Whiteheads or whiteheads are a type of acne that form when dead skin cells, oil, and bacteria get trapped in a pore. In whiteheads, hair follicles are also trapped, so this type of comedo is also known as closed comedones.
Blackheads are a mild type of acne. Blackheads appear when oil glands produce excessive oil in the skin so that the skin pores become clogged. Blackheads can appear anywhere on the body, but generally occur in the T-zone, namely on the nose, chin and forehead.
White blackheads can be experienced by anyone regardless of age and gender. Even if the person in their teens never had skin problems, whiteheads can appear as adults.
Causes of White Blackheads
As explained above, clogged pores are the main cause of whiteheads. Blockage can be caused by many factors, one of which is hormonal changes.
Hormonal changes are generally influenced by a person's life cycle and age, for example due to puberty, pregnancy, menstruation, or menopause. In addition, consumption of birth control pills and genetic factors also affect hormone levels.
Several factors can increase the risk of developing whiteheads, namely:
- Oily skin, either due to skin moisturizer or humid weather
- Exposure to chemicals, such as isopropyl myristate, propylene glycol , and some cosmetic dyes
- Rupture of hair follicles, for example due to squeezing pimples, washing your face excessively, using chemical peels, or laser therapy
- Foods, especially those containing milk, as well as high levels of sugar and fat
- smoking habit
White Blackhead Treatment
Whiteheads are a mild form of acne so they are quite easy to treat. The main treatment method is to use a facial cleanser or ointment that contains benzoyl peroxide . This substance functions to control excess oil levels in the pores.
Although easy to handle, whiteheads don't go away quickly. It will take at least 2 months to see if treatment with face washes and ointments works. If the blackheads don't improve or get worse after 2 months, see a doctor for medical treatment.
The doctor will prescribe products containing retinoids which function to remove dead skin and unclog pores. In addition, the doctor also prescribes antibiotics if signs of inflammation or redness begin to appear.
Apart from topical and oral medications, whiteheads can also be treated with a number of the following therapies:
Chemical peels
Chemical peels are skin treatments using chemicals. This therapy will be more effective when combined with other acne treatments, except for drugs that contain retinoids.
After undergoing a chemical peel , the skin will feel hot and appear reddish for a while, then long-term skin discoloration occurs.
Comedone extraction
Blackhead extraction aims to remove whiteheads by removing them using a special tool. However, this method can cause scars on the blackheads.
Cortisteroid injection
Corticosteroid injections can be given if the comedones are large, resembling cysts. White blackheads can be removed by injecting steroids directly to the target point.
Unlike comedone extraction, this method does not leave scars or scar tissue on the skin. However, steroid injections can cause side effects in the form of paler skin color and thinning of the skin which can make blood vessels visible from the outside.
Light therapy
As the name implies, this therapy is done with the help of light. Light therapy is thought to be able to kill the bacteria that cause inflammation.
The side effects of this therapy are skin that becomes sore, red, and more sensitive to light.
Complications of White Blackheads
Treatment methods for whiteheads can affect the condition of the skin. If blackheads are often picked or squeezed, the skin will become irritated and infected. In severe cases, this irritation and infection can cause scarring or black spots on the face. In the end, this will spoil the appearance of the skin.
Whitehead Prevention
Changing your lifestyle to be healthier is the main key to preventing whiteheads from occurring. There are several ways you can do this, including:
- Choose non- comedogenic cosmetics , especially if you have acne-prone skin.
- Clean the area with blackheads with facial soap before going to bed and after activities, to remove oil and remove dead skin cells.
- Clean the rest of the cosmetics before going to bed with soap and clean water.
- Avoid using facial soap with a rough scrub , because it can cause skin irritation.