The best The Ordinary products for closed comedones.
The Ordinary for Closed Comedones – This page is just a guide and not of a professional opinion. Always speak to a professional for a diagnosis of Closed Comedones. Should you use any products listed on this page, it is recommended to patch-test first. Never use these products on compromised skin, and always read the instructions on the official page before using them.
Some of The Best The Ordinary Products for Closed Comedones
The Ordinary & Closed Comedones
A simple guide to closed comedones.
- What are closed comedones, and what do they feel and look like?
- Can I squeeze closed comedones?
- What causes closed comedones?
- Where can closed comedones appear?
- Who can get closed comedones?
- How do closed comedones differ from open comedones?
- What are the best products to use for closed comedones?
- How do you prevent closed comedones?
- Can you extract closed comedones?
The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2%
How to use The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2%
- It’s very important to patch-test this product and read the official page.
- Apply a thin layer to cleansed, dry skin avoiding the eye area
- Leave for just a minute and build up to a maximum of 10 minutes
- When rinsing off, take care to avoid the eyes.
- After using the AHA 30% avoid any conflicting products. Use something calming and hydrating.
- Please also check The Ordinary conflicts.
Azelaic Acid
How to use The Ordinary Azelaic Acid
- Patch test this product before using.
- Apply AM and/or PM
- If using it in the morning, please be sure to use an SPF.
- You can use this product alone or after water-based products
- Check conflicting products.
The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10% repairs the uneven tone of the skin and takes care of blemishes. If you have closed comedones, Azelaic acid has anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory properties that clean the bacteria from the pores that cause acne and close comedones. Azelaic Acid increases cell turnover and helps your skin heal more quickly and minimizes scarring.
The Ordinary Glycolic Acid
How to use The Ordinary Glycolic Acid
- Patch test this product
- Apply to cleansed skin with a cotton pad and wipe over your face avoiding the eye area.
- Use preferably in the evening.
- Please always check The Ordinary conflicts
The Ordinary Glycolic Acid (alpha-hydroxy-acid AHA) dissolves the bond between dead skin cells. After applying Glycolic acid, the dead skin cells get wiped off easily. It helps the skin heal faster from closed comedones and penetrates the skin more deeply in comparison to most other AHAs, making it work for closed comedones that mostly affect a larger area of the skin than blackheads & pus-pimples.
The Ordinary Retinoid
How to use The Ordinary Retinoid
- Patch test this product
- Use this in the evening. Apply after water-based products and before heavy creams if using.
- Always check The Ordinary conflicts before using.
Tretinoin & Isotretinoin are the two most effective retinoids prescribed for the treatment of closed comedones. Usually, the treatment begins with topical retinoids. Retinoids are Vitamin A derivatives that improve skin cell turnover.
The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Masque
How to use The Ordinary Salicylic Acid Masque
- Always patch-test this product
- Use this in the evening.
- Apply to the specific areas needed or all to your entire face. Avoid the eye area and take care when rinsing off.
- Leave for no more than 10 minutes.
- Always check The Ordinary conflicts.
Salicylic Acid (BHA) goes deeper into the skin, therefore, can really decrease oil production in pores and gets clear all the dead skin cells that clog up the skin, causing closed comedones.
Closed Comedones
What are closed comedones, and what do they feel and look like?
Closed comedones, also known as whiteheads, are a form of acne. It´s where pores or hair follicles become blocked. Even though they’re called whiteheads, they don’t actually have a head that you can pop. You might be tempted, but it is best not to try to squeeze these. The photo below shows the forehead and hairline.
So if you have a rough, bumpy texture under your skin with no redness but white-to-skin coloured bumps under the skin, then you probably have closed comedones. Many teens will have closed comedones due to hormonal changes.
Can I pop closed comedones?
No! In closed comedones, the follicles get blocked, and the pore opening is closed, therefore, squeezing it like a pus pimple is not possible. What´s trapped inside is beneath the surface of the skin, so it’s not possible to extract what´s inside without cutting the skin. So please do not squeeze these, or you will be left with scarring and possibly cause infection.
What causes closed comedones?
- Hormones
- Skincare products
- Not cleansing correctly and removing all suncream/skincare products
- Haircare products
- Diet
The most prominent cause of closed comedones is using skin care products, moisturizers, lotions, etc., that seal the pores on the topmost layer of the skin, not allowing the skin to breathe. If you find closed comedones around your hairline or forehead, then they’re more than likely a result of a faulty occlusive hair care product like an oil or a gel.
Apart from products, comedones occur due to hormonal changes.
If you have oily skin, you’re at a high risk of having closed comedones. Excess oil blocks your skin pores, and your skin amasses a lot of dead skin cells.
Where can closed comedones appear?
Closed comedones can occur anywhere on the skin. The most common areas are the face, chest, back, and shoulders.
Who gets closed comedones?
Anyone can get closed comedones. If you find you have a lot of them all the time, then you may have a type of acne called Comedonal Acne. Closed comedones are common in teenagers due to the continuous hormonal changes in the body.
How do closed comedones differ from open comedones?
Closed comedones/whiteheads are blocked pores/hair follicles so they are under the skin so their colour is white to skin colour. Open comedones, also known as blackheads, develop when an internal part of the skin gets exposed to air and oxidizes, turning it black.
What are the best The Ordinary products to use for closed comedones? How do you unclog closed comedones?
- Salicylic Acid (look for a facial wash)
- Azelaic Acid
- Retinoids
- AHA 30% + BHA 2%
- Glycolic Acid
- It is always best to speak to a professional if possible
How do I avoid closed comedones?
- Cleanse your skin really well morning and evening
- Never leave any makeup on your skin
- Keep your skincare routine simple
- Look for a cleanser with salicylic acid
- Exfoliate, but be gentle with your skin. Too much exfoliation is not good and can also cause closed comedones.
- Try not to touch your face too much
- Diet plays a part in closed comedones
Can you extract closed comedones?
You cannot squeeze or pick closed comedones. You can talk to a professional about treatment, but it will not stop them from coming back. Prevention is better than cure. Try some of the products above, and look at your lifestyle, diet, and all the different products you are using, including hair products you use that could also be causing your closed comedones.
Tell Us What You Think!
We hope you found The Ordinary & Closed Comedones useful. On that note, we invite you to share your personal experiences using The Ordinary or NIOD for Closed Comedones. Join the conversation and become a part of our community in The Deciem Chat Room.
