Acne is a common skin disease; it is caused when the pores of our skin get blocked by bacteria, dirt, sebum, and hair. And when the pores get blocked, they produce acne in the form of pimples, blackheads, Whiteheads, nodules, or any other acne. “How to get rid of whiteheads?” is a common question when you face such problems.
Many young ones face the problem of acne during their teenage years. Some may have their first acne as adults. Some face mild to moderate acne. Some face many acne problems of, whiteheads, blackheads, nodules, etc.
It is easy to treat moderate acne, but those whiteheads and mild scarring acne on the surrounding skin require a lot of patience to handle. Girls face acne problems mainly during their periods. Some people get acne due to genetics.
So, it is a common disease that almost 80 percent of teenagers and adults face. Acne breakouts commonly occur on the face, back, chest, and sometimes the neck and shoulders. Those with oily skin face whiteheads and other forms of acne blemishes, clogged pores, dead skin cells, and excess oil.
One of the most common acne blemishes is whiteheads.
1. What are Whiteheads?
Whiteheads are formed when open bumps are filled with dirt and oil. A whitehead is a pore that appears on the skin surface opening of hair follicles that becomes completely clogged with dead skin cells, sebum (oil), and bacteria and remains closed at the surface. Whiteheads are a type of acne (acne vulgaris). It is formed as raised bumps under the surface of your skin.
Whitehead results from clogged pores under the skin’s surface, and these clogged pores cause sebum and dirt to build up behind it, resulting in a raised white bump. Unlike blackheads that can be removed, whiteheads are closed within the pores.
Whiteheads can appear at any age and present as a single whitehead or breakouts over larger areas.
Whiteheads are caused due to large concentrations of sebaceous glands, the glands responsible for creating sebum or oils.
2. What Causes Whiteheads?
As we all know, our skin contains hair all over it. These are surrounded by small sebaceous or oil glands that secrete sebum.
When follicles get blocked, this sebum gets inside the dead skin cells and causes White bumps known as whiteheads.
Whiteheads can be caused due to puberty, menstrual cycle, stress, excessive sebum production, or by using any kind of toxic chemicals on your face can also result in whiteheads.
3. How to Get Rid of Whiteheads? Some Home Remedies
Home remedies are the easiest and cheapest way to reduce whiteheads. Home remedies mean using those things that are already present in your house, and you don’t have to go out. But doing home remedies needs more care.
You should avoid home remedies that cause skin irritation because they can cause damage to your skin. It is better to consult your dermatologist if you have skin disorders.
Some home remedies that may irritate your skin are apple cider vinegar, lemon juice, baking soda, and sugar crystals because they are very harsh on your skin they are sensitive.
Here are some home remedies that help you in removing whiteheads and an answer to the question, “How to get rid of whiteheads?”.
3.1. Vitamin A Cream
Vitamin A is very beneficial for our skin because it provides nutrients to our skin. It has powerful antioxidant properties that prevent some types of cell damage.
We mostly found antioxidants in skin care products because it has powerful anti-aging properties. When we use vitamin A, it helps in decreasing the redness and inflammation around our skin.
Vitamin A promotes healthy cell growth and makes our skin free from damage. Some creams contain Vitamin A, which you can buy from a cosmetic store and apply directly to your face twice a day.
Creams containing Vitamin A are over-the-counter, and some have another special benefit. Creams that have Vitamin A will help in reducing whiteheads and helps in getting clear, glowing skin.
You can get vitamin A from orange and yellow fruits and vegetables. They are rich in nutrients and give you clear, glowing skin. Vitamin A promotes better skin and overall health.
3.2. Aloe Vera
Aloe Vera gel is one of the best ingredients that work well on your skin. It has cleaning properties and it contains antioxidants. Apart from these properties, it helps remove excess oil from our skin.
Aloe clear gel we found inside aloe vera leaves is used to soothe skin if it has been burned or irritated, and it treats acne too.
It has anti-bacterial properties that help remove all kinds of dead skin cells and tropically helps in treating acne.
1. Mix a spoonful of Aloe Vera gel and add some drops of lemon to it.
2. Apply the paste all over the affected area for 5 to 6 minutes and let it dry for 10 minutes.
3. Now rinse it off with cold water.
4. Use this home remedy regularly for good results.
Aloe vera gel and lemon juice will help you to treat your whiteheads.
