Whiteheads: Main Causes, How To Treat & Prevent Them Effectively
Aesthetics Daily – You may have seen small white bumps called whiteheads on several parts of your body that can irritate you. Especially if whiteheads appear on the face area which is more likely to affect your appearance.
Excessive sun exposure is one of the causes of whiteheads. You can still prevent this by using sunscreen to avoid clogged pores. In addition, you will need to further identify whiteheads in order to treat them.
What are Whiteheads?
Dead skin cells, bacteria, and oil get trapped in one of your pores causing mild acne called whiteheads. Usually, whiteheads are small but firm that are white or yellow in color. In contrast to blackheads, whiteheads close the pore holes.
If left untreated, whiteheads often tend to turn into pimples especially if they are red and inflamed. Usually, whiteheads appear on the face, chest, back, neck, and shoulders.
The face including the nose, chin and forehead known as the T-zone may be particularly prone to acne. Acne can occur in men and women of almost any age. Even if you don’t have problems with whiteheads, you can still get acne.
Causes of Whiteheads
The exact cause of acne is still being investigated by experts. Hormonal changes that occur due to puberty, menstruation or pregnancy can cause acne breakouts. Another cause of whiteheads is excess sebum production.
The use of certain cosmetic and skin care products is likely to cause acne. When clogged pores are infected with Propionibacterium acnes (P.acnes) bacteria, acne is more likely to appear.
One of the causes of clogged pores is hormonal changes, which are a common trigger for acne. Certain contraceptives that only contain progesterone trigger an increase in hormone levels and cause acne breakouts in women.
According to the researchers, the development of various types of acne including whiteheads can be influenced by genetics. If someone in your family has acne, you are at higher risk for developing acne.
In addition, there are several factors that can aggravate acne including certain medications, pollution, contact with exercise equipment and others.
How to Treat Whiteheads?
You may be tempted to pinch or squeeze your skin to remove whiteheads which is certainly not a good way. Cracking whiteheads without the proper tools and techniques can cause more bacteria to enter the pore.
To get rid of whiteheads, start with a pore cleanser. The salicylic acid content in cleansing products will gently exfoliate your skin and reduce the amount of oil on your facial surfaces. If you have oily skin or sweat a lot during the day, don’t forget the cleaning cloth to clean your face.
Meanwhile at night, remove all your makeup to prevent excess bacteria on your face. Also add a gentle exfoliating scrub to help remove dead skin cells that can clog your pores. However, don’t exfoliate your skin excessively, as this can make acne worse and damage your skin.
Whiteheads, which are a mild form of acne, are relatively easy to treat. The first-line treatment for whiteheads is topical retinoids. However, it took three months to see an effect. Retinoids work to prevent the clogging of pores.
Whiteheads treatment usually involves prescribed drugs or over the counter (OTC) products that are available in the market. Some of the OTC products include lotions, creams, gels, ointments, and soaps. They contain benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid, sulfur, and resorcinol.
However you need to be careful in consuming them as they cause side effects. Some of the possible side effects include irritation, burning, and redness of the skin. If whiteheads develop worse, you will need to try intensive care, guided by a dermatologist.
The recommended drug depends on the type and severity of the acne. For example, when hormones are responsible for acne symptoms, a dermatologist may recommend oral contraceptives, corticosteroids or antiandrogen drugs. In addition, antibiotics can treat the infection and inflammation that accompany some severe acne.
How to Prevent Whiteheads?
The first step you can take to prevent whiteheads is to wash your face regularly. Washing your face once in the morning and at night is enough to keep your face clean and prevent your face from bacteria and oil that clog pores.
You need to wash your face more often if you exercise or be very active during the day. Bring a cleaning cloth to clean and freshen your face anytime when you are traveling.
Avoid touching your face with your hands because your they often come into contact with many objects. Your hands can collect a lot of dirt and bacteria that can enter the pores when they come into contact with your face.
To support healthy skin, you need to maintain a balanced diet that contains low glycemic carbohydrates, protein, and healthy fats. Foods that contain antioxidants can also help nourish your skin and prevent acne breakouts.
If you do use makeup, consider using a cosmetic brand that is non-comedogenic and oil-free. You should also use an oil-free lotion or moisturizer to limit the amount of oil added to your skin.
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