Whiteheads '- What Are They In The World Of Acne?

What are those pesky white spots that appear on our faces? They are called whiteheads. These whiteheads are a form of acne that is made up of a mixture of oils, sebum and dead skin cell fragments, which result in a hard firm plug inside of the hair follicle. Sebum is the secretion from the oil glands that consists of fat, keratin, and cellular material. Whiteheads become secluded from the surface of the skin due to dead skin cells plugging the opening of the hair follicle. The white color is caused by the ingredients of the hair follicle not being exposed to oxygen in the air. Whiteheads form a light or yellowish white lump; these lumps are called milia, milium, and singular. Bacteria being added to the mixture inside of a whitehead plug it will probably result in an acne cyst. Preventing cystic acne that begins with a whitehead or whiteheads is very important because acne can cause scars and can be very painful. You will find a lot of over the counter products to help eliminate and prevent whiteheads. However, following a simple face cleansing regime will be more than sufficient in the prevention whiteheads and will help destroy existing whiteheads as well.

Too much exfoliation of the skin cells is what can promote whiteheads to form. Some dermatologists believe that some people' bodies produce a drier form of oil and that promotes the formation of the plug that is known as a whitehead. People that produce drier sebum are believed to be more prone to whitehead breakouts. Sebum produced by most people' oil glands contains a basic and needed fatty acid called linoleic acid and usually the sebum has a liquid tackiness. When linoleic acid is not available the resulting sebum produced contains oleic acid, this acid is very irritating to the skin and encourages hair follicle plugs to form. Whiteheads and blackheads are both caused by this acid 'œmalfunction'� and if not treated properly will lead to acne flare-ups and possible infection.

Consistent cleansing of the acne prone skin on a daily basis is the key to prevention. Unfortunately, there will probably never be an overnight cure for whiteheads or any other form of acne. Follicle health is promoted best with excellent skin care that should be performed on a daily basis. Some dermatologists do not think eating certain foods causes whiteheads and most do not recommend restricting the diet. Whiteheads are also not caused by dirty skin, which means; excessive scrubbing on the skin will not help and may cause the skin to become more irritated. Water based makeup labeled as non-comedogenic can be used safely and will not clog the pores; makeup with a base ingredient of oil should not be used if you are prone to acne.

Most treatments take a long time before any difference is noticed. Benzoyl peroxide has an antibacterial reaction on the acne and may also decrease the reaction that changes of the inside lining of the follicle. This may help reduce the plugging that causes whiteheads. Benzoyl peroxide is a very common treatment and can be used for whiteheads that are mild and it will also help in the future formation of whiteheads. There are stronger prescriptions that cause discharge of the whitehead components. This causes change in plugged whiteheads into open pores. It has been proven that most antibiotics do not help with the removal or prevention of whiteheads or blackheads. A health care provider may use extraction on open whiteheads. This process is performed using a device called a whitehead extractor. A whitehead extractor is an instrument that is positioned over the whitehead and is pushed down onto the surrounding skin, which causes the whiteheads plug to pop out.

Whiteheads and blackheads are types of acne that affect many people. There are so many different treatments, all of which are very effective. No one should ever deal with excessive whiteheads without trying some form of treatment. Most treatments that can be purchased over the counter are very cost effective, which can save you money in the long run. If you suffer from whiteheads you can probably treat them yourself with a strict daily facial cleansing regime. People who suffer from severe whiteheads or have not found an over the counter drug that is effective should be seen by a dermatologist.