The Small Bumps You Feel When You Run a Hand over Your Face – What Are They?

Sometimes the facial skin looks relatively clean, but when we run our fingers over it, we feel tiny bumps.

They're not always red, not necessarily painful, and sometimes it's even hard to see them without strong lighting.

We try to do a peel or cleanse the face better, but the rough texture remains.

One possible reason for this is closed comedones, called in English Closed Comedones.

What are closed comedones?

Inside the skin are hair follicles and glands that produce natural oil.

When skin cells and oil accumulate inside the follicle and block its opening, a small bump can form beneath the surface.

Unlike blackheads, in which the follicle opening is open, in a closed comedone the opening is blocked.

Therefore the bump usually looks skin-colored or slightly whitish.

Is it the same thing as milia?

No.

Milia is a tiny cyst that contains keratin, and it is usually harder and more defined.

A closed comedone, on the other hand, is an acne lesion created following a blockage of the hair follicle.

The difference is important, because the treatment of the two conditions is not necessarily the same.

Why do comedones appear?

There are several possible factors.

Increased production of oil, accumulation of skin cells, hormonal changes, and a personal tendency to acne.

Certain skincare products may also worsen the problem in people who tend to develop comedones.

But not every rich cream causes pore clogging, and not every small bump is acne.

Will deeper cleansing help?

Not necessarily.

Comedones are not formed because the skin is dirty.

Washing too frequently or using strong soaps may cause irritation without solving the blockage inside the follicle.

Sometimes it's actually preferable to use a gentle cleanser and combine an appropriate treatment that helps regulate cell turnover.

What ingredients can help?

Salicylic acid can help reduce blockages in the pores.

Topical retinoids, such as adapalene, are an accepted option for treating comedones, according to personal suitability.

But patience is needed. Improvement in comedonal acne may take several weeks and even months.

Retinoids may also cause dryness and irritation, and they should be avoided in pregnancy or when planning a pregnancy without appropriate medical guidance.

What should we not do?

Don't press on the bumps and don't try to open them with a needle.

Don't use several types of acids together out of the thought that the result will be faster.

And don't switch skincare products every few days, because that way it's hard to know what really helps and what causes irritation.

If the bumps persist, spread, or don't respond to treatment, it's advisable to see a dermatologist to verify the diagnosis.

My daily recommendation

I always say that we should look at the skin as a whole system and not only at what we see on the surface.

When we feel small bumps, our first reaction is sometimes to try to scrub them and smooth the skin.

But if the problem is inside the follicle, external scrubbing won't necessarily solve it.

Sometimes what the skin needs is gentle treatment, appropriate ingredients, and mainly persistence.

Because not every skin problem is solved quickly, and not every strong solution is necessarily a good solution.

Nurit Rozenblat

With love,
Nurit Rozenblat
OrOrgani

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