3.3. Honey
Honey is known as an antigen and has antibacterial properties. It is great for sensitive skin. It helps to get rid of whiteheads and when you apply honey over your face, it soothes your skin and makes it shinier.
Honey has powerful antibacterial properties that kill organisms that are present in our dead skin cells and prevent bacteria from growing. Honey forms a protective barrier on our skin that helps to prevent infection.
1. Warm up the honey and apply it over the area where you have whiteheads.
2. Let it dry for 20 minutes.
3. After 20 minutes, wash it off with lukewarm water.
4. Apply this home remedy twice a week for the best results.
3.4. Witch Hazel
Witch Hazel helps in healing whiteheads with its astringent properties. Many people use witch hazel for its anti-inflammatory and astringent properties.
It comes from a flowering plant that is a witch hazel plant. It is a natural liquid extract with anti-oxidant and anti-astringent properties.
It soothes irritated skin and removes excess oil from them, and helps in the treatment of acne (acne vulgaris). Apply witch hazel extracts to get rid of whiteheads.
3.5. Tea Tree Oil
Tea tree oil is a natural anti-inflammatory and has antimicrobial benefits. Antimicrobial properties help slow down the speed of microorganisms.
Tea tree oil helps in clearing up whiteheads. Tea tree oil is available easily, just apply pure tea tree oil extract onto the skin’s surface and it will remove whiteheads. Various skincare items, such as cleanser mask spot treatments, contain tea tree oil.
Tea tree serums are available nowadays. You can try serum to get rid of whiteheads.
3.6. Over-The-Counter Products
You may consider over-the-counter products when you apply home remedies and natural products and if it fails to remove your whiteheads. OTC treatments contain a lot of products that contain a lot of ingredients.
It would be best to take care that you don’t use all the following ingredients at once because using too many products together can dry out your skin.
OTC treatments take a lot of time to show their effects. You should be patient if you go for OTC treatments. Patience is also important when you use OTC acne products because they take a long time to show their full effect.
3.7. Benzoyl Peroxide
Benzoyl peroxide is something very effective for fighting acne. It is used as a spot treatment and a full-face treatment. It helps us eliminate excess oil and acne-causing bacteria that accumulate on our faces.
Benzoyl Peroxide is beneficial against blackheads and whiteheads. When you have multiple whiteheads in one spot, benzoyl peroxide is an effective treatment of whiteheads because it reduces inflammation that is caused around the affected area.
Benzoyl peroxide is useful in treating dead skin cells and oily skin that clog your pores. It is important to choose the right one for your skin as per your skin type.
Benzoyl peroxide is found in many over-the-counter (OTC) acne treatments, including cleansers, gels, creams, and spot treatments. When you buy benzoyl peroxide, you should check that a product contains 2% Benzoyl Peroxide.
Just apply it over the affected area per day. You should slowly increase the application when your skin gets used to it. You can apply it twice per day.
You need to wash your hands immediately after using products with benzoyl peroxide because it’s bad for your hair and clothes.
Examples of Benzoyl Peroxide Products :
Neutrogena On The Spot Acne Treatment and Murad Acne Spot Fast Fix.
3.8. Salicylic Acid
Salicylic acid also works as benzoyl peroxide. Both are well-known as acne-fighting ingredients. It can decrease the production of oil in clogged pores. It dries out the skin surface and helps in getting rid of dead skin cells that can cause sebum and helps in unclogging pores.
Whiteheads can be treated with salicylic acid because it has preventative measures that help prevent whiteheads. Unlike benzoyl peroxide, you can use salicylic acid three times a day.
Salicylic acid is available in creams, gels, acne toners, and astringents. Some moisturizers also contain salicylic acid. Salicylic acid products work best for blackheads and whiteheads.
It decreases oil production in pores, removes excess oil from your face, and makes your face dry. It dries out the skin when we apply salicylic acid.
Examples of Salicylic Acid:
Neutrogena Clear Pore Oil Eliminating Astringent and Dermalogica Overnight Clearing Gel.
3.9. Retinoid creams
Retinol is a type of retinoid derived from Vitamin A – essential to cell division, which helps move along new cell growth. Retinoids are useful for treating acne and improving skin texture and tone.
Retinol is naturally produced by your body and helps boost cell turnover, kickstart collagen production, and reduce fine lines and wrinkles.
