What do whiteheads look like?

What should you look for?

• Shape: A small, rounded or dome shaped bump that rises above the surrounding skin.
• Color: White, yellowish or skin colored, rather than necessarily bright white.
• Surface: Skin covers the plugged pore, so there is no open black tip.
• Texture: Several bumps together can make the skin feel rough.
• Sensation: Whiteheads usually are not swollen or painful, although some are slightly tender.

A whitehead can match the surrounding skin, so the name is not a binding agreement about color. Look at the raised shape and closed surface together rather than using whiteness as the deciding feature. A solid core can sometimes be visible within a comedone, but a visible core alone does not distinguish a whitehead from a blackhead.45

Where do whiteheads appear?

The forehead and chin are common sites, especially when most of a breakout consists of clogged pores. Whiteheads also appear on the nose, cheeks, around the mouth, neck, chest, back and upper arms. They are common in teenagers, but adults can keep getting them or develop them for the first time.16

What is inside a whitehead?

A whitehead forms when oil and dead skin cells plug a pore and the opening stays closed. The medical name is closed comedo; comedones is the plural. Sebum is the natural oil released by your skin. Increased oil production and a buildup of cells in the follicle help create the blockage. A breakout made mostly of whiteheads and blackheads is called comedonal acne.3467

Is it a whitehead, blackhead or pimple?

A white tip on a swollen pimple does not automatically make it a whitehead; acne terminology has not chosen the easiest naming system. Whiteheads are closed plugs, while pustules contain pus. More than one type of acne can appear in the same breakout. A flat mark left after acne clears is also different from a raised, active whitehead.37

What should you do about whiteheads?

Do not pick, squeeze or puncture whiteheads. Picking can cause scars and more whiteheads, and squeezing can introduce infection. If extraction is needed, leave it to a licensed professional. Wash gently rather than scrubbing, moisturize morning and night, and remove makeup before bed. Choose noncomedogenic products, meaning products designed not to clog pores.137

Treatments applied to the skin include salicylic acid, azelaic acid, benzoyl peroxide and retinoids. Treatments for comedonal acne are applied in a thin layer across the affected area, not just individual bumps; follow the particular product's directions for frequency. Retinoids help break up whiteheads and prevent clogged pores, but can cause peeling or changes in skin color.16

With consistent treatment, improvement can begin in eight to 12 weeks, while clearing comedonal acne can take many months. See a healthcare provider if treatment is not helping or causes side effects. Deep, painful lumps or whiteheads alongside severe acne warrant a dermatologist's assessment rather than treating every bump as a simple clogged pore.13