Just when you think we must have covered every single spot-related topic known to man like acne, body acne and blackheads, I go and bring up whiteheads. They’re probably the last and most confusing blemish because they’re kind of just...there, chilling and you’re not really sure why. The weirdest thing is that, compared to their angrier relations, cystic spots or darker, moodier ones blackheads, they’re don’t seem as bad, simply because they’re not as visible. That said, they're just as annoying so here's your NTK on them.
What are whiteheads?
If you have spot-prone skin then you’ll know that they’re small, white bumps on your face. In more complicated terms, a whitehead is a closed comedone (comedone is the word used to describe a whitehead or blackhead, ‘normal’ spots occur when the comedone becomes infected). ‘Blackheads are just whiteheads that are open and have had their contents oxidised turning the grease inside black,’ explains Dr Stephen Kownacki, the executive chair of the Primary Care Dermatology Society (PCDS). They’re most likely to pop up in the greasier parts of your face like the forehead, nose and chin although some people might get them on their upper chest, back and even the inside of the ears. Whiteheads shouldn’t be confused with Milia which look similar. If you’re not sure which ones you’re dealing with, check out the decriptions on the PCDS website.
What causes whiteheads?
As with any comedone (sorry, I’m going to start using that because it’s easier. I know I sound like a science dick), they pop up when your skin over-produces oil. This leads to the hair follicle getting clogged from a build-up of oil, bacteria and dead skin.
How do you prevent whiteheads?
This is a difficult one because oil plays such a big part in causing bad skin and is more often than not caused by hormonal changes. It's important to make sure you’ve got a good skincare routine on the go (check out the one I spoke about in the acne article) so your skin is looked after. Other things can contribute to the over-production of oil in your skin like stress and diet so it's worth reading what I said about it here and implementing some of those changes.
How can you get rid of whiteheads?
Exfoliation through the use of acids (not as scary as they sound, I promise) are key when you’re dealing with troublesome skin because it stops the build up of oil, dirt and bacteria. If you have oily, acne prone skin which, if you have whiteheads you probably do, it’s best to go for products that contain BHAs (as opposed to AHAs, although they’re still good) because they penetrate the oil, making it effective for spots, whiteheads and blackheads. Ren’s Clarimatte Clarifying Toner, £13 is a great and really affordable and Paula’s Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid, £23.50 is another great buy. The Mario Badescu Glycolic Acid Toner, £15.50 contains AHAs but is another effective choice.
As long as the comedone isn’t inflamed, red or filled with pus (gross), you can squeeze it. The easiest way is using a metal extractor like The Body Shop’s Double Ended Blackhead Remover, £4. Hold a warm flannel over your face before using it to help make the extraction easier and be sure to clean it properly afterwards.
Dr Kownacki explains the importance of dealing with them quickly: ‘Whiteheads are the precursors of acne spots so treatment is important if the whiteheads and blackheads are many and certainly if there are inflamed spots causing scarring.’ if this is the case, go and see your GP who can prescribe a retinoid cream (Dr Kownacki says the most perscribed is Adapalene), which is the most effective treatment.
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This article originally appeared on The Debrief.