Blackheads and whiteheads are type of acnes which are not as annoying as the red painful pimples, but can disrupt a beautiful face to a certain extent. This is a common problem for boys and girls in their teens and those in their early twenties. However, it is not only confined to teenagers. People in their thirties and forties with oily skin also suffer from this skin issue.
Blackheads and whiteheads, known as comedones, are non-inflammatory skin blemishes. They can be more numerous on the face and shoulders than red bumps filled with pus. Good, consistent skin hygiene can help improve this condition. Therefore, knowing more about what causes comedones and how to treat them is a step towards clearer skin.
Whiteheads may seem like they appear overnight, but they can actually take up to two months to form before they’re visible. They may show up as tiny white spots, or they may be so small that they are invisible to the naked eye.
Whiteheads are formed when a hair follicle gets obstructed by an oily layer of the skin, known as sebum. As the follicles are obstructed, dead skin does not get expelled, which causes a whitehead. Contrast to blackheads, whiteheads are closed comedones, as the air cannot reach the follicle and it remains white. The reason why they are seen mostly during teenage is that the sebaceous glands, which produce sebum, are most active during teenage. Over-active sebaceous glands can also increase the level of hormone androgen, which in turn increases the production of sebum.
Whiteheads being so small remains invisible to the naked eye. It is only when they start transforming into pimples, they become visible. And as they can get worsened by forming pimples, it becomes necessary to treat them as soon as possible. As we know, getting rid of pimples can be a Hercules task! Face is the most common place of whiteheads’ outbreak. Nose, chin, forehead are the most common places where they are seen. However, they can also occur on shoulders and thighs.
Blackhead is a type of acne also known as open comedone. According to medical practitioners, blackheads are the first stage of acne, forming before bacteria invade the pores of our skin, which in turn results in infection and inflammation (otherwise known as the pimple).
Acne and blackheads usually develop when the skin produces too much oil. A major factor contributing to excess oil production is the onset of puberty. This excess oil leads to clogging of pores. When the pore opens to the surface, and the sebum, which contains the skin pigment melanin, oxidizes and turns a brown/black colour, blackheads are formed. It is not dirt and cannot be washed away. Blackheads can last for a long time because the contents very slowly drain to the surface.
Another common cause of the appearance of blackheads is that the skin has not been cleaned thoroughly. When skin is not cleaned properly, dead skin cells accumulate within the pores. These dead cells then clog the pore opening which then results in oil build up, which we already know causes blackheads to form. Yet another cause of clogged pores is the use of too much makeup. Excessive use of moisturizes, foundations or sun screens can also have the same effect as the overuse of makeup.