treatment can be supplemented with salicylic acid. She needs to wipe the affected areas of the skin: the substance perfectly softens the sebaceous plugs, works like a scrub, removing dead skin cells.

Gels and lotions of the lines "Cetafil", "Clerasil Ultra", "Sebium" and others have a good effect. They have antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. If the situation is deplorable, the doctor prescribes antibiotics or hormonal drugs. Since these drugs have many side effects, their use occurs only under the supervision of a specialist. The patient may be recommended a diet with a reduced content of sweet, starchy and fatty foods. But the use of large quantities of fish and poultry, vegetables and fruits, milk and cereals will only benefit.

Folk remedies

Having found comedones, treatment should be started immediately, otherwise skin problems can become widespread. Traditional medicine also helps in this, which has several effective and beneficial masks for the skin:

Protein. Beat a tablespoon of sugar with the protein of one egg and apply to the face, patting with your fingers. The mask deeply cleanses the skin, pulling out all kinds of impurities from the pores.
Soda. Take 4 grams of soda and salt, mix them and drip a few drops of water. With the resulting mass, treat the skin with comedones, rubbing it over the entire surface. Instead of salt, you can add crushed oatmeal.
Rice. Pour 0.3 liters of boiling water over 50 g of rice. You insist all night. In the morning, drain the water and mash the rice to a puree state. Apply the paste, hold for 20 minutes and rinse off. An alternative to water will be kefir, which dissolves fat with a bang.

Now you know how to get rid of comedones with the help of improvised means. Actively use masks not only for the treatment of acne and blackheads, but also for preventive purposes. It is better to prevent the problem than to spend a lot of effort and money to eliminate it later.

Prevention

It is a very important weapon that will minimize the appearance of blackheads. There are a number of remedies that "do not tolerate" comedones. Reviews of professional cosmetologists and ordinary people say that the most effective is an ordinary scrub - it should be applied once a week. Helps and observance of elementary rules of personal hygiene, regular moisturizing of the face with the help of creams and gels. Once a month, you can visit a beauty salon for mechanical cleaning of the epidermis - a procedure performed by a specialist.

If the skin is porous and oily, you can use antibacterial and tonic lotions, but not alcohol ones. It is desirable that they be made on the basis of extracts of green tea, aloe, juniper, chamomile, and pine needles. Essential oils are also recommended: lemon, clove, eucalyptus, menthol, cedar, tea tree. They prevent the appearance of inflammatory processes and well remove existing foci.

Can comedones be squeezed out?

A very popular question of people suffering from this cosmetic defect. Any cosmetologist will tell you that only an experienced specialist can remove comedones. Doing the procedure yourself, you run the risk of "decorating" your face with scars and scars - it will be much more difficult to remove them than ordinary acne. If comedones suddenly popped up before an important meeting and you don’t have time to see a professional, use lemon juice and hydrogen peroxide. Wipe the skin with a cotton swab dipped in liquid - this will discolor the formations, make them less noticeable.

When comedones on the face do not form whole placers, but are single, they can be squeezed out. That's just at the same time it is necessary to observe the rules of hygiene as much as possible so as not to bring the infection into the resulting wound. First, wash your hands, cleanse your face and steam it over a bowl of herbal infusion. Secondly, after the procedure, disinfect the skin with lotion and wash with cool boiled water. Third, apply a soothing mask. For the next two days, eliminate the use of decorative cosmetics and alcohol-based face care products. Be healthy and beautiful!

- small skin cysts formed due to accumulation or blockage of the mouths of hair follicles with sebum and desquamated cells. Comedones can appear as whitish nodules (whiteheads, closed comedones) or blackheads (blackheads, open comedones). They often occur on oily and porous skin. Diagnosis and elimination of the causes of comedones formation is carried out by dermatologists, endocrinologists, gastroenterologists. Competent and regular hygienic skin care, cosmetic procedures (skin cleansing, chemical and mechanical peeling, etc.) are important in solving the problem.

General information

Comedones are a symptom of some skin diseases, as well as diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, liver and endocrine disorders. Sebum, dirt and desquamated cells of the epidermis clog pores, resulting in the formation of comedonal nodules. Comedones occur in all age groups, but in adolescents during puberty and in women, especially with hormonal changes (menstrual irregularities, pregnancy, menopause), comedones are more common. Comedones of varying degrees of manifestations occur in 85% in the age group from 12 to 24 years. At a more mature age, due to the natural decrease in sebum formation, comedones are diagnosed less frequently.

