When it comes to whiteheads, patience is your best bet. If you leave your whiteheads alone, they will disappear within a couple of days, says "Seventeen" magazine's beauty department. But sometimes you need clear skin as quickly as possible, so you'll need to take action to erase your whitehead without waiting. You can get rid of whiteheads, but squeezing still isn't a good solution because it will cause redness, inflammation and possibly, scarring.
Step 1
Press an ice pack against your whitehead for about 30 seconds to soothe inflammation and reduce any redness.
Step 2
Wash your skin with a salicylic acid cleanser -- it will help remove oil and bacteria clogging your pores, explains Brent Wainwright, dermatologist at New York University Medical Center, in "Cosmopolitan" magazine.
Step 3
Use your fingertip to gently dab benzoyl peroxide cream onto your blemish throughout the day. The benzoyl peroxide will dry out your whitehead, making it less visible, explains Diane S. Berson, clinical assistant professor of dermatology at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York City and a board member of the American Acne and Rosacea Society, in "Allure" magazine.
Step 4
Ask your dermatologist for a cortisone shot if your whitehead isn't fading fast enough, recommends Berson. These shots can wipe out whiteheads within a few hours.
Tips and Warnings
- If your whitehead leaves a red mark on your skin as it fades, you can use ice or cortisone cream to reduce redness. If whiteheads are a serious or ongoing skin problem for you, ask your dermatologist about treatment options. You may need prescription-strength treatments to clear up your acne.
Things You'll Need
- Ice
- Salicylic acid cleanser
- Benzoyl peroxide cleanser
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