Why Should You Extract Comedones Instead of Popping Them Yourself?
Clogged comedones in hair follicles cause inflammation; topical treatments penetrate poorly through thick comedones. Proper extraction opens a pathway for removal without damaging the follicle wall. Popping with hands or non-sterile tools often pushes the comedone deeper, tears the follicle wall, and pushes bacteria into the dermis — resulting in more severe inflammation, hyperpigmentation, and pitted scars. This is the most common cause of pitted scars in young individuals.
How is Extraction Different from Popping at a Spa?
Three key points: Indication — the dermatologist examines the skin and identifies which comedones can be extracted (blackheads, whiteheads, pus-filled comedones) and which cannot (red inflamed comedones that are not ready, cysts, nodules, corticoid-induced acne); Technique — creating an exit pathway with a sterile needle in the direction of the follicle, applying moderate pressure without excessive force; Sterility and Post-Procedure Care — using sterilized tools, disinfecting, applying topical anti-inflammatory treatments or soothing light therapy, along with a prescribed skincare regimen. Extraction is a step in acne treatment, not a standalone procedure.
Indications
Deep closed comedones, blackheads in the nose-chin area, whiteheads, and pus-filled comedones that have formed on skin undergoing treatment; before peels or laser treatments on the same day. The frequency is typically every 2–4 weeks during the initial treatment phase, decreasing as the skin stabilizes.
Risks to Be Aware Of
Redness and slight swelling for a few hours to 1–2 days; temporary hyperpigmentation at the extraction site (reduced with sun protection); increased inflammation if unripe comedones are extracted; scarring if excessive force is used or if deep inflamed comedones are extracted; infection if tools are not sterile. Over-frequent extraction can irritate the skin.
At BonBoz
The dermatologist examines the skin and identifies each comedone for extraction; the procedure is performed by a trained dermatology nurse under the supervision of the doctor using sterilized tools. After extraction, anti-inflammatory treatments are applied, soothing light therapy may be used, and a prescribed medication regimen is followed. The doctor monitors the number of new comedones at each visit to adjust the treatment plan, avoiding isolated extractions without a treatment strategy.
