Whitehead or blackhead which is worse

The first step to getting rid of acne is knowing what type of pimple you're dealing with. No matter the battle — even if it's one taking place on your face — it's key to know thy enemy. This rings especially true if acne has taken war on your skin, and the first step is figuring what type of acne you're dealing with. Take blackheads and whiteheads for example. The difference between these two blemishes might seem black and white, but there's so much more to it.

That's why we tapped two leading dermatologists to break down what makes blackheads different from whiteheads, what causes these blemishes, and of course, the best plan of attack for both. Both blackheads and whiteheads occur "when a pore gets blocked with dead skin cells and oils," says Dr. The difference is that in the case of whiteheads, the pore remains closed; whereas with blackheads, the pore is stretched open.

With that in mind, since a blackhead is open at the skin's surface, "the blackheads are versions that are open to air and oxidize, turning the color darker than the closed versions, which are whiteheads," explains Dr. Rachel Nazarian, dermatologist at Schweiger Dermatology Group.

And the not-so-pleasant discoloration is exactly how blackheads earned their name. Salicylic acid works by stripping away dead skin cells that can contribute to acne breakouts.

Azelaic acid. Like salicylic acid, azelaic acid helps to remove dead skin cells that block pores and cause whiteheads, blackheads and inflamed acne to develop. Benzoyl peroxide. However, your healthcare provider may suggest using it if you get a combination of comedonal acne and inflamed acne.

A lot of the time, mild acne such as blackheads and whiteheads can be effectively treated with over-the-counter products. However, if you have large breakouts or get comedonal acne often, your healthcare provider may recommend one of the following prescription medications:. Retinoids like tretinoin are referred to as the mainstay of therapy for acne. Research has shown that tretinoin not only gets rid of visible acne, but also stops new comedones from developing.

Topical retinoids like tretinoin are especially effective for comedonal acne. Tretinoin is one of several ingredients in our customizable acne cream. After a transition period, during which your skin may feel dry, it can get rid of blackheads, whiteheads and other types of acne over the course of a few weeks or months.

Hormonal birth control. If you often develop whiteheads or blackheads, your healthcare provider may prescribe a hormonal birth control pill to help control your acne. Currently, three different birth control pills are approved by the FDA for acne.

Our guide to birth control and acne explains more about how hormonal birth control can be used to control whiteheads, blackheads and other forms of acne. However, your healthcare provider may recommend it if you have a combination of comedonal acne and inflamed or cystic acne. Contrary to popular belief, popping pimples will not help to get rid of them. In many cases, popping your blackheads or whiteheads could actually make your acne worse.

When these glands and follicles become plugged with a buildup of bacteria, dead skin cells, and oil, spots and pimples may occur. Acne can show up anywhere, including your face, neck, chest, shoulders, and back.

Cases of acne can range from mild to severe depending on the person, but individual cases can also worsen or improve over time. Some people suffer from longer and more severe breakouts. There are multiple types of blemishes, too, including whiteheads, blackheads, pimples, papules, pustules, and cysts.

Also called comedones, blackheads form around clogged hair follicles. They look like small, black dots just beneath the skin, and you may get them on your face, back, shoulders, and even chest.

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Each hair follicle has a sebaceous gland that secretes oil, called sebum, to protect the skin and keep it hydrated and soft. The sebum, along with dead skin cells, can collect in the pore, clogging it.

This creates a bump called a comedone. This is what gives blackheads their characteristic black color. Whiteheads are formed mostly the same way as blackheads. Whiteheads are closed comedones. These common blemishes, which are another mild form of acne, are white in color and most commonly appear on the face, back, shoulders, and upper arms—although they have been noted in places where something causes friction on your skin, such as backpacks and tight shirt collars Mayo Clinic, Pimples, for instance, are papules small red, tender bumps that have pus at their tips.

Those painful bumps under your skin that may eventually release pus are cystic lesions, not deep whiteheads. This part of the treatment will remove the buildup from your pores, eliminating the material that has turned black.