Retinol increases skin cell production. It helps unclog pores. Retinol also exfoliates your skin and increases collagen production, which can reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
Retinol creams are available, which can apply it in whitehead treatment. Adapalene is an OTC retinoid that should be applied all over the face.
If you have dry or sensitive skin, try to use it for 2 to 3 nights within a week. Then slowly, you can increase the application when your skin gets used to it. Otherwise, you may get skin irritation or any skin problems.
Studies suggest that retinoids are the most effective acne treatment. They have a strong version of Vitamin A that helps exfoliate your skin. Retinoids are found in tropical treatments like gels, masks, creams, or oral forms.
Tropical retinoids are important because it works well as a medical treatment for acne. They act as antioxidants, also it reduces inflammation, and promotes healthy cell growth.
Doctors also prescribe retinoid treatments for acne. Many ingredients that can be used to treat whiteheads can also be used to prevent them, including alpha hydroxy acids (like glycolic or lactic), beta hydroxy acids (like salicylic acid), and topical retinoids. These ingredients all help unclog the pores.
3.10. Exfoliants
Exfoliant containing salicylic acid in it or without salicylic acid helps remove whiteheads. When you exfoliate your skin, it makes your skin smooth and shiny if you have dry skin. It removes all kinds of excess dead skin cells and clogs pores.
Choose a gentle exfoliant for your skin. You can use a gentle exfoliant that will exfoliate your skin without causing irritation and dryness.
Exfoliate your skin regularly because exfoliating helps prevent excessive oils that get collected in your pores and cause whiteheads. Exfoliants make the skin smoother and brighter.
But too much exfoliating can cause further irritation and can cause more acne problems. So make sure that you wear sunscreen so that it protects your skin.
Examples of Gentle Exfoliants are:
Philosophy’s Micro Delivery Exfoliating Facial Wash.
Glycolic acid can be used as an exfoliant because it is an alpha hydroxy acid that helps in gently exfoliate your face.
4. Preventive Measures
Preventing whiteheads can be difficult, if not impossible, during normal hormonal changes. To clear your whiteheads, you can follow some preventive measures and a skincare routine. It is difficult to clean whiteheads completely, but some tips may help you. All these skincare routine needs to be followed for the best results.
4.1. Steps for Preventive Measures:
1. Always remove makeup before going to bed.
2. Stop touching your face frequently because your hands and nails contain germs.
3. Wash your hair regularly and keep your hair clean.
4. Make sure your hair products do not come in contact with your face.
5. Wash your face with mild face wash to make it oil-free, and use lukewarm water to wash your face.
6. Wear sunscreen as per your skin type.
7. Buy makeup products that are “oil-free” and “noncomedogenic”.
8. Wash your makeup brushes and sponges after each use.
9. Use products that contain benzoyl peroxide in them.
10. Salicylic acid products also works well for whitehead.
11. To keep your whiteheads at bay, you should eat a healthy diet and lead a stress-free life.
5. Visit Your Dermatologist
Suppose all the methods mentioned above fail to clean up your whiteheads. Then it may be a time to see your dermatologist and check your skin.
A board-certified dermatologist can help you by prescribing stronger medications to prevent whiteheads. These may come in the form of topical treatments or oral tablets.
Some acne products doctors prescribe make your skin more sensitive to the sun, so sunscreen is mandatory.
6. Is Popping Whiteheads Good or Bad?
Popping your whiteheads can be very satisfying and interesting, but you should avoid popping or squeezing your whiteheads.
Squeezing whiteheads can cause several problems that may irritate your skin. Because your nails are hard on your face and it may cause damage to your face.
Squeezing whiteheads can cause permanent scarring. Picking and popping whiteheads doesn’t help because it may do more harm than good. When you pop So, avoid popping whiteheads and opt for some good whitehead treatment.
Conclusion
Hopefully, this article answers your question, “how to get rid of whiteheads?” If you follow some skincare routine, then in general, you can go in a long way in preventing whiteheads. Try to follow the steps which are mentioned above. I hope this will benefit you; when your skin is more prone to acne, follow a healthy routine to protect your skin from acne.
All the important points regarding whiteheads have been discussed here in this article. I hope this article will be advantageous for you all; try to follow all these steps and keep all these points in your mind for good results, apply this, and make your skin free from acne.
Last Updated on by ritukhare