Services & Treatments

Hidden Acne (Closed Comedones): How Long Treatment Takes

Which treatments should be combined for optimal and lasting results in treating hidden acne (closed comedones)? How long does treatment typically take, and what is the cost?

Medically reviewed by Dr Quynh Trang, Dermatologist (HCMC)

Treating closed comedones typically takes around 8–12 weeks to achieve smoother skin. Comedonal plugs beneath the stratum corneum surface gradually as the skin undergoes its renewal cycle, approximately every 28 days, so a treatment course usually spans 2–3 cycles. Closed comedones tend to persist longer in very oily skin or when hyperkeratinization is pronounced or the skin has been repeatedly extracted. In contrast, newly formed blackheads may improve sooner.

The technology

How it works

Medical acne extraction

The technician or dermatologist creates an opening in the follicle using sterile instruments, then extracts the comedonal plug along the follicle’s axis rather than applying lateral pressure. This helps prevent follicular wall rupture and the displacement of the plug deeper into the dermis. Indications: Closed comedones, whiteheads, and blackheads that have surfaced enough to be safely extracted. Deeper or inflamed lesions are left for a later session. Extraction is typically repeated every few weeks throughout the treatment course, with the number of sessions determined by the dermatologist after skin examination. Mild redness may occur for several hours to one day, and normal activities can usually be resumed immediately.

Medical peel

The dermatologist applies an active ingredient that weakens the bonds between tightly adherent corneocytes at the follicular opening. This promotes more even shedding of the stratum corneum, helps open the follicular pathway, and allows comedonal plugs to surface more easily during subsequent sessions. The type of peel/active ingredient, number of layers, and treatment area are selected based on the degree of hyperkeratinization, sebum production, and skin sensitivity; there is no one-size-fits-all formula. Indications: Skin with extensive closed comedones and hyperkeratinization, clustered blackheads, or oily skin with enlarged pores. Treatment should be postponed if the skin has active inflammation or abrasions. Multiple sessions are typically performed several weeks apart according to the skin’s renewal cycle. Mild peeling may occur for several days, and strict sun protection is essential during this period.

Hydration electrophoresis after extraction

A very low-intensity electrical current helps deliver active ingredients beyond the stratum corneum more effectively than topical application alone, focusing on hydration and soothing the skin after comedone extraction. The goal is to maintain a healthy skin barrier and prevent compensatory excess sebum production, as tight, dry skin after treatment can contribute to rapid follicular re-occlusion. Indications: Most sessions involving comedone extraction, particularly for skin that has recently undergone a peel. The treatment is performed during the same session with no downtime and is typically combined with other treatment steps.

Celluma LED — the calming step after extraction

Low-intensity red and near-infrared light is absorbed by the skin and used to support tissue recovery, helping soothe the treated area and reduce post-extraction redness. It does not cause tissue damage or remove the skin surface, so no downtime is required. Indications: As the final step of a treatment session or between sessions when additional skin recovery is needed. The effects are cumulative, so regular treatment according to the recommended schedule is required.

The MA line — programs built for non-inflamed acne

MA is an internal code for treatment protocols targeting closed comedones and non-inflammatory acne. The number following MA is the protocol code used for appointment scheduling and payment; it does not indicate the severity of the condition. Each session consists of a complete sequence of steps: cleansing, keratin softening, comedone extraction, skin recovery, and hydration. Indications: The treatment line and number of sessions are selected by the dermatologist based on the degree of hyperkeratinization, sebum production, and affected area after skin examination, rather than through fixed treatment packages. Sessions are spaced several weeks apart according to the skin renewal cycle. There is generally little to no downtime, with mild redness possible on the day of treatment.

Advantages

Why choose this treatment

A board-certified dermatologist reads your skin under multi-layer imaging to establish how deep the comedones sit before anything is prescribed.

Extraction is performed at the right moment, under sterile conditions, never by prying at lesions that have not gathered.

Plans are built around your keratin build-up and oil levels rather than sold as a fixed package.

Consultation, skin analysis and follow-up visits are free for the whole course.

Every line item is published, and the quote you receive matches it.

Regular reassessment so sessions that are no longer needed get dropped instead of run to the end of a package.

Pricing

Treatments & pricing

100% of treatments are performed by dermatology specialists. Prices do not include 8% VAT. Contact us for a direct assessment and an exact quote based on your skin, severity and target area.

