subject: What actually are whiteheads and blackheads? [print this page] Whenever your hear about acne you hear about whiteheads and blackheads. What acutlaly are these and how do they effect me? Let's find out.
When acne develops, it develops on the hair follicles that have sebaceous glands that are attached to them. These specific glands produce an oil termed sebum. Due to certain reason, this sebum changes in not only quality, but the quantity. This change gives rise to scales that produce on the hair follicles. With these new scales, there is a blockage on the skin pores, this is what causes acne.
The first stage of blockage that makes a visibleappearanceis known as blackheads and whiteheads aka comedones. A comedone is a sebaceous follicle that is plugged and filled with the sebum that we talked about earlier. When an comedone is open, it is called a blackhead due to it's blackappearance. A comedone that is blocked is referred to as a whitehead, this is due to the small lightly colored bump that occurs.
So, what is the best thing to do if whiteheads and blackheads appear. One misconception is that you should squeeze them and "pop" them yourself. This is a bad idea as it can leave permanent scars and can also result in infections. The best approach is to call a dermatologist. They have thenecessarytools to pick open these bump in a sterileenvironmentif need be.
The best basic care is to wash your face gently with slightly warm water and mild soap. Never be harsh with your skin, this will never help. Apply topical cream, this can be prescribed by your local dermatologist. Remember that acne treatment takes time and patience.
This article was only meant for informative purposes. Remember that in all situations that regard your health, the best possible answer is to see a doctor, only they know exactly what is the best treatment for your ailment (which, in this case is acne).