Causes of comedones

The main cause of comedones is the accumulation of sebum at the mouth of the hair follicle, which is clogged with a plug of skin cells and dust particles. That is, sebum cannot be evacuated from the follicle on its own and gradually accumulates in it. Toxins, which must be excreted through the skin pores, interact with sebum, resulting in a thick sticky mass. Outwardly, the comedone becomes noticeable when sebum, mixed with toxins and bacteria, partially exits through the narrowed mouth of the follicle and acquires a dark shade under the action of oxygen.

The main cause of comedones is improper skin care of the face and body. The use of fat-based cosmetics, the use of make-up and the habit of going to bed without washing, leads to the accumulation of dead cells, hardened sebum, dust, bacteria and salt crystals (from sweat) on the skin of the face. If the skin of the face is prone to oiliness, then one or more of the above factors is sufficient for the formation of comedones. Genetic predisposition is also one of the causes of comedones, since women whose close relatives had, or have comedones on the skin of the face, have a higher incidence rate.

An increased level of testosterone, especially in people prone to acne, stimulates the activity of the sebaceous glands, in addition, the epithelial cells lining the opening of the hair follicle do not fall off in time, which causes first a narrowing of the duct, and then its complete blockage, after which a comedone is formed. In rare cases, taking certain drugs as a side effect may be accompanied by the appearance of comedones, which disappear on their own after the drug is discontinued.

In stressful situations, the composition of sebum also changes, and during stress, people pay less attention to hygiene and facial care, which indirectly leads to the formation of comedones. After the restoration of a normal lifestyle and with proper skin care, the comedones that arose for this reason disappear on their own. Humid climate and air pollution contribute to the accumulation of dirt microparticles on the skin and provoke the formation of comedones.

Clinical manifestations of comedones

The first signs of comedones, when there are no manifestations on the skin, are coarsening of the skin and enlargement of the pores. Oily skin, but prone to peeling, is also a clinical manifestation that precedes comedones. The color of the skin becomes unhealthy, with a gray, sometimes greenish tinge. Cosmetics do not hold well, as they “drain” from the skin due to its increased fat content. At this stage, therapy is most effective, since there are no comedonal nodules yet or they are at the stage when the mouth of the follicle is completely closed. Part of the fat can still be evacuated from the follicle, but some of it remains inside, so small bumps can be seen on the skin, which are well felt when stroking areas of the face with a large number of sebaceous glands (T-zone of the face and chin).

In the future, open comedones appear, which outwardly resemble a nodule with a black dot due to the oxidation of the surface part of the sebum. Closed comedones are located under the skin, and therefore, not being able to evacuate the contents, they often become inflamed. Outwardly, they look like pink or red tubercles with unchanged or inflamed skin on top.

Independent removal of comedones leads to the formation of scars, the addition of a secondary infection of a purulent nature with the development of pyoderma. Therefore, on the skin of patients there are both unopened comedones and a pustular rash, sometimes there are serous and bloody crusts at the site of squeezed comedones.

Diagnosis and treatment of comedones

The diagnosis is made on the basis of visual examination and questioning of patients. There are almost always comorbidities of the gastrointestinal tract and endocrine disorders. Therefore, patients with comedones are advised to consult a gastroenterologist and endocrinologist.

Treatment of comedones should be comprehensive. It is necessary to carry out therapy, and if it is impossible, to correct the underlying disease. Cosmetic procedures aimed at normalizing the production of fat and exfoliating dead cells help to heal the skin and return it to its normal state. It is necessary to be more attentive to personal hygiene, wash with detergents no more than 2 times a day, touch the skin of the face as rarely as possible with your hands and prevent hair from falling on your face.

Peeling with fruit acids and microdermabrasion remove the top layer of dead cells. After that, it is recommended to apply cosmetic drugs with anti-comedogenic properties to the face. The inflamed areas are wiped with a salicylic solution and antibacterial gels are applied. It is mandatory to take vitamin complexes and follow a hypoallergenic diet with the exception of fatty and sweet foods. When a secondary infection is attached, antibiotics are indicated.