General skin consultation + multi-layer high-tech skin analysis + follow-up consultation with a board-certified dermatologist

FREE

Treatment	Price
Celluma USA LED therapy for acne recovery and redness reduction	330.000 VND
Basic acne-extraction course	390.000 VND
Oily & acne-prone skin care program — clearing and brightening (MA1)	760.000 VND
Renewing regional peel	790.000 VND
Dermalogica peel for brighter, clearer, less-marked skin	890.000 VND
Premium combo — deep extraction + brightening complex	910.000 VND
Advanced oily-skin acne care program (MA1 Pro)	970.000 VND
Hidden-acne (closed comedone) clearing program (MA2)	1.100.000 VND
Dermalogica 3-Layer Peel	1.100.000 VND
Intensive oily-skin acne care program (MA1 Promax)	1.350.000 VND
Intensive acne-skin recovery program — tone and texture (MA3)	1.400.000 VND
Full-face renewing peel	1.500.000 VND
Extraction + skin-renewal combo with Aqua Hydro/Nano C hydration (TD1)	1.610.000 VND

Prices do not include 8% VAT

See the full price list

Treatment process

5 steps, clinically led

Step 1: Skin analysis and multi-layer imaging — free

Imaging shows what the eye misses: how deep the comedones sit, how thick the horny layer is, where the skin produces the most oil, and whether any inflammation is starting. This step is free, including if you decide not to treat.

Step 2: Your dermatologist reads the results and builds the plan

You are shown what is driving the congestion on your own skin, then given a plan matched to that mechanism — which steps, in which order, roughly how many sessions, and an itemized quote before you agree to anything.

Step 3: Soften the horny layer and reopen the follicle

The skin is deep-cleansed, then a medical peel or an appropriate keratin-softening step is applied so the horny layer sheds evenly and the follicle drains again — the precondition for safe extraction.

Step 4: Medical extraction and same-session recovery

Comedones that have reached a safe depth are removed with sterile instruments along the follicle axis; lesions that are not ready are left for the next visit. The skin is then hydrated, calmed and barrier-repaired in the same session so it does not rebound with excess oil.

Step 5: Follow-up on the skin's cycle, plan adjustment, then maintenance

Standardized before-and-after photos are compared, response is assessed area by area, and intensity or interval is adjusted. Once texture has settled, the course moves into maintenance with progressively wider spacing.

FAQ

Still have questions?

How long does it take to get rid of closed comedones?

On a properly built plan, most people feel the skin become less bumpy within 2–4 weeks and need roughly 8–12 weeks for texture to settle, because comedones can only surface as the skin renews itself over about 28 days. Very oily skin, a thick horny layer or areas that have been squeezed repeatedly take longer, and your dermatologist reassesses at every follow-up.

Do closed comedones go away on their own?

Some small comedones do clear when the skin sheds on schedule, but the keratin plug sealing the follicle tends to persist for a long time and to spread into rough patches. Left alone long enough, a sealed follicle can become inflamed — at which point treatment takes more time and costs more.

Should you pop closed comedones?

No, not at home. A closed comedone has no opening yet, so outside pressure tends to rupture the follicle wall and push part of the plug deeper, producing inflammation and dark marks. In clinic, extraction happens only after the horny layer has been softened and the comedone has risen, using sterile instruments.

What is the difference between closed comedones and whiteheads?

Both are plugs sealed inside a hair follicle; the difference is depth. A closed comedone sits deeper, so you feel roughness rather than see a spot, while a whitehead has risen close enough to the surface to show as a pale dot. Treatment direction is the same — only the timing of extraction differs.

Why am I breaking out more after starting acne treatment?

Those are usually comedones that had already formed under the skin, surfacing once the horny layer is cleared and the follicles drain. The phase is typically short and eases over subsequent sessions; changing plans midway through it is one of the most common reasons a course ends up running long.

Can a chemical peel clear closed comedones?

A medical peel is one part of the answer rather than the whole of it: it weakens the bonds between keratinocytes at the follicle opening so the pore drains and comedones can rise, which is what makes safe extraction possible. Used alone it improves texture but leaves the plugs in place, so peels are combined with extraction and barrier recovery in a course.

How much does hidden acne treatment cost in Ho Chi Minh City?

At WeDo, the consultation and multi-layer skin analysis with a board-certified dermatologist are free; basic medical extraction is 390,000 VND per session, the hidden-acne program (MA2) is 1,100,000 VND per session, and the oily/acne-prone skin programs run from 760,000 VND to 1,400,000 VND per session. Your total depends on how many sessions your dermatologist prescribes after the skin analysis.

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