Blackheads and whiteheads, known as comedones,
can be more numerous on the face and shoulders than red bumps filled with pus.
Whiteheads are a combination of oils, sebum and cellular fragments that produce
firm to hard plugs within hair follicles. Whiteheads are closed from the top of
the skin by the cellular fragments at the follicle opening.
Whiteheads are
promoted by excessive cellular exfoliation, which quickly clog or block the
follicles. Some skin specialists believe individuals with frequent and multiple
blackheads and whiteheads produce sebum that is drier than normal and conducive
to forming firm plugs. Sebum contributes to skin oils and people with dry sebum
may have dry skin and this may be especially true of people with chronic
whiteheads.
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What causes whiteheads
The sebaceous glands normally produce sebum
with linoleic acid (omega 6), an essential fatty acid. The sebum stays within
the pore, they usually look like small white spots and sometimes they can be
invisible to the eye. Some skins inherently do not do a good job of exfoliating
or might secrete excess sebum. Using skin care products that do not suit the
user's skin type or using inferior quality skin care products. Continuous
exposure to sun can also cause milia. The skin gets thicker and this becomes a
stumbling block in exfoliation of the epidermal layer. Get rid of whiteheads is
use to benzoyl peroxide. Cleansing with gentle exfoliation helps get rid of
those unwanted whiteheads, it also prevents fresh whitehead formation.
Do not use products that do not suit your skin
type and do not touch your skin with bare hands regularly. Tretinoin (Retin-A,
Avita, Renova) is the mainstay of treatment for whiteheads and blackheads.
Never squeeze or forcibly remove the whiteheads otherwise you will get a scar
or skin infection. Apply homemade scrubbers made by fruit peels. Dry orange
peels in the sun and make a powder of them by grinding them. Rubbing lemon peel
on the skin helps in reducing whiteheads.Use medicated soaps and cleansers on
the skin and apply oil free moisturizers. Drink fresh fruit juices and drink a
glass of warm water with some lemon juice into it first thing in the morning.
It helps in detoxifying the skin.
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Whiteheads Treatment and Prevention Tips
1. Use oil-free moisturizers.
2. Use facial products that are oil free.
3. Clay mask used once a week also helps.
4. Rubbing lemon peel on the skin helps in
reducing whiteheads.
5. Keep your skin clean and do not pinch
whiteheads with fingernails.
6. Use a mild soap or face wash and wash your
face with warm water at least twice a day.
7. Cleansing with gentle exfoliation helps get
rid of those unwanted whiteheads.
8. Gentle exfoliating scrub used once a week
helps remove the surface debris thus preventing whiteheads.
9. Try using oatmeal and curd and scrub your
face with this combination, it works wonders on whiteheads.
10. Peels containing alpha hydroxy acid or
beta hydroxy acid can be used periodically at home to get rid of whiteheads.