What are comedones on the face? The very word "comedones" comes from the Latin language, and literally it is translated as "gluttons". However, the modern meaning of the word, if it has anything to do with overeating, is indirect. But more on that later.

Comedones on the face are a cosmetic defect, a skin disease associated with the skin. As a rule, they do not pose a direct health hazard, but they spoil the appearance, sometimes very seriously.

Therefore, so many are wondering how to treat comedones. We will talk about this in this article.

What are comedones on the face?

Comedones are essentially the same as acne or acne. The mechanism of their formation has long been known.

The glands around the hair follicles produce sebum, whose task is to remove dead skin flakes and other dirt from the skin pores. However, sometimes the glands begin to work excessively intensively, and then sebum accumulates in the pores and clogs them.

Most often, comedones are located on some areas of the face: on the wings of the nose, on the chin and forehead. However, they can appear on any part of the face, on the neck, shoulders, upper back, and sometimes on the chest.

For the most part, they are not dangerous to health, but a person with such a violation looks unpleasant. This can affect the personal life and mental state of a person: there are complexes, self-doubt, sometimes even depression.

The temptation to simply squeeze out the comedone is great, especially since this is quite easy to do. However, as a result, there is a risk of introducing an infection into the resulting wound.

As a result, new ones may appear at the site of the squeezed out pimple, or other types of inflammation may develop.

2 types of comedones

Comedones are divided into two types:

open;
closed.

They differ, first of all, in the way of formation and, as a result, in appearance.

Open comedones look like black dots on the skin. They are called open because the dirt accumulated in the pores is in direct contact with the air.

By the way, the black color of the point is explained by the same contact: the secret of the sebaceous glands is oxidized and acquires such a color.

Such formations on the face are much more common than closed comedones, but they cause any complications much less frequently.

Closed comedones develop where the exit from the pores of the skin is blocked for some reason.

Sebum accumulates in the cavity under the skin. Outwardly, they look like a tubercle on the skin with a white head.

In this case, the sebum does not come into contact with oxygen and is not oxidized.

In the mass that has accumulated under the skin, bacteria can begin to develop, which leads to inflammation. That is why closed comedones often cause various complications.

7 causes of the problem

Without eliminating the cause, often, the treatment of comedones is ineffective. And, it is possible to remove the inflammation here and now, but the problem will arise again and again.

Therefore, before proceeding with treatment, it is necessary to understand why exactly you have comedones.

The causes of this disease can be very diverse:

Heredity.
Wrong nutrition.
Wrong skin care.
Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.
Hormonal disorders.
Taking certain medications.
Constant stress.

Of all the causes, only the first one is irremovable - heredity. If parents suffered from comedones, then children are likely to face this problem. In this case, you can only pay more attention to prevention.

Teenagers, women during pregnancy and menopause are more likely to experience hormonal disorders.

There are also various diseases that cause disturbances in the functioning of the endocrine glands.

By the way, some medications can cause the same violations. In this case, you need to discuss with the doctors a change in the course of treatment.

If the cause is diseases, then before getting rid of comedones, you need to treat the disease-cause.

Question answer

If they appear, then there are some problems. It can be not only pathologies, but also banal improper care. that is why it is worth starting to take better care of the skin, the only way to improve the situation.
And on their own, comedones are unlikely to pass.

All methods have their own advantages. But laser, ultrasonic cleaning, chemical peels can boast of special popularity.

Treatment

There are several ways to treat comedones:

various facial cleansing;
drug treatment;
therapeutic cosmetics;
ethnoscience.

Facial cleansing (5 procedures)

As already mentioned, it is impossible to squeeze out comedones on your own because of the danger of infection. However, in this regard, it is completely safe, as it is performed under sterile conditions and not with hands, but with special tools.

First, the client's face is steamed, and then the pores are cleaned from black dots and closed comedones with a special spatula.

However, this procedure is quite painful. Now there are many much more effective and more comfortable methods.

