Should you squeeze whiteheads on your nose?

Is the bump actually a whitehead?

A whitehead forms when oil and dead skin cells plug a pore and its opening stays closed. It looks like a small raised bump that is white or flesh coloured. A whitehead is a closed, blocked pore, despite its name sounding like an invitation to remove the top. A raised bump filled with pus is a pustule, a different type of acne spot. Neither should be squeezed.23

Why squeezing can make it worse

Pressure can push some of a blemish's contents deeper into the skin, increasing inflammation and making acne more noticeable or painful. Bacteria from your hands can also cause an infection. Picking at whiteheads can lead to more whiteheads and acne scars. Repeated attempts are not a solution to a stubborn bump: squeezing can slow healing, and a deep whitehead might not come out at all.1245

What to do instead

1. 1Wash your face gently morning and evening with a mild cleanser. Avoid scrubbing or repeatedly washing your nose, which can irritate skin and worsen acne.
2. 2Apply an acne treatment following its directions. For treatment of blocked pores, use a thin layer across the affected area rather than treating only individual bumps. The product's directions determine how often to apply it.
3. 3Use moisturizer routinely. Choose skincare and makeup labelled noncomedogenic, meaning designed not to clog pores, and remove makeup at the end of the day.
4. 4Between washes, leave the bumps alone. Be careful around whiteheads when shaving, and regularly clean items that touch your face, such as sunglasses and pillowcases.

Which treatments help whiteheads?

Salicylic acid helps dissolve dead skin cells that clog pores and is available in cleansers and lotions. Retinoids, medicines related to vitamin A, break up whiteheads and help prevent clogged pores; adapalene is one example. Retinoids can cause peeling or changes in skin colour. Using them every other day or alongside moisturizer can reduce these effects. Benzoyl peroxide is another acne treatment, but dryness is common; lower concentrations and wash formulas are less irritating. A pharmacist can help you choose a treatment.35

How long should you wait?

Most individual whiteheads go away on their own, sometimes within seven days. Treating recurring acne takes longer: a response commonly takes six to eight weeks, and worthwhile improvement in blocked pores can take several weeks to months. If you see no results after four to six weeks, a dermatologist can help assess the next step. Treatment often needs to continue to prevent new blocked pores.1456

Can a dermatologist remove them?

A dermatologist can remove whiteheads through acne extraction using sterile instruments. Extraction is usually reserved for bumps that other treatments have not cleared, rather than being the first option. Extraction removes existing plugs rather than preventing new ones, so even professionally cleared pores do not come with a retirement plan. You still need an acne care routine afterwards.1

When to get medical help

See a doctor if spots are deep, painful, numerous or causing scars, or if acne is affecting your mental health. Get medical advice for signs of infection, including hot, swollen and red skin; redness can be harder to see on brown and black skin. If you have already squeezed a bump, stop picking at it rather than trying to finish the extraction.13