WHAT ARE WHITEHEADS AND HOW DO YOU DEAL WITH THEM?

 We’ve all been there before—you wake up, begin your morning beauty routine, and notice a whitehead has taken up residence on your face. You panic and frantically search “How do I remove whiteheads?”—only to find that this common skincare concern has left you with more questions than answers. Alas, if this blemish type is a problem for you, we’ve got you covered.

Is popping whiteheads a good idea? How do I get rid of whiteheads? And better yet, how do I get rid of a whitehead pimple on my nose? While those are all valid queries, you needn’t worry because we have some solutions. So keep reading for everything you need to know about what causes whiteheads, how to identify them, and how to treat them.

What Are Whiteheads?

A whitehead is a type of blemish that forms when oil, dead skin cells, and bacteria build up in pores causing a blockage, according to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD). If the pore appears more white, that’s a whitehead; if the pore stays open and appears black, that’s a blackhead. These pesky blemishes are pretty common, but the good news is that there are steps you can take to help manage whiteheads, which are a pretty mild form of acne.

What Do Whiteheads Look Like?

Whiteheads look like a raised bump on the skin with a white dot in the center. The raised skin may appear red or inflamed, depending on your complexion, with an enlarged or small white center that is usually filled with fluid that gives this blemish its white color. 

What Causes Whiteheads?

Whiteheads form when your pores get clogged with oil or dead skin, similar to other types of blemishes. According to The Cleveland Clinic, when oil and dead skin accumulate in your pores, your follicles or sebaceous glands (another way of saying oil glands) close to create a visible bump on your skin. Blackheads, on the other hand, are similarly the result of dirt and oil on the skin but the blemish is open. 

What Happens if You Pop a Whitehead?

If you’re trying to figure out how to get rid of whiteheads, note that popping your whiteheads to remove them is not a great idea. As tempting as it is, doing this can worsen acne by spreading bacteria, delaying natural healing, and can lead to dark spots or even post-acne scars. If you got ahead of yourself and already started picking, take this opportunity to test out a spot treatment or put a pimple patch on your blemish and then let it resolve on its own. 

Now, let’s say you did give into temptation and have already popped that whitehead and now have a stubborn dark spot—what to do? After cleansing, turn to a gentle exfoliant like L’Oréal Paris Bright Reveal Dark Spot Exfoliant Peel. Visibly fade dark spots and renew your skin’s texture with this solution up to four times a week. This unique combination of AHAs, BHA, and PHA is inspired by professional peels to bring you brighter, even skin. (Check out a before and after below!)

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