There are also such salon cleanings:

Option	Photo	essence
ultrasonic cleaning		Ultrasound exfoliate the upper layers of the skin, cleanses them and stimulates the process cell regeneration. This procedure is effective. and not so painful like mechanical cleaning.
vacuum cleaning		A special apparatus creates vacuum area inside a special tube. They drive it over the skin of the face, and sebaceous plugs are absorbed inside the device. However, such method is less efficient than ultrasonic cleaning.
		It is considered the most efficient and therefore the most popular. She painlessly removes not only comedones, but also dead ones skin cells, which prevents emergence of new formations.
Vaporization		One of the latest developments. This technique uses tight fine jets of water for cleansing skin from open comedones.
Peeling		Common and chemical facial cleansing - peeling with fruit acids. They dissolve dead skin flakes and sebum plugs.

Whichever way you choose to cleanse your face, you will inevitably encounter side effects: redness of the skin and slight swelling. They will disappear within a day after the procedure.

However, this must be taken into account when choosing the time for the procedure, so that you do not have to appear in public in this form.

Medications

Any medication is a strong enough remedy. Yes, they are effective, however, you should not use them without a prescription. The skin can be severely damaged.

For the treatment of comedones, the following drugs are used:

Ichthyol ointment: you need to lubricate the comedones with it before going to bed. It is inexpensive and yet quite effective. However, the unpleasant smell repels many from its use.
: Sold in powder. It must be diluted with boiling water to a creamy consistency and lubricate comedones with it and hold for about 15 minutes.
Lactic acid: it is diluted with boiled water in equal proportions, cotton pads are moistened in this mixture and applied to problem areas.
Salicylic acid: used in the same way as lactic acid.
A whole layer of ointments, such as retinoic, zinc, Skinoren, Differin and others.
In particularly difficult cases, antibiotic ointments may be required.

Cosmetic products

These drugs are somewhat less effective than medications, but they can be used without medical supervision. In addition, they have fewer side effects and unpleasant consequences.

Blue clay has a pronounced disinfecting and cleansing property. Masks based on it perfectly help to cope with comedones and other inflammations on the face. At the same time, the cost of one bag of clay is not high - about 20 rubles.

You can also use cosmetic products with the addition of essential oils, such as tea tree oil. However, you should not use ethers in their pure form, you can get a serious chemical burn.

There are also more expensive cosmetics. Various lotions and tonics from well-known companies. The cost of such medical cosmetics starts about a thousand rubles per package.

Among them are the following tools:

lotion Holy Land;
drops with an extract to soften comedones from Tapuach;
AHA cream by Exfoliac.

The main thing in the use of cosmetics from comedones is regularity.

Traditional medicine (5 best recipes)

A full-fledged treatment using alternative methods is impossible, but it is quite allowed to support and supplement the treatment with masks and lotions made from natural ingredients.

The main thing here, as in the case of treatment with cosmetic products, is regularity. Otherwise, they simply won't work. Here are some effective recipes:

One of the most effective folk methods is a protein mask. Egg white is mixed with sugar. The mixture is divided into 2 parts. The first is applied to the face and left to dry. This usually takes about 3 minutes. Then, over the dried mask, you need to apply the rest of the mixture with soft driving movements and leave for another 10 minutes. After that, the mask must be washed off.
Another great remedy is a chamomile mask. To prepare it, you need 2 tablespoons of pharmaceutical chamomile flowers. They need to be poured with boiling water so that a thick slurry is obtained. Add 2 drops of lemon juice and a teaspoon of rye flour to it. Mix everything well and apply on problem areas for 15 minutes.
A mask of soda and oatmeal is a very effective remedy. For its preparation, 5 grams of soda and 15 grams of oatmeal ground into flour are required. They are mixed together and 10 ml of water are added. The composition is applied to the skin for 10 minutes, after which it is washed off with warm water.

All masks should be done once a week, more often it is not worth it, it can damage the skin. But you can combine several types of masks.

Good remedies for comedones are also tonics based on natural materials. For example, a tonic made from lemon juice or grapefruit.

A spoonful of lemon juice for making a tonic is diluted with a quarter glass of water, and for a grapefruit tonic you need a glass of water per spoonful of juice. With this composition, you need to wipe the comedones twice a day.

Prevention of comedones

If you are at risk or have experienced comedones before, it makes sense to pay attention to preventive measures:

Advice	Picture
Daily facial cleansing with lotions and tunics, to prevent clogging pore cleansing dead skin and cosmetics.
Don't go to bed with makeup on on the face.
Pay special attention to the selection cosmetic line, it should match the skin type and be quality.
Adjust your diet: reduce consumption of fatty and sugary foods, baking, salty and spicy food.
Give up bad habits: smoking and alcohol abuse.
Avoid stressful situations.

