The dark color is not dirt inside the pore. Instead it is the oil inside the pore, which has become exposed from the outside air. A closed comedo forms if the hair follicle pore remains closed. The plug in a closed comedo or whitehead is therefore not exposed to the outside air, and no black color develops. The closed comedo simply appears as a tiny, sometimes pink bump in the skin.
Papules are closed comedos, which have become red, swollen, and inflamed.
Pustules are closed comedos, which become inflamed and begin to rupture into the skin forming pustular heads of various sizes. Nodules represent large, tender, swollen acne lesions, which have become intensely inflamed and rupture under the skin. If untreated, these can produce deep scarring. HOME CARE Section 4 of 10 Wash once or twice daily with soap and water to remove excess oil from the skin. Avoid scrubbing too abrasively because this can actually irritate the skin and cause acne to worsen.