What do blackheads, whiteheads and pimples all have in common?
They’re all types of acne. They’re all terribly annoying. And they all make an appearance at the worst of times (usually together – they’re friends like that).
They all have a jolly good time on your face (or back, or chest, wherever), but you just want them to disappear ASAP. The key here is knowing your enemy. They may all be types of acne, but they’re all a bit different and need to be dealt with separately.
Here’s your plan of attack for each of these nasty buggers:
What Causes Breakouts?
You know another thing all forms of acne have in common? They all begin with clogged pores.
Here’s how it works. Your sebaceous glands pump out more sebum (the skin’s natural moisturizer) than it can naturally flow out of the pores.
The excess sebum remains trapped inside the pores, where it gets entangled with dead skin cells. Together, they form clogs. That’s when a breakout occurs.
But, whether it’s a blackhead, a whitehead or a pimple depends on what else is going on inside your pores.
Related: Why Sebum Is Not A Dirty Word
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How To Treat Blackheads
Blackheads are a type of acne that’s NOT inflamed.
They happen when excess sebum, dead cells and other gunk get trapped into the pores near their openings. Here that icky mixture gets lots of fresh air, which has a weird effect on it. Air oxidizes it and turns it a black. So, nope, the colour has nothing to do with dirt. That’s just a myth.
Here’s how to get rid of blackheads:
- Exfoliate with salicylic acid. It gets inside the pores, removing all that crap from within.
- If that doesn’t work, ask your derm to do a BHA peel. That’s a stronger dose of salicylic acid, so it should do the trick.
- Stay away from scrubs and pore strips. They only get rid of the top part of the blackhead. You know, the part on the surface on the skin. But the gunk inside is still there and will give you another blackhead soon enough.
Best Picks:
- Paula’s Choice Calm Redness Relief 1% BHA Lotion ($27.00): available at Feel Unique and Paula’s Choice
- Paula’s Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid ($29.00): available at Dermstore, Look Fantastic and Paula’s Choice
- The Inkey List BHA (£9.99): Available at Cult Beauty, Feel Unique, Look Fantastic, and Sephora
Related: Why I Don’t Use Pore Strips (And You Shouldn’t Either)
How To Treat Whiteheads
A whitehead is a pimple that’s NOT inflamed.
The story begins in the same way. Excess sebum and dead cells clog the pores. But, this time, the opening of the pore is so small, air can’t oxidize it. That’s what it remains white.
Here’s how to get rid of whiteheads:
- Again, your best bet is a salicylic acid-based exfoliant (see above).
- If that doesn’t work, have your derm remove them.
Related: Why Salicylic Acid Is Key To Unclogged Pores And Blemish-Free Skin
How To Treat Pimples
Pimples are red bumps with a raised white, pus-filled tip.
They happen when a clogged pore is under so much pressure that it ruptures. That’s not even the worst of it. It becomes infected with bacteria. Then, it gets inflamed. That’s when the pus is pushed to the surface of the skin.
Here’s how to get rid of pimples:
- In mild cases, a salicylic acid-based exfoliant will do the trick too.
- In severe cases, opt for a spot treatment with benzoyl peroxide. Its exfoliates and kills the bacteria that causes acne.
- If you’re looking for a more natural solution, go with a spot treatment with sulfur. It reduces oiliness, exfoliates skin and kills the bacteria that gives you acne.
Best Picks:
- Epionce Purifying Spot Gel ($38.00): available at at Dermstore
- Indie Lee Blemish Lotion ($26.00):available at Blue Mercury and The Detox Market
- La Roche Posay Effaclar Duo Dual Action Acne Treatment ($36.95): Dermstore and Feel Unique
- Paula’s Choice Clear Daily Skin Clearing Treatment With 5% benzoyl peroxide ($18.00): Dermstore and Paula’s Choice
My skin is normal to dry, but my hair is really oily. Because of that, I usually get breakouts around my hairline and the skin in that area seems quite oily too. It drives me so mad since I don’t really know what products to use. What I usually do is that I don’t moisturize the problem area at all, but is that right?
Regn, not everyone needs a moisturizer. What this product does is simply add water back to the skin, or prevent it from evaporating in the first place. If your skin doesn’t need the extra moisture, you could skip this step. But, I think you should consider using an exfoliant with Salicylic Acid on the affected area. That will keep oil production under control so that it won’t clog the pores and cause breakouts.
That same thing happened to me. I not only got acne on the hairline, but also around the eyebrows. However, I got a godsend with “fantastic for men tea tree shampoo and conditioner.” I don’t think it will matter that it says “for men.” I highly urge you to try it.
Anonymous Helper, thanks for the tip. Tea tree oil is amazing indeed for acne, and is much gentler than most treatments too.
Sometimes I wash my face with a deep conditioning soap and when I’m done I use a hot damp towel and whip my face and it usually takes the oil out my face
Donna, glad you’ve found something that works for you. Thank you for sharing.
For people with oily skin I recommend the clean&clear Oil absorbing acne cleanser. I will take a shower at night and wake up for school by the time I’m dressed I notice if I rub a finger in the cress of nose my finger will shine but with the cleanser I don’t notice oil until around 3 in the day and I come from a blood line with American Indians so my face gets oil bad so it should work
Kris, that’s amazing. So glad you’ve found something that works for you. Thanks for sharing.
What do you mean you can’t squeeze whiteheads? I squeeze mine gently, “bottom to top”, with clean hands and the gunk usually comes out. And yes, I’m talking about whiteheads (closed comedones with no head) and not pimples. I know the difference. Afterward I rub a tiny spot of benzoyl peroxide on the drained pore. As a result, I have no acne scars.
Gerina, I mean that there’s a high risk of scarring, so it’s best if you don’t. But, I’m glad you’ve found a way around that. Thanks for sharing.