How To Get Rid of Whiteheads and blackheads
Last Updated on July 7, 2017 by Marie Bulatao
What ruins your day more than a bad hair? An enormous zit or those annoying whiteheads that love to take permanent residence on your face just when you are preparing for a special occasion!
What causes whiteheads anyway?
If you have oily skin, the cells around your pore or skin follicle tend to be sticky, attracting dead skin cells and bacteria to be trapped inside. 
Why are blackheads black?
Whiteheads form under a closed pore. Blackheads, on the other hand, do not form under a closed pore. The pore is open, exposing the trapped dead skin cells, oil and bacteria to be exposed to air. Once it gets exposed to air, it turns dark, thus becoming a blackhead.
I am always tempted to pick on my blackheads/whiteheads? Is it ok to do that?
It is NEVER okay to pick on your blackheads/whiteheads. The bacteria can go deeper into your pore causing inflammation. And what do you get after an inflamed pore? A scar, which you would not like to have! One way to blackheads and whiteheads removal is applying over-the-counter spot treatments. These spot treatments have salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide, which helps in drying, disinfecting and healing your blackheads/whiteheads. If the inflammation gets really bad, it is recommended that you go see a dermatologist who could prescribe tretinoin or adapalene. Blackheads and whiteheads removal at home can also be done. Steam your face for about five minutes. This would open the pores, making it easier to dislodge the whitehead from the pore. I personally like using nose strips or clay nose masks, though, because I don’t need to touch the whitehead. With the nose strip or clay nose masks, you simply moisten the strip/apply the nose mask on your nose where most whiteheads or blackheads are. The moment the strip or clay nose mask dries, pull the strip/hardened nose mask and the whiteheads/blackheads will stick to the gunk. I used to do this when I was in my teens. I would inspect the strip/hardened mask under the lamp and you could literally see the pulled whiteheads lining up the strip. Ewww! Once the blackheads/whiteheads are removed, you could literally see the open pores where they came from. Don’t give the bacteria a chance to get back inside! Apply over-the-counter medication with salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide or even an anti-bacterial ointment to prevent infection. The remedies for whiteheads removal on other areas of the body like the back and shoulders are the same as when you are treating facial acne. The best option is a lotion with salicylic acid since benzoyl peroxide can stain clothes. 
Marie
