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 Knowledge drop: In your 20s, your skin cell turnover decreases. (Cell turnover is a key component in keeping your skin youthful.) You know what else slows down? Your collagen production. Starting in your 20s, collagen decreases by about 1 percent per year. Should you want to prevent fine lines and wrinkles, start by eliminating behaviors that contribute to premature aging. “If it’s bad for you, it’s bad for your skin,” says dermatologist Michel Somenek.
“Cigarette smoking reduces blood flow to the skin and causes premature wrinkling and a dull skin texture. Making the repeated pursed motion to inhale can also cause smoker’s lines. Alcohol and recreational drugs are toxins for the skin that damage its cellular structure and DNA,” Somenek tells us. “The faster you eliminate vices while you are young, the better chance your skin and body have to recuperate.” Also, adopting an anti-aging routine in your 20s is key. After all, the best offense is a good defense. We spoke to Somenek and experts Joshua Ross and Audrey Kunin to find out more.
Keep reading for the best anti-aging products for your 20s, according to skincare professionals.
Sunscreen
“We all know that the sun is the number one cause of skin aging and starting the prevention in your 20s is very important,” Ross says. “The majority of your sun damage won’t start to appear until you’re in your 30s, so don’t wait until you see it surface or you’ll be behind the curve. Stay ahead of it with a good-quality zinc-based sunscreen worn daily.”
Farmacy Green Defense Daily Mineral Sunscreen
An invisible sunscreen with SPF 30, plus botanical extracts meant to protect skin with tons of antioxidants. Bonus: It’s clean and fine to use under makeup.
Bareminerals Complexion Rescue™ Tinted Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 30
Although we recommend you use your SPF and moisturizer separately, we also understand moments when you don’t have time or energy for that extra step. For those times, this bareMinerals moisturizer is a great thing to have on hand.
Vitamin C Serum
“A great introduction to anti-aging is to start with a vitamin C serum in your morning skincare routine,” Ross says. “It’s a powerful antioxidant that will neutralize free radicals and brighten the skin.” He adds that it’s a great way to counteract the effects of the sun’s harmful rays, which, as previously mentioned, are among the biggest causes of premature aging.
Drunk Elephant C-Firma™ Vitamin C Day Serum
The Drunk Elephant C-Firma is a lightweight serum that promises to give skin a glow by combining the brightening powers of vitamin C with ferulic acid, l-ascorbic acid, and vitamin E. The included sodium hyaluronate is meant to replace hydration loss, so you shouldn’t have to deal with any irritation.
Sunday Riley C.E.O. Rapid Flash Brightening Serum
This potent serum is jam-packed with vitamin C (15 percent, to be exact), which means it’s a potential superstar at both brightening skin and dousing it in antioxidants.
Peptides
Using peptides on your skin has many benefits, says Somenek. “The skin barrier is what defends the body against pollution, UV rays, bacteria, and toxins. It can be damaged by several everyday factors. Using topical peptides aids in building a stronger barrier,” he says. “Peptides comprise elastic fibers, which are a type of protein. These fibers help to make skin appear taut and firm. Peptides can also help repair damaged skin, relieve inflammation, and even out skin tone. Some peptides can kill acne-causing bacteria that is common in 20-somethings.”
Kunin agrees, saying, “Peptides are an excellent entry point for supporting collagen.” She recommends looking for face and eye treatments that contain these collagen-boosting powerhouses.
Charlotte Tilbury Magic Eye Rescue Cream
This Charlotte Tilbury super-emollient eye cream has a base of coconut oil and shea butter (read: it’s incredibly hydrating). Botanicals plus peptides are meant to help reduce dark circles and boost collagen, respectively.
This creamy moisturizer serves up potent collagen-boosting peptides and pycnogenol, and antioxidant-rich vitamin C. “Instead of sitting on top of the skin, peptides penetrate the outer layer so they go deep. The ‘signals’ they send tell the cells to produce elastin and collagen, which are needed for youthful-looking skin,” explains Somenek.
At-Home Peel Pads
Remember that skin cell turnover fiasco we talked about earlier? One way to help support it is by exfoliating. “Exfoliation is important to help keep skin fresh and luminous,” Kunin says. She recommends using at-home peel pads as an easy and effective way to exfoliate.
“The goal in your 20s is to fight the slowing pace of cell turnover. It is wise to use products that gently exfoliate, yet still remove oil and other impurities. Products that have Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHA) or Beta Hydroxy Acids (BHA) are a good choice.”
According to Somenek, you should only exfoliate two to three times a week. “People of all ages are guilty of over-exfoliating and that can be too much of a good thing,” he says.
Dermadoctor Kakadu C Intensive Vitamin C Peel Pad
A few swipes of this Derma Doctor powerful peel pad promise to leave your skin glowing and smooth, thanks to the seven (yes, seven) types of chemical exfoliants, including AHA and BHA. It also contains vitamin C via Kakadu plum extract for added brightening and antioxidant protection.
KEY INGREDIENTS Kakadu plum extract is sourced from the Kakadu plum, a fruit grown in northern Australia. It contains vitamin C, which restores the skin’s natural barrier, increases collagen production, and soothes irritation.
Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta® Universal Daily Peel Pads
These are the gold standard of peel pads, with a cult following and over 900 five-star reviews on Sephora. They’re easy to use and contain a blend of anti-aging exfoliating acids.
Emollient Night Cream
“In your 20s, you need to start upping the hydration in your skincare routine. You may have been cautious of over-moisturizing because of acne in your teens, but as you enter your 20s, your skin transitions and becomes drier,” Ross says. “I recommend an emollient night cream added into your evening skincare regimen.”
“Twenty-somethings need to make sure that they are not using creams that will clog their pores and cause excess oil production,” says Somenek. Opt for non-comedogenic products.
Cerave Skin Renewing Night Cream
One great choice is the CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream, which is a non-comedogenic night cream that leaves skin soft and glowy. It combines the moisturizing powers of ceramides and hyaluronic acid.
RoC Retinol Correxion Max Hydration Creme
“The best night cream ingredients contain retinol, benzoyl peroxide, and/or salicylic acid or hyaluronic acid. The goal is to moisturize, yet remove excess oil,” says Somenek. This Roc Retinol Correxion cream fits the bill as it contains both hyaluronic acid and retinol so it promises to moisturize while also being non-comedogenic.