White comedones or so-called whitehead is a type of acne that forms when dead skin cells, oil, and bacteria get trapped in the pores. The hair follicles are also trapped, so they are also called closed comedones.
Blackheads themselves are a type of mild acne and appear due to excess oil production produced by the oil glands on the skin and causes clogged skin pores. Blackheads can appear anywhere on the body, but are usually on the nose, chin, and forehead (or what's known as the 'T zone'). These white comedones can also sometimes look like sand pimples.
Anyone has the opportunity to have whiteheads, regardless of age and gender. Even though in adolescence they never experienced skin problems, everyone still has the potential to have blackheads when they grow up, depending on their lifestyle and daily habits.
Causes of White Blackheads
Knowing the cause of whiteheads will help prevent this type of acne from developing in the future. Therefore, an understanding of the causes of whiteheads is very important. As explained above, clogged pores are the main cause of whiteheads. Blockage of the pores can be caused by many factors, one of which is hormonal changes.
Hormonal changes are generally influenced by a person's life cycle and age, for example due to puberty, pregnancy, menstruation, or menopause. Consumption of birth control pills and genetic factors also affect the increase in hormones.
In addition, there are several factors that can increase the risk of whiteheads forming, namely:
- Oily skin, either due to skin moisturizer or due to humid weather.
- Exposure to chemicals, such as isopropyl myristate, propylene glycol, and some cosmetic dyes.
- Rupture of hair follicles, for example due to squeezing pimples, excessive washing of the face, peeling using chemicals, or laser therapy.
- Smoke. The results showed that whiteheads were more common in people who smoked than those who did not.
- Some food products, especially those containing milk and high sugar and fat content.
White Blackhead Treatment
White comedones are a mild form of acne, so they are relatively easy to treat. Facial cleansing soap or ointment products containing benzoyl peroxide is the main choice for dealing with this problem. This product is also sold freely in the market or can be prescribed by a doctor, so it is not difficult for us to get it. Benzoyl peroxide functions to control excess oil levels in the pores.
White comedones can't be cured in just one night's treatment. It will take at least two months to see if treatment with face wash and ointment works. If blackheads don't improve or get worse during this time, it's best to see your doctor for other treatment options. The doctor will prescribe a product that contains retinoids, which work to remove dead skin and unclog pores. In addition, doctors also prescribe antibiotics if signs of inflammation or redness begin to appear.
In addition to topical and oral medications, whiteheads can also be removed with a number of therapies, including:
- Chemical peels. This therapy is a skin treatment using chemicals. This treatment is more effective when combined with other acne treatments, except for medications that contain retinoids. After undergoing chemical peels, the skin will feel hot and appear reddish for a while, and long-term skin discoloration occurs.
- Comedone extraction. This method aims to remove whiteheads by removing them with the help of special tools from a dermatologist. The side effect of this method is that it can cause scars on the blackheads.
- Corticosteroid injection. Corticosteroid injections can be given if large blackheads resemble cysts. Whiteheads can be removed by injecting steroids directly into the target point. Unlike blackhead extraction, this method does not leave scars or scar tissue on the skin. Side effects of steroid injections are paler skin color and thinning of the skin which can make the blood vessels visible from the outside.
- Light therapy. As the name implies, this therapy is done with the help of light. This therapy is quite successful for removing blackheads, but still needs further study for improvement. Light therapy is thought to be able to kill bacteria that cause inflammation. The side effect is that it causes the skin to become sore, red, and more sensitive to light.
Complications of White Comedones
The way whiteheads are treated can affect the condition of the skin. If blackheads are often picked or squeezed, the skin will experience irritation and infection. If severe, this irritation and infection can cause scarring or black spots on the face. In the end, this will spoil the appearance of the skin.
Whitehead Prevention
Lifestyle changes to become healthier is the main key to preventing whiteheads from forming. There are several ways you can do this, including:
- If you want to use cosmetics, choose one that does not cause blackheads (non-comedogenic), especially if you have skin that is
- Clean the blackheads area with facial soap, before going to bed and after activities, to remove oil and remove dead skin cells.
- Clean the rest of the cosmetics before going to bed using the technique double cleansing, i.e. use micellar water then wash your face with soap and clean water.
- Avoid facial soap with scrub harsh, because it can cause skin irritation.