What Are White Heads?
Acne is a skin disease that affects millions of people worldwide. Acne is characterized by bumps on the skin that can be either singular or can be spread out across a wide area. There are many kinds of acne, but whiteheads are the most common. Knowing what whiteheads are and how to treat them can help keep this skin problem under control.
-
Identification
-
Whiteheads are a type of acne that tends to form during the teen years but can grow at any time. They are white in color. They are the most common form of acne on the planet, and they affect millions, if not billions of people around the world. They often grow in hard-to-reach places or in places that are hidden or hard to wash. Whiteheads often grow under the bangs of people with longer hair who do not wash their forehead often enough. They also often grow on the legs in places that may be easy to skip or neglect to wash. They are filled with pus, which is what gives them their white color.
Formation
-
Whiteheads are formed like most acne. Excess oil on the skin is deposited in the hair follicles on the skin. This oil, along with fragments of cells and sebum, ends up getting rigid, which causes the whitehead to stick out from the skin. Whiteheads are closed off from the air, which is what causes them to get their white color. Sometimes, bacteria will be deposited on these whiteheads, which can cause further problems. If whiteheads get infected or inflamed, it will lead to a wider distribution of acne around the face.
-
Significance
-
Whiteheads are not a serious concern. In the average person's lifespan, they will have dozens, if not hundreds of whiteheads, depending on their personal hygiene. However, whiteheads can become a problem if they are left untreated or if too many of them grow to take care of effectively or quickly. Whiteheads can leave scars and marks on the skin, some of which can be permanent. This is why they should be treated as quickly and efficiently as possible.
Features
-
The differences between whiteheads and blackheads are minimal. As mentioned earlier, whiteheads are closed off from open air. This is why they are called closed comedones. While there is a small opening in most whiteheads, this opening is not large enough for air to enter. This means that the air will not oxidize the materials of the whitehead, and this is what makes it stay white. However, blackheads are much more open to the air. They are referred to as open comedones. This large opening allows the material of the blackhead to oxidize. This oxidation causes the material to turn from white to black. There are no major differences in whiteheads and blackheads besides this one.
Treatment
-
One of the best treatments for acne and whiteheads is prevention. Wash your face with warm water three times a day and avoid oil-based makeup. Take a shower every day and scrub all over. This will help clear your skin of excess oil. This is especially important if you are going through hormonal changes, such as puberty or pregnancy. Hormonal changes often trigger excess oil. You can also use benzoyl peroxide on your skin to help prevent your pores from clogging. You also can use rubbing alcohol or special acne soaps to get rid of acne that is already on your skin. If you ever have an infection, see a dermatologist to get an antibiotic. This will stop the spread of acne. Though many people pick or pop their whiteheads, this is not advised. This can damage the skin, lead to further blockage, and even infection. This is often how acne scars are formed. Never use a suction devise either--it can actually aggravate your acne. Pore cleansing strips are not effective on whiteheads either.
-
