Zits. Pimples. Pustules. Pimples gets called quite a lot of things, but “comedones” isn’t one you hear your folks say often. That being said, you’ve probably handled them before. Comedonal pimples refers to open and closed comedones — tiny, painless zits or blackheads that typically appear in clusters in your chin, nose, or brow. When you’ve ever had a smattering of inexplicable “bumpy skin,” comedonal pimples is likely to be accountable.

Unlike your standard zit or pimple, comedonal pimples isn’t inflammatory, so it doesn’t include the redness, pain, and swelling you often associate with, say, cystic pimples. It’s super common and the excellent news is, it’s easy to treat. We asked some pimples experts what causes open and closed comedones and the way you may resurface your smooth skin.

• Michele Green is a board-certified cosmetic dermatologist in Recent York City.
• Sheila Farhang is a board-certified dermatologist and cosmetic surgeon in Tucson, Arizona.
• Amy Wechsler is a board-certified dermatologist and psychiatrist in Recent York City.

• What is comedonal acne?
• What are open comedones and what causes them?
• How to treat open comedones
• What are closed comedones and what causes them?
• How to treat closed comedones
• The consensus on comedones

Let’s start from the start: “Comedonal pimples is formed when excessive sebum [the oil your skin produces to hydrate and protect] is combined with dead skin cells, bacteria, and dirt to clog pores,” says Michele Greena board-certified dermatologist in Recent York City. The result’s a cluster of small, firm bumps near the skin’s surface. These bumps, or comedones, may be closed or open. “They’re typically characterised as whiteheads and blackheads,” says Sheila Farhanga dermatologist in Tucson, Arizona. (We’ll get into this more below).

At first glance, comedonal pimples doesn’t really look or feel like pimples. “Comedonal pimples is a form of non-inflammatory pimples,” says Dr. Farhang. “Which implies it doesn’t have the redness, swelling, pain, or pus typically related to pimples.” When you attempt to squeeze a comedone, for example, there’s an excellent possibility nothing will come out (and also you’ll risk aggravating it, turning it right into a full-blown zit).