What Causes Clogged Pores and Comedones?

One of the most common problems people encounter in skin care is clogged pores. The definition of clogged is when hair follicle pores are filled with debris causing a comedone. At my practice, I see patients dealing with clogged pores and acne every day. Whether you have clogged pores on your nose, chin, forehead, or anywhere else on your skin, this guide will walk you through prevention and treatment strategies, as well as help you identify the different types of clogged pores.

To make sure you only buy the right products for your specific skin type, always look for your Baumann Skin Type Octagon when you shop. Don’t know your skin type octagon number- take the quiz!

Causes of Clogged Pores

Clogged pores are caused when the skin’s natural exfoliation process called desquamation is disrupted.

This disruption can be caused by:

Dry, flaky skin clogging pores

using skin care products with comedogenic ingredients

Pollution, dirt, and debris from the environment

habits such as over exfoliating the skin.

hormone fluctuations

A buildup of sebum or other oils on the face

Using your skin care products in the wrong order

What are comedones?

Comedones are the scientific term for clogged pores. They are very common on the face, especially on the nose and forehead where the skin has an increased amount of sebaceous glands (oil glands).

Clogged pores are more common in oily skin types. However, dry skin types are also at risk for clogged pores. We explain why dry skin causes clogged pores below.

Clogged pores can be caused by comedogenic skin care ingredients, over exfoliating or using the wrong skin care products for your Baumann Skin Type.

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Names and Terms for Clogged Pores

While some technical differences exist between most of the following, there are many names for clogged pores on the chin, cheeks, forehead and nose such as:

blackheads (closed comedones)

whiteheads (open comedones)

milia

acne cysts

Sebum plugs

Congested skin

Sebaceous filaments

White worm pimple is my favorite term that my dermatology patients use. Its so descriptive of how the white pus looks when you squeeze it out of the pore.

What do clogged pores look like?

Clogged pores can be white, pink, brown or black.

Pores with whiteheads are clogged with dead skin cells and oils like sebum.

Blackheads are oxidized dead skin cells. The air causes a chemicals reaction that makes pores look dark.

Antioxidants can block oxidation which prevents the pus in pores from turning black. This is why you will see antioxidants in moisturizer to prevent clogged pores.

clogged pores on nose

Is it OK to squeeze clogged pores?

It is best to have your clogged pores extracted is by a trained medical aesthetician.

If you are dead-set on popping your own pimples, we have a whole blog on how to pop pimples.

If you end up with pimple scabs because you picked at your clogged pores too much, here is our blog on acne scabs.

Will exfoliating clean my pores?

If you are like many of my patients in my dermatology practice, you might believe that exfoliating the skin will help clogged pores.

However, over-exfoliating the skin is actually a cause of clogged pores.

Over exfoliating disrupts the desquamation process, which causes pores to get filled with dead skin cells.

What is the white stuff that comes out of a pimple?

When you squeeze your pores, white pus comes out either in a string, or it will shoot out like a little shotgun shell.

Whiteheads are dead skin cells mixed with sebum and dirt. This white stringy discharge from pores may be smelly if it contains a lot of skin bacteria. Skin bacteria has a distinctive smell.

The stringy pus should be washed off your skin with a cleanser to prevent spreading bacteria to other hair follicles.

Black liquid that comes out of pores is dead skin cells and sebum that have oxidized and turned dark in color.

Why are my pores always clogged?

Pores get blocked when the desquamation process inside the hair follicle is not working properly. This is called dyskeratinization or abnormal follicular keratinization.

The most likely answer to the problem of always having clogged pores is that you don’t have the right cleanser and skin care routine for your skin type. Take The Baumann Skin Type Quiz for free today to find the best products for your skin!

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how pores get clogged with desquamated skin cells

When dyskeratinization occurs, the keratinocytes clump together and clog up the hair follicle.

how pores get clogged

What causes the keratinocytes to clump together and block the hair follicle? Why does dyskeratinization occur?

There are many things that can cause dyskeratinization or the skin cells to cling to each other and clog the hair follicle and pore such as:

Using the wrong skin care products for your skin type

Inflammation

Dehydration

Over-exfoliation

Genetics

Medications

Increase sebum (oil)- depending upon the types of lipids in your sebum

The types of lipids found in sebum (which can be related to diet)

Growth factors like epidermal-derived growth hormone

Low Vitamin A levels

Hair Products and clogged pores

Many hair products that smooth hair and prevent frizz can clog pores. If you are acne prone, avoid using hair products that contain acne causing ingredients such as isopropyl myristate and coconut oil. Wash your face after rinsing off hair conditioners.

The face should be washed thoroughly at night to remove all sweat, dirt, oil, hair products and makeup from the skin.

How to get rid of clogged pores?

Remember – every single product you put on your skin matters. and the order that you use them is important.

To learn how to clear pores read this blog.