Compliance with these measures will help to make the face clean and fresh, and in general will positively affect the health of the body.

Expert opinion

Michelle Ellern

practicing cosmetologist-dermatologist

The first thing to do when comedones appear is to undergo an examination. If there are no health problems, then you should devote more time to skin care. In such a situation, a beautician can help. I would advise you to pay attention to laser resurfacing or ultrasonic cleaning.

Comedones often adversely affect the psychological state of a person. They become an additional source of stress and complexes. And this not only worsens the quality of life, but also provokes the development of new comedones. There is a risk of falling into a real vicious circle.

Blackheads on the skin are a type of acne that occurs in clogged skin pores.

Plug for the opening of the pore - a mixture of thickened secretion of the sebaceous gland, dead epithelial cells and dirt. Initially, there is no inflammatory process in these formations, but without proper care, infection and complications will appear.

In no case should you try to cleanse the skin of comedones on your own - an infection penetrates into the open pore. In addition, pressure on the skin around the acne with fingernails or fingertips causes the pore to expand and deform even more, becoming even more dirty.

The appearance of comedones is a sign of malfunctions in the body, or a signal of improper facial care.

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Closed comedones

The accumulation of sebum occurs inside the skin, a bump appears, which eventually begins to become inflamed and leads to severe infection. Closed comedones are also called whiteheads or millet, they cannot be squeezed out, the treatment is complex, sometimes even medication.

open comedones

More commonly referred to as blackheads. There is a gradual accumulation of sebum, which does not come out naturally due to blockage of the pore with a clot of dirt and dead cells. This type of comedones is easier to treat. Prevention of open comedones - the implementation of personal hygiene rules and regular cleansing procedures.

Symptoms of comedones

Comedones are small black dots and are more common in teenagers.

Signs of comedones include:

dull skin;
enlarged pores;
roughness of the skin.

To establish an accurate diagnosis, contact a dermatologist who will conduct an external examination, prescribe a series of tests and select the appropriate treatment.

How to get rid of comedones

As a rule, comedones are accompanied by concomitant endocrine diseases and diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. Complex treatment - therapy of concomitant diseases that caused the appearance of comedones.

Patients need to regularly do cosmetic procedures to exfoliate dead cells and release sebum. Skin care should be regular and thorough. Wash your face with a cleanser twice a day, touch your face skin with your hands as little as possible, make sure that your skin does not touch your hair.

To remove the layer of dead cells, peels with fruit acids and microdermabrasion are done. After this procedure, apply a remedy to prevent the development of comedones on your face. If some areas of the skin are inflamed, treatment with salicylic acid solution and antimicrobial gel is required.

Which doctors to contact for comedones

Treatment of comedones

Before treating comedones, you need to consult a dermatologist, gastroenterologist and endocrinologist. If there are diseases, then appropriate treatment will be needed first. As a rule, after eliminating the identified cause, comedones will disappear on their own.

Effective treatment of comedones includes the following components:

elimination of excess sebum;
the use of skin products;
regular peeling of the skin.

In addition, dermatologists use topical and oral antibiotics, as well as oral contraceptives for women, to treat comedones.

Skin cleansing

It is important to learn how to cleanse your skin properly. The skin needs systematic cleansing. Also, do not forget about dead skin cells, which affect the blockage of pores and the formation of comedones.

Peelings, scrubs and cosmetic exfoliators are used in the treatment, which are aimed at removing the upper, dead skin layer, which will ensure that closed blackheads come out on their own to the surface of the skin. However, this approach is effective when the number of comedones is small.

Manual cleaning

Manual cleaning is a lengthy process. The cleansed skin of the face is pre-steamed and then acne is squeezed out in turn with fingers wrapped in sterile napkins. Then the beautician wipes the skin with a special disinfectant lotion, and at the end of the procedure makes a tightening and soothing mask.

vacuum cleaning

A vacuum pore cleaner draws out accumulated secrets from the sebaceous glands, like a small vacuum cleaner. The cleaning procedure is divided into stages. First, impurities and cosmetics are removed with cleansing agents. Then the skin is irrigated with steam to open the pores. Then they do a deincrustation procedure by electrophoresis, during which the secret from the sebaceous glands is liquefied, keratinized cells are partially removed that block the exits from the ducts.

