What Is the Difference Between Acne and Closed Comedones?
Disease description:
Small, blister-like pimples have gradually appeared on my face. A friend said they’re acne, but I think they’re closed comedones. What’s the difference between acne and closed comedones?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Huang Lingjuan
Acne refers to common acne (acne vulgaris), and “closed” refers to closed comedones. Common acne is a chronic inflammatory disease of the pilosebaceous unit occurring in sebum-rich areas of the skin. Its characteristic skin lesions include blackheads (open comedones) and may progress to papules, pustules, and cysts. “Closed” describes the occlusion of comedones: during comedone formation, excessive sebum secreted by the sebaceous glands accumulates within the pilosebaceous unit, forming a sebaceous plug.
