Whiteheads are a non-inflammatory type of acne that occurs as a result of oil clogging the pores on the skin. Bacteria and oil become trapped below the surface of the skin and a white spot appears in its place. Whiteheads are closed comedones, because the follicle is completely blocked. Whiteheads can commonly appear on the face, especially the nose and forehead. If you are unsuccessful at treating your whiteheads at home, speak to a dermatologist for treatment recommendations.
Step 1
Steam your face to open the pores. If you want to get rid of whiteheads, you should first fill a bowl with boiling hot water. Place your face over the bowl with a towel behind your head. Allow the steam to penetrate your face for five minutes.
Step 2
Use an extraction product to get rid of the whiteheads. One option is to use pore strips to remove the comedones. You place the adhesive side of the strips on the area that contains the whiteheads. Allow the strip to dry to the skin for five to 10 minutes. Peel away to remove comedones. Discard the strip. Another option is to push the whitehead onto the surface of the skin with a comedone extractor. The extractor is a stainless steel tool that uses one end to push the whitehead out and the other end to scoop the debris, once it has pushed through to the surface.
Step 3
Treat the affected area with an over-the-counter (OTC) acne topical solution after comedone extraction. The treatment product you choose should contain salicylic acid to help remove dead skin cells and oil that can clog the pores.
Step 4
Wash your face with a gentle cleanser each morning and each night. Remove any bacteria and excess oil from the face with an oil-free face wash.
Tips and Warnings
- Whitehead extraction can be irritating to the skin; tools should be used gently.
Things You'll Need
- Bowl
- Towel
- Hot Water
- Comedone extractor
- Salicylic acid solution
- Mild face wash
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