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Acne Treatment

Closed Comedones: How to Get Rid of Skin-Colored Bumps

February 6, 2026 · 9 min read

Those tiny, skin-colored bumps that make your skin look textured and uneven? They're closed comedones—one of the most common yet frustrating forms of acne. They're not red, not painful, but stubbornly persistent. Here's what causes them and exactly how to clear them.

What Are Closed Comedones?

Closed comedones are clogged pores where sebum and dead skin cells are trapped beneath a thin layer of skin. Unlike blackheads (open comedones), the pore opening is covered, so the contents don't oxidize and turn dark—they remain skin-colored or slightly white.

Closed Comedones vs Similar Conditions

  • vs Blackheads: Blackheads are open—you can see the dark plug. Closed comedones are covered by skin.
  • vs Milia: Milia are hard, white keratin cysts that form near eyes. Closed comedones are softer, oilier, on forehead/cheeks/chin.
  • vs Fungal Acne: Fungal acne is itchy and uniform. Closed comedones are not itchy and vary slightly in size.
  • vs Sebaceous Filaments: Filaments are flat, gray dots on the nose. Closed comedones are raised bumps.

Common Causes

1. Comedogenic Products

Heavy moisturizers, foundations, sunscreens, and hair products containing pore-clogging ingredients (coconut oil, mineral oil, certain silicones) are the #1 cause.

2. Lack of Exfoliation

Without regular exfoliation, dead skin cells accumulate and mix with oil, forming plugs in pores. This is why closed comedones are common on the forehead.

3. Hormonal Factors

Androgens increase sebum production, making pores more likely to clog. Hormonal shifts during puberty, menstrual cycles, and stress can trigger comedone formation.

4. Over-Moisturizing

Using too-rich products for your skin type seals dead cells and oil into pores. If your skin is oily, a lightweight gel moisturizer is usually sufficient.

Best Treatments for Closed Comedones

1. Retinoids — The #1 Treatment

Why #1: Retinoids normalize cell turnover, preventing dead cells from clogging pores. They literally reprogram how your skin sheds.

Options: Adapalene 0.1% (OTC Differin) or tretinoin 0.025-0.05% (prescription)

Timeline: 8-12 weeks. Purging (temporary worsening) is normal in weeks 2-6.

2. Salicylic Acid (BHA) 2%

Why it works: Oil-soluble, penetrates into clogged pores and dissolves the sebum plugs from within.

How to use: Leave-on treatment or cleanser. Can use daily. Great as a complement to retinoids.

3. Glycolic Acid (AHA) 5-10%

Why it works: Water-soluble exfoliant that dissolves surface dead cells, smoothing texture and preventing buildup.

How to use: Toner, serum, or pads. Start 2-3x/week, build to daily. Alternate nights with retinoids.

4. Azelaic Acid 10-20%

Why it works: Normalizes keratinization (how skin cells behave in pores), reducing comedone formation. Anti-inflammatory.

How to use: Apply after cleansing. Well-tolerated, can combine with retinoids.

5. Benzoyl Peroxide 2.5%

Why it helps: Prevents closed comedones from becoming inflamed pimples by killing bacteria. Secondary benefit for comedones.

Best as: A short-contact wash (apply, wait 2-3 min, rinse) to minimize irritation.

Sample Routine for Closed Comedones

☀️ Morning

  1. Gentle cleanser (non-comedogenic)
  2. Salicylic acid leave-on treatment
  3. Lightweight gel moisturizer
  4. SPF 30+ (non-comedogenic, avoid heavy sunscreens)

🌙 Night

  1. Oil cleanser (if wearing makeup/SPF)
  2. Gentle water-based cleanser
  3. Retinoid (adapalene or tretinoin)
  4. Lightweight moisturizer

Ingredients to Avoid

If you're prone to closed comedones, check your products for these pore-clogging ingredients:

  • Coconut oil / coconut derivatives
  • Isopropyl myristate
  • Isopropyl palmitate
  • Ethylhexyl palmitate
  • Cocoa butter (in large amounts)
  • Algae extract
  • Carrageenan
  • Sodium lauryl sulfate
  • Acetylated lanolin
  • Heavy dimethicone-based silicones

Understanding Purging

When you start using retinoids or chemical exfoliants, existing closed comedones can surface as active pimples. This is called purging and it's actually a sign the treatment is working.

Purging vs Breaking Out

  • Purging: Happens in areas where you already had comedones. Pimples come and go faster than usual. Lasts 4-6 weeks.
  • Breaking out: Happens in new areas. Pimples last as long as normal. Doesn't improve after 6 weeks. This means the product isn't right for you.

Key Takeaways

  • ✓ Closed comedones are trapped sebum under skin—skin-colored, non-inflamed bumps
  • ✓ Main causes: comedogenic products, lack of exfoliation, hormones, over-moisturizing
  • ✓ Retinoids are the #1 treatment—they normalize how skin cells shed
  • ✓ Salicylic acid and glycolic acid are excellent supporting treatments
  • ✓ Check all products for comedogenic ingredients
  • ✓ Expect 8-12 weeks for results; initial purging is normal
  • ✓ Use lightweight, non-comedogenic products for everything (moisturizer, SPF, makeup)

Track Your Closed Comedone Progress with Pimpl

Closed comedones are subtle—improvements in skin texture are hard to see in the mirror. Pimpl's photo tracking helps you capture texture changes over time with consistent lighting and angles.

  • ✓ Document skin texture improvements with close-up photos
  • ✓ Log products to identify what's causing (or clearing) comedones
  • ✓ Track purging phase vs actual breakouts
  • ✓ See your path from bumpy to smooth skin
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