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"&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Comedolytic is the term used to describe a product or medication that inhibits the formation of comedones, blemishes that form when oil and skin cells become trapped in the pore.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Let&amp;amp;#39;s break down the word comedolytic.\u00A0 The first part, &amp;lt;em&amp;gt;comedo-, &amp;lt;/em&amp;gt;means pore blockage or breakout.\u00A0 The second part, &amp;lt;em&amp;gt;-lytic&amp;lt;/em&amp;gt;, in a nutshell means &amp;amp;#34;destruction&amp;amp;#34;.\u00A0 So, the word comedolytic literally means the destruction of pore blockages.\u00A0 And that&amp;amp;#39;s exactly what we want to do to our blemishes, right?&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;h3&amp;gt;Here&amp;amp;#39;s how comedolytic products work.\u00A0&amp;lt;/h3&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;You it on beauty products and acne treatment medications alike.\u00A0 Whether the term is comedolytic, comedolytic agent, or comedolytic effect, the definition is the same.\u00A0 Comedolytic products work by helping the skin to shed more effectively.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;For those of us prone to acne, comedolytic products are exactly what the skin needs.\u00A0 Acne is, in part, caused by an abnormal shedding of skin cells.\u00A0 The technical term is &amp;lt;em&amp;gt;retention hyperkeratosis, &amp;lt;/em&amp;gt;but all it really means is the skin cells are hanging around longer than they should, getting trapped in the pore.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Comedolytic medications get those skin cells to slough away, keeping the pores from becoming plugged and preventing comedones.\u00A0 So, comedolytics stop blemishes before they even start.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Comedolytic products also help get rid of comedones that have already formed.\u00A0 They loosen the plug of cells and oil, allowing it to break down and be expelled from the pore.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;h3&amp;gt;There are plenty of comedolytic acne medications to choose from -- both OTC and prescription.&amp;lt;/h3&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;For acne-prone skin, a comedolytic medication is a good treatment choice.\u00A0 You can find them both over-the-counter and by prescription.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/salicylic-acid-15632&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;1&amp;quot;&amp;gt;Salicylic acid&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt; is one option.\u00A0 You can find this comedolytic ingredient in over-the-counter acne washes and toners.\u00A0 Stronger salicylic acid peels are available at the day spa, &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/what-is-a-medical-spa-15896&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;2&amp;quot;&amp;gt;medi-spa&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;, and at your dermatologist&amp;amp;#39;s office.\u00A0&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Benzoyl peroxide is another acne treatment that you can get over-the-counter.\u00A0 It has mild comedolytic effects, especially when compared to salicylic acid.\u00A0\u00A0 But don&amp;amp;#39;t think that makes it a bad choice.\u00A0 Benzoyl peroxide is actually the most effective OTC acne treatment available.\u00A0 While it&amp;amp;#39;s a mild comedolytic, it has other acne-fighting qualities that make it a good treatment choice. \u00A0&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;OTC salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide are best for &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/what-is-mild-acne-15609&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;3&amp;quot;&amp;gt;mild acne&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;, minor blackheads and blemishes.\u00A0&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/treating-acne-with-topical-retinoids-15871&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;4&amp;quot;&amp;gt;Topical retinoids&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt; are the granddaddies of comedolytic acne medications -- they&amp;amp;#39;re the strongest and most effective.\u00A0 Topical retinoids is a term for the group of medications that are derived from vitamin A.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;You&amp;amp;#39;ve probably heard of Retin-A (tretinoin).\u00A0 This comedolytic treatment has been around for ages.\u00A0 But there are other topical retinoids available too.\u00A0 Here are some of the rest:&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;ul&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/retin-a-micro-15879&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;5&amp;quot;&amp;gt;Retin-A Micro (tretinoin)&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/tazorac-tazarotene-15880&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;6&amp;quot;&amp;gt;Tazorac (tazarotene)&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/differin-adapalene-15660&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;7&amp;quot;&amp;gt;Differin (adapalene)&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/ul&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Topical retinoids are prescription-only medications, so you&amp;amp;#39;ll need to see your dermatologist.\u00A0 They&amp;amp;#39;re effective for mild to moderately-severe inflammatory acne, as well as for &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/comedonal-acne-15972&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;8&amp;quot;&amp;gt;comedonal breakouts&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;.\u00A0&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;h3&amp;gt;Comedolytic acne medications can cause side effects.&amp;lt;/h3&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Just like any medication, comedolytics can cause some side effects.\u00A0 What you&amp;amp;#39;ll notice most often when using a comedolytic medication is probably dry, flaky, or peeling skin.\u00A0 This is because comedolytics work by speeding up &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/cell-turnover-15552&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;9&amp;quot;&amp;gt;cell turnover&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt; rates.\u00A0 Using an oil-free moisturizer can help reduce that dry feel and flaky look.\u00A0&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Your dermatologist will go over the possible side effects of your specific acne mediation, plus give you tips on how to manage them.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;h3&amp;gt;Next steps:&amp;lt;/h3&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/your-acne-treatment-options-15637&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;10&amp;quot;&amp;gt;Your Best-Bet Acne Treatment Options&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/why-to-see-a-dermatologist-about-your-acne-15766&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;11&amp;quot;&amp;gt;5 Signs It&amp;amp;#39;s Time to See a Dermatologist About Your Acne&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
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