Comedones
Comedones are benign neoplasms (cysts) formed in the cavity of the hair follicle. When a patient has hypersecretion of the sebaceous glands, excess sebum, mixing with dead and exfoliated epithelium, accumulates in the mouths of hair follicles and forms comedones. Such neoplasms are of two types — open and closed. The open ones have the shape of whitish nodules, and the closed ones are the same blackheads with black dots known to everyone. Patients with oily skin or its mixed type with wide pores are more prone to the formation of comedones.
The content of the article:
Causes of comedones
Symptoms of comedones
Diagnosis and treatment of comedones
Comedones
Timely access to specialists and proper hygienic care is of great importance in the treatment of the disease.
Causes of comedones
The pathogenesis of this disease is based on the blockage of the skin follicles by the remnants of the exfoliated epithelium, which, mixing with dust particles, forms a kind of cork. These plugs do not allow the sebum to come out, as a result of which it does not perform its true functions: it does not nourish and does not protect. The patient’s skin becomes rough and dry, and the pores become enlarged. At the mouth of the follicle, sebum accumulates in combination with toxins, which are normally excreted from the body through the pores of the skin. Bacterial microflora is often attached, as excellent conditions for its reproduction are created in the hair sac. A sufficiently thick mass of consistency is formed, coming out of the mouth of the hair sac and forming an open comedone. When interacting with oxygen, the contents of the comedone acquire a dark shade and form “black dots” on the surface of the skin.
There are also a number of reasons that provoke the formation of comedones:
genetic predisposition, especially in women;
hormonal changes in the patient’s body. Comedones are most often found in young people during puberty and in women during periods of sudden hormonal changes (pregnancy,
menstrual cycle, menopause, abortion, etc.);
various pathologies of the endocrine system;
some chronic diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and liver;
non-compliance with the rules of personal hygiene and improper skin care;
the use of cosmetics that contain a large amount of fat, including the professional use of theatrical makeup;
an increase in testosterone levels can cause hypersecretion of the sebaceous glands and lead to the formation of comedones;
stressful situations provoke a change in the composition of sebum, which can also lead to various skin pathologies;
certain climatic conditions (humid and polluted air);
taking certain hormonal drugs may be an indirect cause of the formation of comedones.
Regardless of the causes of this disease, it should be understood that comedones are not a cosmetic defect. This is a rather serious pathology that requires qualified specialist advice and sufficiently long-term treatment.
Symptoms of comedones
The first signs of comedones occur long before the first neoplasms appear on the skin. It is not difficult to notice such signs even with the naked eye. The patient’s skin becomes unhealthy, becomes gray and rough. On palpation, some unevenness of the skin can be detected, it becomes bumpy and rough to the touch.
It is easier for women to notice the first “alarm bells” than for men. This is due to the use of decorative cosmetics. Representatives of the fair sex often experience severe psychological discomfort due to the deterioration of the skin, especially on the face. This leads to the fact that they are trying by all means and methods to disguise cosmetic defects. It is in this case that the signs of incipient comedones become especially noticeable: cosmetics do not fall flat on the face, drain or gather in lumps. This is due to the fact that excess sebum creates a kind of film that prevents the correct interaction of cosmetics with the skin.
The next stage in the development of pathology is the formation of first closed, and later open comedones. This condition is dangerous because comedones are a favorable habitat for various pathogens. The addition of a secondary infection can lead to various inflammatory skin diseases and quite serious complications (dermatitis, pyoderma, etc.).
If the patient is diagnosed with comedones, treatment should begin immediately.
Diagnosis and treatment of comedones
Diagnosis of the disease is not particularly difficult. The diagnosis is made on the basis of anamnesis collection, patient interview and visual examination. The patient needs additional consultations with a gastroenterologist and an endocrinologist, since comedones often appear against the background of various chronic diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, liver or endocrine disorders.
Treatment of comedones is complex and includes the following measures:
cosmetic procedures aimed at deep peeling of the skin with the use of fruit acids and helping to get rid of dead epithelial cells, improve the overall condition of the skin. However, these procedures are effective at the stage of formation of comedones and are impossible in the presence of inflammatory areas on the patient’s skin;
permanent skin toilet. Washing with the use of special cleansing gels and foams;
therapy or correction of concomitant pathologies, if they are diagnosed;
the use of drugs for external use with pronounced anti-comedogenic properties;
the use of restorative therapy (vitamin and mineral complexes);
antibacterial therapy (according to indications).
With adequate complex therapy, the prognosis of the disease is favorable. Self-medication is unacceptable, which can cause the development of quite serious complications. In no case can you squeeze out comedones yourself! With home removal of neoplasms, scars remain after healing, inflammation occurs, infection joins. The patient develops pustular rashes, and pyoderma develops. Such conditions are difficult to treat.
