Both these occur when pores of the follicle on the skin become clogged with dead skin cells, oil, or bacteria. These types of tiny bumps are called comedones or sebaceous plugs.
Blackheads appear as tiny bumps on the skin as a result of clogged hair follicles. Blackheads are known as ‘open comedones,’ because the blocked pore remains open on the top part of the skin. As the contents of the follicle are exposed to the air, the debris inside the follicle gets oxidized and becomes darker in appearance. Hence it is named ‘blackhead’. Blackheads are basically a mild type of acne; often appear on the nose, and seen on other areas of the face and body.
Whiteheads appear as small, round, white bumps on the surface of the skin. Whiteheads are known as ‘closed comedones,’ because the follicle is completely plugged and are not exposed to the air. The oil and debris trapped inside the pore remain whitish in color. Hence it is called ‘whitehead’. Whiteheads are also the mild type of acne; and appears on the face, shoulders, neck, chest, as well as back.
There are plenty of reasons for developing blackheads, the main among them:
General measures such as:
Medication is available at any drug, grocery, and online without prescription in the form of cream, gel, and pad form. The OTC medicines contain ingredients such as salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide, and resorcinol.
If OTC treatment doesn’t work you may require stronger prescribed medications. Medicines that promote more rapid turnover of skin cells; retinoids such as tretinoin, adapalene, or tazarotene and benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid are used to remove the clogged plugs from follicles. Topical antibiotics are used if the superadded infection is present.
Dermatologists and skincare professionals use a special instrument called a round loop extractor to remove the clogged plugs or blackheads.
During microdermabrasion, a skincare professional uses a machine that sands the top layers of your skin to removes the blocked clogs or blackheads.
Dermatologists use a strong chemical solution to the skin, which in overtime, peels the top layers of the skin and even blocked clogs or blackheads, revealing smoother skin.
Dermatologists use the special radiofrequency machine which is provided with a tiny needle to disrupt the fine superficial layer of closed comedones and later the clogged plugs are removed by loop extractor. These techniques are used for macro-comedones (whiteheads)
It’s always better to take expert professional opinion if they do not respond to homemade remedies. If left treated in time these mild comedones get infected or may turn into severe acne, and in due course left with pores and scars.
