Many a times you are worried about few, some or many White heads or Blackheads. Medically these are called Comedones.
Actually, these are a form of Acne (or Pimples).
Mild form of acne contains only comedones with or without some papulopustules.
Comedones are commonly divided into:
1. Microcomedones
- Not visible by naked eye.
- seen under microscope
- all big acne starting point is this.
- i.e. why medicine need to applied on full area rather than apparent spots.
2. Closed (Whiteheads) and Open (Blackheads) comedones
3. Sandpaper Comedones
- very small , almost confluent closed comedones
-mainly on forehead
- difficult to treat;shows delayed response to treatment
- may become red in initial stages of treatment
4. Macrocomedones
- Blackheads/more commonly whiteheads >1mm in size
- may be a cause of slow and poor response to treatment
- can be a cause of flare up during treatment
- gentle cautery is done usually to remove.
5. Missed Comedones
- visualised by stretching the skin with a good light at an angle;
-another cause for applying creams to full area.
TREATMENT:
Comedones are treated in its mild form by topical creams like retinoids , benzoyl peroxide, Salicylic acid etc.
Resistant acne or a rapid response may need oral treatments like antibiotics, retinoids; chemical peels, Radiofrequency/cautery/ mechanical removal of comedones.
A flare up is expected response sometimes in first 4-8 weeks of treatment;
All treatment must be taken under supervision of dermatologist.