When the skin is prepared, it is exposed to the vacuum cleaning apparatus. Within 15-20 minutes, the skin is massaged with a vacuum cleaner that draws the contents from the pores. After the procedure, a mask is applied to the cleaned areas, which narrows the open pores so that the infection does not get through them and moisturize the skin. The complex of procedures takes 1-1.5 hours.

Vacuum cleaning affects the skin much more gently than the hands of a beautician, the procedure is often compared to a relaxing massage. This cleaning method is painless, after it there are no marks on the skin in the form of abrasions, but the force with which the contents of the pores are drawn out is sometimes not enough with narrow ducts. In these cases, the procedure is supplemented with manual cleaning.

fruit acids

Chemical cleansing of the face with the help of AHA - fruit acids - a relatively new technique. The mask will help open the pores and thus replace the steam bath. Then a composition is applied to the face that warms the skin, and also softens and even partially dissolves fat rods. The treatment ends with a soothing mask with a pore-tightening effect.

Pros: the cleaning method is officially recognized as non-traumatic; the recovery period is reduced to a minimum. Since fruit acids stimulate cell renewal, the skin looks fresh after this cleansing. Cons: it is impossible to remove 100% of blackheads with fruit acids; Sensitive skin is sometimes irritated.

Ionization

Desincrustation, or ionization of the skin with a mask or lotion, depending on the condition of the skin. A special preparation, which is applied to the areas affected by acne, contains anti-inflammatory, wound healing and other components, the effect of which is enhanced by the action of galvanic current. At the same time, the contents of the pores are liquefied and drawn out. Pros: non-traumatic and painless. Cons: to achieve the result, the procedure is repeated several times. And this pleasure is not cheap.

Removal of comedones

When it comes to large comedones, the doctor prescribes removal. This procedure is carried out through the following methods:

In addition, Ayurvedic methods of treatment, in which essential oils are used, have become widespread. Essential oils are used to make creams for home use and other skin care products.

A table of comedogenicity of natural oils has been developed. In this list, oils received an index (0-5), which indicates the level of comedogenicity. So, at zero value, the oil does not clog pores, but the higher the indicator, the more it happens.

Folk remedies for the treatment of comedones

In the treatment of comedones, folk remedies help. However, the use of a particular prescription is best agreed with a dermatologist.

Rice Purifying Mask

For the evening, prepare 50 g of rice and rinse, then pour a glass of water. In the morning, strain and mash the rice. The mask is applied to a pre-cleansed face with a thick layer.

Grapefruit mask

Grind 2 tablespoons of oatmeal and mix with a glass of grapefruit juice diluted with water 1 to 10. Wipe the affected areas with a mask for two minutes and rinse, then apply a daily light cream.

Tomato mask

We take a ripe tomato, squeeze out the juice and mix with a tablespoon of oatmeal and grated egg yolk. We apply a mask based on the mixture on the problematic part of the skin for half an hour. Then rinse off and apply moisturizer.

White clay mask

To prepare this mask, you will need magnesia, boric acid powder, rice starch, white clay and burnt alum. Take the ingredients by a teaspoon, mix and add a three percent hydrogen peroxide solution. You need to keep the mask for half an hour, then wash your face and apply the cream.

Mask based on kefir

Apply kefir to the affected areas of the skin and wash off after 20 minutes, after which the skin moisturizes. Kefir helps open pores and dissolve fat.

Citrus mask

We dilute lemon juice with water in a ratio of 1 to 3, wipe the skin with the resulting liquid in the morning.

Vitamin mask

Grate carrots, cucumber and zucchini, then add lemon juice or olive oil to them. After cleansing the skin, apply a mask from the mixture obtained on the face and hold for 20 minutes.

Scrub with salt and soda

Salt and soda take 4 g each and mix, slightly dilute with water. Next, apply to the affected areas, but not three. Hold for 10 minutes and wash off. The procedure should not be done more than once a week.

