If you’re dealing with closed comedones—those stubborn, under-the-skin bumps that never seem to come to a head—welcome to the club. They’re caused by dead skin and oil getting trapped in a hair follicle, and are notoriously annoying to treat. During my acne journey, I’ve formulated a foolproof four-step plan for getting rid of and preventing them in the future:
1. get a facial with extractions (using a lancet!)
Finding an esthetician you trust who does extractions using a lancet isn’t easy. Not all estheticians will use one (and if you’re in a state like California, I’ve been told they actually aren’t allowed to), so you’ll need to do some Googling and potentially call ahead to inquire. The lancet helps open up the pore so the clogged gunk can actually be removed, so it makes a huge (and immediate!) difference.
If you’re in the Raleigh-Durham area, I 100% recommend Lizzie Hanes—she’s a magician when it comes to extractions. This step is all about clearing what’s already clogged, so you can focus on prevention next.
2. Add tretinoin/retinol into your routine
Once the active comedones are cleared, it’s time to keep them from forming again. Tretinoin (if you have a prescription) or retinol (if you're going the over-the-counter route) helps prevent clogging by increasing skin cell turnover, which keeps sebum from building up inside the pore.
My favorite accessible retinol is from Paula’s Choice, but if you want a few other options that are acne-safe, you can check out this post.
3. Exfoliate—yes, even while using retinol
A big misconception is that retinol is an exfoliant. While it does increase skin cell turnover, it doesn’t actually exfoliate those dead skin cells off your skin. That means you still need to exfoliate 1–2 times per week to prevent buildup.
I personally prefer chemical exfoliation because it gets deep into the pores, but you can also gently physically exfoliate now and then. I usually just use a washcloth—it’s free, it works, and it’s gentle enough if your skin can tolerate it. If you’re curious about chemically and physically exfoliating at the same time, check out this genius product from May Lindstrom.
4. Use non-comedogenic skincare only
If you’ve ever dealt with closed comedones, that’s a sign your skin is prone to clogging. So why undo all your progress by using heavy creams or oils that clog your pores again? This is one of the most important parts of prevention.
Switching to non-comedogenic products changed everything for me. You can check out acne-safe moisturizers here.
☆ Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. This means, at no additional cost to you, I may earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. Thanks so much for your support! ☆