Comedones are follicles in the skin that is filled with dead skin and oil. I normally use a combination of topical BHA and retinoid i.e. differin gel, to treat comedones. If the patient has very oily skin with episoidic breakouts due to the hormonal cycle, I sometimes prescribe oral Accutane on a weekly dosage to reduce oil production. The medication also increases the turnover of the dead skin the follicles, thus removing the dead skin. I find this effective.
However, I constantly remind all my female patients that they are not advised to get pregnant whilst taking Accutane and have to stop the medication for at least four weeks before conceiving.
