White blackheads? How are Blackheads and Whiteheads Different?

by Lorena Jimenez on Feb 19, 2019

Funny enough one of the most frequently googled words about this subject is white blackheads. Which already says a lot about the general confusion among these two types of blemishes, or should we say, two different types of acne.If you also tend to confuse these two terms, do not worry, it is normal since they are two highly correlated skin concerns. It can be difficult to differentiate them BUT, from today you will never have to struggle again because today we will be going through the most important things that you need to know about both.

Are Whiteheads and Balckheads the Same?

The answer to this question is no. Although whiteheads and blackheads are similar they do not refer to the same exact skin condition. And therefore the way to treat and eliminate blackheads and whiteheads can be very different.

Blackheads

If we go through the definition of blackheads that I gave you on the first article Blackheads Fact Checking: What are they and why Do We Get Them?

“ Blackheads are essentially an accumulation of waste in which the most external part has become black due to oxidation. “

Oxidation, like the name suggests, only occurs when something comes into contact with oxygen itself. And therefore the thing in question, in this case, the blackhead,the hair follicle has to be open to the air in order to oxidize.

What makes blackheads black?

The answer is Oxidation. The oxidation process gives blackheads that black color, that might be also the main reason why you might think that you have so many blackheads compared to whiteheads which tend to be less visible. This oxidation process is actually one of the main differences among whiteheads and blackheads.In blackheads, the Sebum and waste clogging the pore are actually out in the open and exposed to air. Whereas whiteheads even when they are essentially also an excess of sebum, bacteria and dead skin cells clogging the pore, they are covered by a thin layer of skin that prevents the oxidation process that we were talking about.If there is no opening for air to get in, the sebum will not turn black which is the reason why whiteheads keep that yellowish-whitish type of color.

What are Whiteheads?

Whiteheads, just alike blackheads can be considered a version of non-inflammatory acne. In all those conditions there is a common denominator, the blockage of the pilosebaceous units present also in acne or blackheads.Yes they all come from blocked pores, but each has some specific characteristics when compared to each other:• Whiteheads are a less inflammatory type of blemish, when compared to acne.• Whiteheads differ from blackheads through the thin layer of skin that prevents the oxidation process that changes their color.When it comes to whiteheads color is not the only difference when comparing whiteheads to blackheads. Since the oxidation process also tends to harden the waste contained into the pore.

How to take care of whiteheads?

Why is the consistency of the blemish important you might ask. Well, more than just to help you differentiate among whiteheads and blackheads, or to give you a hint on how old and therefore oxidized the blackhead is (the “older” the blackhead the harder and darker it tends to be) The consistency of the blemish also plays an important role in how it should be taken care of or removed.Since whiteheads are still covered with skin and have a different consistency the ideal treatment routine for them will be slightly different from the one for blackheads.If you want to learn more about how to treat whiteheads, I suggest you have a look at this video that not only goes in depth through all this process, but also includes some product recommendations and all you need to know on how to take care of whiteheads.Also check,"4 Effective Home Remedies for Whiteheads"