Blackheads vs. Whiteheads: Know the Real Deal
Obviously, the main difference between the two are their color. But these two are nothing but clogged skin pores. Annoyingly, these blackheads and whiteheads seem to favor growing on the nose and cheeks, but they can also be found on the neck, shoulder, chest, and back.
Whiteheads are pores clogged with sebum and some dead skin cells enclosed by a thin layer of skin. And you guessed it! Blackheads are clogged pores extending to the opening of the pore and are palpable. Blackheads are an open blockage and are not enclosed by a layer of skin.
Both cases are bothersome and give you a rough skin!
Can Poor Hygiene Cause Blackheads and Whiteheads?
Lack of proper hygiene can promote clogging of pores. Especially for those who have oily skin. This excess oil can easily clog your pores and form whiteheads and blackheads. If you don’t do something to reduce the oil in your skin, you will end up with clogged pores.
I know you girls often wear make-up, right? And I know that some time in your life, you forgot to take off your makeup before sleeping (probably due to exhaustion?)! This is an unhygienic practice! The make-up ingredients and sebum can block your pores!
What are the Common Causes of Blackheads and Whiteheads?
The number one cause of blackheads and whiteheads is blocked skin pore. But what causes these blockages?
- Excess Sebum Production – Sebum is a natural oil in our body that helps maintain our skin hydrated. But, too much production of it means that you are more prone to skin pore blockage. Unfortunately, some of us produce more oil than needed.
- Hormones – Androgen is a dominant male hormone but is present in both sexes. This hormone is responsible for the development of male characteristics. Sadly, ladies, this hormone is also responsible for the increased production of oil in the skin.One unfortunate thing is, both sexes have an increased amount of androgen during puberty. This is why teens and adolescent commonly suffer the worst conditions.
- Cosmetics – For some women out there, make-up is part of your daily routine. Some products you might be using have residues that stay and chooses to reside on your skin pores! This increases your risk of clogging them!
Is It Okay to Squeeze Them?
Squeezing to unclog those blocked pores is one quick and easy way to get rid of them. But if you are not sure what to do, it would be better to consult a professional before doing so.
- Blackheads – Squeezing is one good way on how to get rid of blackheads! Mature blackheads easily slide out of your pores with some few squeezes! Squeezing blackheads are fine as long as you make sure that you have thoroughly cleaned your hands or the extractor you will be using.
- Whiteheads – If you want to know how to get rid of whiteheads, let me tell you that squeezing them is not advisable. Remember that they are covered closed blockages and have a thin layer of skin enclosing them. Professionals use blackheads and whiteheads remover to facilitate squeezing them out!
So unless you know how to do it and you have the necessary tools to do them, it’s better if you would take a visit to the dermatology clinic first.
Do’s and Don’ts of Blackheads and Whiteheads Removal to Keep in Mind
There are many treatments for blackheads and whiteheads. You can dissolve them, squeeze them out, and admit that you need professional help!
While some remedies can be done at home, be sure that you are hygienically practicing your chosen method.
- Oil Dissolves Oil – If you haven’t read and study much about it, you may think that alcohol or alcohol based cleansers are the way to go on how to remove blackheads and whiteheads, but on the contrary, oil dissolves oil. Take note that a skin care regimen aimed to dissolve oil involves oil. This can help you on how to remove whiteheads and blackheads
- Wash Your Hands Before Squeezing – Squeezing is a surefire way to remove pesky blackheads and whiteheads. But do take in mind that you when you take them out, you are leaving an empty hole. This hole is a perfect breeding place for bacteria which could lead to, err, pimples.
- Wash With Warm Water – Washing with warm water can facilitate on how to remove blackheads and whiteheads. Warm steam and or warm water relaxes the skin and dilate the pores. This opens up the pores which make extraction a little easier.
- Squeeze Mature Blackheads and Whiteheads – You can easily tell the maturity of whiteheads and blackheads by its tenderness. The more tender it is, the more mature they are. Leave out the younger whiteheads and blackheads for later. They are harder to remove, and you might end up leaving the half of the blockage inside the pore! This can lead to infection!
- Wash with Iced Water – After carefully finding a way on how to remove whiteheads and blackheads, wash your skin with cold water. This closes the empty pores and shrinks to its normal level.
- Apply Salicylic Acid to Tighten Skin Pores and Prevent Infection – To further reduce the size of your skin pores, you can apply salicylic acid to cleanse deep inside the pores and prevent the growth of bacteria.
How to Get Rid of Blackheads and Whiteheads and Prevent them from Coming Back
Now that we have expertly extracted those annoying skin plugs, we don’t want them coming back. (We could all agree on this one!) There are effective ways to prevent them from ever coming back! But it will take consistency and effort from you.
- Avoid Using Occlusive Products – Skin care products containing silicones and petrolatum have the highest tendency to clog pores. Minimize using them if you cannot totally avoid them.
- Do Not Sleep with Your Make-Up On – Please, please, please, ladies, wash off your make-ups before going to bed! I know you’re tired, but take off your make-up before sleeping! Don’t let your make-up sit on your face overnight as they could add up to the debris that clogs your pores!
- Wash Often – Washing often reduces the oil, the primary stuff that gets stuck in your pores, in your skin. Do so often especially if you have oily skin.
- Have a Regular Trip to the Dermatologist’s Clinic – Aside from you, there is one more person concerned with your skin. Have a scheduled appointment with your dermatologist to help you maintain your beautiful skin!
Conclusion
Blackheads and whiteheads ruin the texture of your skin, and they can progress to painful pimples clumped together! They can be a result of oily skin and some hormonal factors. Some pre-adolescents and adolescents suffer from severe forms of blackheads and whiteheads accompanied by pimples. This usually goes away when the hormones stabilize.
Nevertheless, we all want to get rid of them for a smooth skin! Squeezing them can be a good way to get them off, but hygienic steps should be observed to prevent infection.
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