How to treat comedonal acne like a dermatologist. Comedones are tiny bumps on the face that are either open (blackheads) or closed (whiteheads) and are a type of acne. If their appearance or texture bothers you, here’s a routine that will help smooth out your skin: 1. Cleanse with PanOxyl 4% in the AM. Lather on damp skin and then leave on for 1-2 minutes so that the active (benzoyl peroxide) has enough contact time with the skin to actually work. 2. Apply a salicylic acid (BHA) toner 3-4x/week