Egg scrub

Beat an egg with a glass of sugar and two teaspoons of lemon juice and aloe vera juice. Shake and apply on the face. Keep for 15 minutes and wash off.

Cosmetics for comedones

When choosing cosmetics for problem skin, pay attention to special products, which include:

zinc;
salicylic acid;
ammonium lactate;
retinol;
vitamins A and E;
sulfur;
skinoren;
essential oils;
plant extracts.

These products will cleanse the skin and relieve or prevent inflammation. In addition, micellar water (“Exfoliac”), special gels or lotions are used for washing:

"Cleanans";
"Clerasil Ultra";
"Cetafil";
"Sebium".

No less effective in cleansing oily skin will be tonics and lotions (non-alcoholic) containing essential oils:

lemon
menthol;
eucalyptus;
tea tree;
plant extracts of aloe;
chamomile;
calendula;
green tea;
witch hazel.

Cosmetic brands offer special "anti-comedone" lines:

"Clean Line" at Garnier;
"Pure Zone" at L'Oreal;
"Visibly Clear" by Neutrogena;
"Normaderm" by Vichy.

To cleanse the skin in the nose area, special strips are used.

Causes of comedones

Dermatologists identify the following causes of comedones:

hormonal changes during puberty;
pregnancy and menopause;
endocrine diseases;
diseases of the gastrointestinal tract;
unbalanced diet, in the absence of essential vitamins;
uncontrolled medication;
alcohol and smoking abuse;
improper selection of cosmetics, causing allergic reactions;
heredity.

Doctors also note that stressful situations and emotional overload can negatively affect the condition of the skin and cause comedones.

Foods that cause comedones

Dermatologists have long proven the relationship between skin health and diet. Among the products that negatively affect the quality of the skin, coffee occupies the first place. Owners of problem skin are also advised to stop using:

fast food;
flour;
sweet;
alcohol.

It is important for women to remember that the problem of rashes is easier to prevent than to cure. If you want to look good, watch your health: follow the daily routine and give preference to healthy food.

Prevention of comedones

Use only properly selected cosmetics. So, for example, with oily skin, you can not use dense and oily creams or abuse oil-based cosmetics.

Choose products for daily care that reduce sebum production, narrow pores, exfoliate dead cells, and prevent the development of inflammation.

Thoroughly cleanse the skin. For oily and combination skin, it is recommended to wash with warm water without the use of soap and alcohol-based cleansers, which dry the skin and stimulate the production of sebum.

Regularly use soft scrubs and exfoliants to remove keratinized dead epithelium particles, as well as clay and film masks to cleanse pores.

Touch your face as little as possible with your hands, while in places with polluted air - cover your face with a scarf, bandages or other items of clothing.

Questions and answers on the topic "Comedones"

Question:Hello. My question is: in certain lighting, my skin seems clean, but if you look in bright daylight, you can see a lot of small colorless tubercles. When washing, if you run your fingers over the soaped skin, then small tubercles are felt. What will you advice me? Does skinoren or an analogue of skinonorm help with this problem, or does it only act on acne vulgaris? I also wipe my face with alcohol 2% solution of salicylic acid in the evenings, am I doing it right? What do you recommend for face care?

Answer: Hello. You need to add products with AHA acids (gels, mousses) to your daily care, from professional chemical peels, for example, Jessner, light TCA. Azelaic acid preparations (Skinoren, Azelik) are effective in solving this problem, so it can be applied in the evening after washing. It is better not to use alcohol lotions on the face, as this can lead to increased skin sensitivity and dryness.

Question:Hello. I am 20 years old male. For the past 3 years, the main problem is the forehead, nose, and the most problematic area of the chin on both sides, in general, the t-zone, acne, the so-called flesh-colored closed comedones, are visible when the skin is stretched. How to get rid of them? They provoke inflamed red pimples.

Answer: Hello. First you need to determine the cause of your problem. I recommend taking an analysis for the Demodex mite, a complete blood count, a biochemical blood test. These studies will help clarify the cause, so it will be easier to deal with the problem and give recommendations for facial skin care.

Question:Hello. I have closed comedones, how to deal with this with creams and ointments, there are no inflammations on my face at all, sometimes a pimple, I heard that differin and skinoren can help? Or is there something better?

Answer: Hello. Internal consultation of the doctor of the dermatologist is necessary.