The best way to get rid of clogged pores is to prevent them with the right skin care routine. Using the wrong cleanser or moisturizer can cause comedones because it can lead to inflammation and/ or dehydration that are known to cause clogged pores.

Avoid comedogenic ingredients if you have a problem with clogged pores, comedones, and milia.

If you are past the point of prevention, the two best ingredients to clear pores are salicylic acid and retinol- but make sure these are right or your Baumann Skin Type before you use them.

You can find a list of comedogenic cosmeceutical ingredient here at this link.

These are our favorite products to unclog pores:

To prevent and to get rid of comedones use the right skin care products for your Baumann Skin Type!

DQH Can I use salicylic acid first and then vitamin C? It’s easy to create a skincare routine, but knowing how to use it is another thing entirely. In most cases, if you’re not getting the desired skin results, it could be due to the layering of conflicting ingredients. So, is it possible that salicylic acid and vitamin C are such ingredients? Or are these active ingredients the duo that’s been missing from your skincare routine? If you want answers, stick around because today we are going to explain the benefits of salicylic acid and vitamin C and how they can be used in your daily life. What are the benefits of salicylic acid for skin? Salicylic acid is one of the most commonly used beta hydroxy acids and is favored by many people with oily, acne-prone skin. This acid is derived from willow bark, and unlike its water-soluble relatives (called alpha-hydroxy acids), salicylic acid is oil-soluble, which means it can penetrate deeper into the lower layers of the skin. Once it reaches the lower layers, it can help unclog pores of excess sebum, dirt, bacteria, debris, and impurities. This results in clearer skin tones and greater definition. Not only does salicylic acid benefit the underlying layers, but the outer surface of the skin benefits as well. When applied to the skin, salicylic acid removes the buildup of dead skin cells. This is accomplished by breaking the bonds that hold dead cells to the surface. Over time, this can cause the complexion to look dull and prone to acne, blackheads, and other blemishes. If you’d like to learn more about salicylic acid and how it can improve your skin, check out this dedicated blog post from a beauty insider. What are the benefits of vitamin C for skin? Vitamin C is considered one of the most powerful antioxidants, which means it is very effective at fighting free radicals and preventing them from causing further skin damage. Examples of free radicals include pollution, central heating, UV rays and harsh climate. They attack proteins, fats and cell membranes as soon as they come into contact with the skin, causing signs of premature aging such as fine lines and wrinkles as well as hyperpigmentation, flaky patches of skin and loss of elasticity. Many people usually prefer to use vitamin C in their morning routine as this ingredient gives the complexion a radiant glow. You’ll also find that vitamin C can target areas of hyperpigmentation, plumping the skin and reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. The thing about vitamin C is that there are a lot of outdated studies going back to the 1950s that describe vitamin C as an unstable skin component. Thanks to improvements in modern technology, this is no longer the case as all products now contain a stable form of vitamin C. Visit The Beauty Insider to learn more about vitamin C. So please check out our blog post. Can I use salicylic acid first and then vitamin C? Yes, you absolutely can. In fact, it’s thought that using salicylic acid before using vitamin C ensures it penetrates faster and works faster. This is an efficient way to utilize two power sources, and the reason has to do with pH. For example, the skin’s natural pH is about 4.7, making it slightly acidic. Salicylic acid and vitamin C are also both acidic, and you’ll find that vitamin C is absorbed quickly into the skin. Therefore, using salicylic acid beforehand can increase the acidity of the skin and allow vitamin C to penetrate into the skin faster. While this is considered an effective way to combine two powerful ingredients, you need to be aware of your skin type and how it reacts to certain active ingredients. Even people with perfect, normal skin can experience skin sensitivity and irritation. Therefore, always consult a doctor or dermatologist before using any new products on your skin. It’s also important to follow skin application rules. In this case, you need to use the product correctly to ensure you get the best results for your skin. If you’re not sure what I mean, the basic rule for skin is to start with the thinnest consistency and work your way up to the thickest consistency. This prevents a barrier from forming on the surface, preventing other active ingredients from penetrating the skin. Can I use salicylic acid at night and vitamin C in the morning? Yes, absolutely, this is considered the most effective way to get returns without any adverse side effects. This is because there is enough time between applications to ensure that the skin’s pH levels return to balance. You’ll also find that Vitamin C is rich in antioxidants and is perfect for use in the morning to ensure your skin is protected and looking its healthiest. Due to the small size of salicylic acid molecules, it is an acid that is able to reach the deepest parts of the skin. While this is effective at keeping skin clear, it also increases the risk of irritation and photosensitivity. Therefore, many people prefer to use powerful BHAs in their evening routine without exposure to UV rays, pollution, or harsh weather. Warning: If you avoid using sunscreen every day, none of these ingredients will do what your skin needs. The combination of chemical peels and powerful ingredients increases the risk of further damage to the skin’s surface. Use SPF 50 every day to keep your skin protected and your lipid barrier healthy, even on cloudy days, keeping your skin in top condition.

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