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Skin concern

Closed comedones

Primary source

Closed comedones: small flesh-colored or whitish bumps that form when a pore is plugged by sebum and dead skin but stays closed under the surface. They are the closed form of comedone and the same underlying process as blackheads. The strongest evidence comes from a 2015 human trial: In a 12-week randomized trial of 80 subjects aged 12 and over with mild-to-moderate acne, a botanical anti-inflammatory OTC skincare regimen produced significantly lower closed-comedone counts than a benzoyl peroxide comparator at week 4 (P<0.001) and week 12 (P=0.006), with fewer inflammatory lesions at week 4 (P=0.016). 3 ingredients have evidence for Closed comedones: Salicylic Acid, Glycolic acid, Lactic Acid.

Whiteheads and closed comedones are the same thing. The studies here counted comedones (open and closed together) or measured closed-comedone reduction.

Where the definition comes from

Source wording

“Hypercornification is an early feature of acne and usually precedes inflammation.” — Cunliffe et al., Dermatology 2003 (PMID 12566800).

Comedogenesis: some aetiological, clinical and therapeutic strategies Dermatology (Cunliffe WJ, Holland DB, Clark SM, Stables GI)

Ingredients at a glance

2015 · 80 people · subjects aged 12+ with mild-to-moderate acne · PMID 26659934

Ingredient Measured outcome Based on Certainty Year
— Skin effect Human trial Moderate 2015
Salicylic Acid Skin effect Human trial Moderate 2023
Glycolic acid, Lactic Acid Skin effect Human trial Low 2015

Studies and results

  1. 1 Salicylic Acid Skin effect
    Efficacy and safety of a facial serum and a mask containing salicylic acid and lipohydroxy acid in acne management: A randomized controlled trial

    In 83 adults with comedones, a serum containing salicylic acid and lipohydroxy acid significantly improved open comedones on the nose, closed comedones on the face, skin pore density, sebum secretion and skin hydration from baseline after 8 weeks; adding a mask improved closed comedones more than the serum alone (-6.56 vs -5.19, p = 0.022).

    Human trial · 2023 · 83 people · adults with comedones (41 serum+mask, 42 serum alone) · Adults in Shanghai with comedones, PIE and PIH, using the serum for 8 weeks. · Both groups used active products; improvements were reported against baseline and between the two active groups. Industry-funded. This is the trial found that counted open and closed comedones separately.

    PMID 36999489

    Read the full finding →
    Source:Efficacy and safety of a facial serum and a mask containing salicylic acid and lipohydroxy acid in acne management: A randomized controlled trial
  2. 2 Glycolic acid Lactic Acid Skin effect
    The effect of physically applied alpha hydroxyl acids on the skin pore and comedone

    In 23 women, a single application of a 4% alpha-hydroxy acid solution combined with negative-pressure physical action significantly reduced whitehead and blackhead counts at 1, 2 and 4 weeks, and reduced pore area and number at week 1, compared with AHA peeling alone.

    Human trial · 2015 · 23 people · healthy women (mean age 30) · Healthy women receiving a single in-clinic application in a randomised split-face design, assessed at 1, 2 and 4 weeks. · The intervention was a single in-clinic chemical peeling plus negative-pressure physical action.

    PMID 26032934

    Read the full finding →
    Source:The effect of physically applied alpha hydroxyl acids on the skin pore and comedone

Study limits

Study conditions and measured outcomes.

  • ev-bumps-closed-comedones-otc-rct Human trial · 2015

    The comparator is an active benzoyl peroxide regimen.

  • Salicylic Acid Human trial · 2023

    Both groups used active products; improvements were reported against baseline and between the two active groups. Industry-funded. This is the trial found that counted open and closed comedones separately.

  • Glycolic acid, Lactic Acid Human trial · 2015

    The intervention was a single in-clinic chemical peeling plus negative-pressure physical action.

Products with a basis for this

12 products · AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution · Effaclar Ultra Concentrated Anti-Acne Serum · 2015 · 80 people · subjects aged 12+ with mild-to-moderate acne · PMID 26659934

Research-backed approaches

These studies measured finished products and whole routines.

  1. 1 Skin effect
    Assessing the Value of Botanical Anti-Inflammatory Agents in an OTC Acne Treatment Regimen

    In a 12-week randomized trial of 80 subjects aged 12 and over with mild-to-moderate acne, a botanical anti-inflammatory OTC skincare regimen produced significantly lower closed-comedone counts than a benzoyl peroxide comparator at week 4 (P<0.001) and week 12 (P=0.006), with fewer inflammatory lesions at week 4 (P=0.016).

    Human trial · 2015 · 80 people · subjects aged 12+ with mild-to-moderate acne · Closed-comedone and inflammatory lesion counts over 12 weeks. · The comparator is an active benzoyl peroxide regimen.

    PMID 26659934

    Read the full finding →
    Source:Assessing the Value of Botanical Anti-Inflammatory Agents in an OTC Acne Treatment Regimen

Common questions

Which ingredients have been studied for Closed comedones?
Ingredients with evidence for Closed comedones: Salicylic Acid, Glycolic acid, Lactic Acid.
How many people were studied?
3 findings · 2015 · 80 people · subjects aged 12+ with mild-to-moderate acne · PMID 26659934
What can I use for Closed comedones?
Salicylic Acid, Glycolic acid, Lactic Acid · 2015 · 80 people · subjects aged 12+ with mild-to-moderate acne · PMID 26659934

Other concerns

Acne marks and scars Acne and breakouts Barrier damage Blackheads Bumps and rough texture Combination skin Dark circles Dark spots Skincare for deeper skin tones Dehydrated skin Dryness Dull skin Eczema and atopic dermatitis Hyperpigmentation Large pores Loss of firmness Melasma Skincare for men Oily skin Skincare while on acne medication Peeling and flaking Perioral dermatitis Skincare during pregnancy Psoriasis Facial redness Rosacea Sebaceous filaments Sensitive skin Sun damage Sun protection Teenage skin Uneven skin tone Wrinkles and fine lines