As I mentioned earlier, comedonal acne is the most common type of acne and also the mildest form. And probably the easiest to deal with.
We can divide them into two categories:
- whiteheads
- blackheads
Whiteheads and blackheads are both non-inflammatory acne. They form when a sebum build-up, dirt or dead skin cells become trapped in the hair follicles. Blackheads are not black because they are dirty but because the hair follicle is open, and the build-up of oil oxidizes (open comedones). Whiteheads are essentially the same thing, but because the hair follicle is closed and the excess sebum is trapped under the skin, they appear as white bumps (closed comedones).
What causes comedonal acne
Comedones may develop for many reasons:
– excess of the male sex hormone testosterone
– diet (high in dairy, sugar, and fat)
– over-hydrating skin (hormonal, moisturizers or humid air)
– smoking
– in premenstrual women or women with PCOS
– stress
It’s a good idea to look at where on the face comedones appear the most. If they mostly appear on the forehead and around the hairline, the cause might be the hair products you’re using.
If it’s mostly along the chin and jawline, that can indicate that they are hormonal-driven.
Comedones that appear all over the face are probably caused by using unsuitable moisturizers.
Recognizing the cause will help you determine the best way to fight comedones.
Treatments
Because one of the causes of whiteheads and blackheads can be applying too much moisturiser, it’s essential to choose an oil-free one that won’t clog the pores. Also, washing the face twice a day with mild face wash and water should help.
If comedones appear around the hairline, look at the hair products you’re using and try to swap them for oil-free products.
Comedones along the jawline are a bit trickier to get rid of. There might be something in your lifestyle that’s causing hormonal imbalance. Maybe stress or improper sleeping schedule, or even poor diet. Try to work on those things if you feel like they might be the reason for the hormonal balance and if you can’t pinpoint what is causing it, visiting your GP might be a good idea.
It is really essential not to pick or squeeze comedones because it can damage the skin and cause the spreading of comedones or scars. Instead, use products that target comedones and can help with the appearance of blackheads. Going for a facial that will extract blackheads could also be beneficial. Just make sure that the person extracting them is a professional who knows what they’re doing.
As whiteheads usually appear overnight, they will also go away really fast. Just cleaning the face properly and using gentle exfoliants once or twice a week can help get rid of them.
Other topical treatments that are suitable include:
- azelaic acid – can help soothe and exfoliate even the very sensitive skin
- benzoyl peroxide – it can help suppress-acne causing bacteria
- salicylic acid – can help gently exfoliate dead skin
- glycolic acid – can help gently exfoliate dead skin
- retinol – can help speed up cell turnover and prevent formation of blackheads and whiteheads (be very careful with using retinol – you must use spf and good hydration is using retinol to increase tolerability)
