Medically reviewed by Susan Bard, MD Salicylic acid, alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs), and retinoids can reduce oil and dead skin ...

But it wasn’t until a few years ago that I started experiencing a new kind of acne terror: closed comedones. Closed comedones look totally different to cystic acne; they’re more textural and ...

It’s worth noting that there are two types of comedones: closed and open - both of which are easily distinguishable.

Why trust NBC Select? Blackheads, also known as open comedones, start as sebum plugs, which are collections of oily liquid that help the skin stay lubricated. They clog up pores when they mix with ...

And these differences are important for figuring out the right treatment. 1. Blackheads Blackheads, aka open comedones, get their name from the fact that they appear as a black spec on your skin.