Whenever you hear any discussion about acne, the terms whiteheads and blackheads are very common. This article explains the terminologies in brief. Acne infects the hair follicles to which the sebaceous glands are attached. These glands secrete a type of oil called sebum. Due to unknown reasons, the quality and quantity of sebum undergoes sebum. This result in formation of scales on the hair follicle, causing blockage of the skin pores. This leads to acne.
The initial stage of this blockade manifests as blackheads and whiteheads or comedones. A comedone is a sebaceous follicle, entirely filled with sebum, dead cells etc. If the comedone is open, it is called a blackhead and is blackish in color. If the comedone is closed, it is called whitehead. It is a small lump in the skin and has the color of the skin. The mouth of the whitehead is closed while that of the blackhead is open.
If you have blackheads or whiteheads, avoid squeezing them. It can cause infection and permanently scar your face. Getting treated by the dermatologist is the best option. The dermatologist can open the comedones after sterilizing the area, if needed.
Basic care for acne involves washing the face lightly with lukewarm water and mild soap. This clears the excess sebum and dead skin. Treat your skin gently. Apply the topical cream prescribed by your dermatologist. But remember, acne takes its own time to clear. Hence be patient. Any impatience can aggravate the inflammation.