Blackheads vs pimples: What's the difference?

How can you tell them apart?

People sometimes use "pimple" for any acne spot. More specifically, a papule is an inflamed bump without a pus tip, and a pustule is a bump topped with pus. A whitehead is different: it is a closed clogged pore that forms a small skin coloured bump. You can have several types at once.134

Why do blackheads look dark?

A blackhead's plug reaches the skin surface, where air discolours the oil. Neither blackheads nor pimples are caused by dirt, so a blackhead is not a cleanliness report. Acne starts when oil and dead skin cells block hair follicles, the openings where hairs grow. Bacteria can grow inside those blocked follicles and contribute to swollen, painful pimples. Hormonal changes can increase acne, including during puberty and pregnancy, and acne can continue into adulthood.16

What should you do for each?

1. 1Wash gently twice a day. Do not scrub blackheads or pimples; irritation can make acne worse.
2. 2Choose treatment for the spots you have. For blackheads, salicylic acid helps remove dead skin cells, while adapalene unclogs pores and helps prevent new blackheads. Benzoyl peroxide targets bacteria that aggravate acne.
3. 3Use moisturizer regularly, and choose skincare, sunscreen and makeup labelled noncomedogenic, meaning designed not to clog pores. Remove makeup at the end of the day.
4. 4Leave spots alone while treatment works. Picking or squeezing can cause scarring, and popping a pimple can push its contents deeper into the skin.

If your skin is easily irritated, benzoyl peroxide washes and lower concentrations are less irritating options. Dryness is a common side effect. Retinoids, the vitamin A family that includes adapalene, can cause peeling or changes in skin colour. Using a retinoid every other day or alongside moisturizer can reduce those effects. Deep, painful acne needs more than a treatment aimed only at surface plugs.25

How long does treatment take?

Allow 6 to 8 weeks of consistent treatment to see improvement. Reducing a pimple's redness or swelling can make it less noticeable overnight, but clearing blemishes and preventing new ones takes longer. Some shallow blackheads disappear on their own; deeply embedded blackheads are less likely to do so.25

How are blackheads extracted during pimple popping?

Professional blackhead removal is called acne extraction. A dermatologist uses sterile instruments to clear the plugged pore, sometimes after exfoliating the skin. A comedo extractor has metal loops that apply even pressure around a blackhead. Extraction is usually considered when other acne treatment has not cleared the skin, rather than as the first choice. Extraction removes the existing plug, not the pore's ambition to fill up again. Blackheads can return, so ongoing skincare and acne treatment still matter. Large pimples, cysts and nodules require different procedures; a blackhead extractor is not a universal acne tool.27

When should you see a doctor?

Seek medical help if acne is not improving with treatment, you have many spots, or bumps are deep, painful or leaving scars. Hot, swollen and red skin can indicate infection; redness can be harder to see on brown and black skin. Acne affecting your mental health is also a reason to get help. A dermatologist can identify uncertain breakouts and offer treatment suited to their type and severity.45