Though these tiny white bumps called whiteheads on the face are harmless, they can be quite annoying and can easily lower your confidence. It is a bit of a challenge to get rid of such forms of acne that is closed within your skin pores.
Let us take a look at the few easy ways apart from consulting a Dermatologist to get rid of whiteheads.
What is covered in the article:
- What is a whitehead?
- Causes of whitehead
- Methods to get rid of whiteheads.
- Steps to prevent whiteheads.
What is a whitehead?
Whiteheads are typically small and yellowish or white bumps on the face.
Whitehead is a form of acne in which the skin pores get clogged due to the dead skin tissues, oil, and dirt. They look like tiny white bumps on your skin which can remind you of goosebumps or the chicken skin.
Unlike blackheads, they cannot just be pushed out of the skin as they are within the pores.
What causes whiteheads?
Whiteheads can happen due to multiple reasons, however, the most common reasons for suffering from whiteheads are:
● Genetics
Some people have a tendency to overproduce dead skin cells just like their parents or grandparents, this leads to clogged pores that can trap acne-causing bacteria, leading to acne.
● Lifestyle
The food you eat, the skincare routine you follow every day can have a huge impact on your skin. Bas lifestyle leads to frequent acne breakouts.
● Puberty
During puberty, your oil glands around the hair follicles get over-activated. Increase in oil production clogs the ducts surrounding your follicle leading to whitehead
● Periods
Hormones fluctuation during periods s can trigger your sebaceous glands to secrete more sebum, an oily substance that lubricates your skin. Too much can result in clogged pores and thus whiteheads.
● Pregnancy
Most women during their pregnancy experience acne. Increased level of androgens means more sebum production which can clog pores and lead to bacteria, inflammation, and whiteheads.
● Stress
According to the various study conducted, it’s evident that stress can trigger acne and make existing whitehead issues worse.
The above-given reasons can cause hormonal changes which can result in the more secretion of the sebum that can lead to the clogging of pores and the formation of whiteheads.
These whiteheads can develop on any part of the body, however, they mostly appear on the oily regions such as the T-zone which are the forehead, nose, and chin. They can also appear on your arms and legs as well as your back and chest.
How to get rid of the whiteheads
Getting rid of whiteheads can be a challenge, however, it can be done taking certain precautions so that you do not increase the risk of infection or scarring.
● Popping the whitehead
You can try and pop the whitehead but with extreme precaution. Clean the with an exfoliator such as salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide. Then use a warm compress so that the pore can open. Use q-tips and tissue paper to pop the whitehead instead of your fingers or nails.
In order to pop the whitehead, stretch the skin away from it and apply pressure in its direction.
Doing so will cause the whitehead to pop open. After that, clean the area again in order to avoid any risk of further infection. Get this done through a professional to avoid worsening of whiteheads. Popping whiteheads wrongly can lead to infection and scars.
● Over-the-counter products
You can also take the help of over-the-counter medicines in order to get rid of the whiteheads at home.
Products containing ingredients such as benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid, and retinoids help in the quick opening of the pores and formation of new skin cells.
Consult a dermatologist to find the right kind of medication, self-medication can be harmful most of the time.
You can also get rid of the whiteheads that grow all over your body due to the buildup of keratin in your hair follicle on your body.
Use skincare products that contain lactic acid, urea, glycolic acid, azelaic acid which can help in removing the excessive buildup of the keratin. Again, once after your Dermatologist has approved it! Otherwise, you may more harm than good to your skin.
How to Prevent Whiteheads?
While the above steps can help you get rid of the whiteheads, however, you can also prevent them from appearing by
- Washing your face once in the morning and once before going to bed
- Using clean pillowcases
- Following a daily skincare regime
- Eating a proper and healthy diet full of low-glycemic carbohydrates, healthy fats, protein and antioxidants as well
- Getting sufficient rest
If none of these work and you still are suffering from the whiteheads, get in touch with your dermatologist so that he/she can help you with prescribed treatment and medicines.
The best way to care for whitehead-prone skin is to follow a skincare regimen that can help prevent clogged pores since treating whiteheads can be difficult once they appear.
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