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Whiteheads: Causes, Prevention & Treatment
whitehead treatment

Posted:

Jun 27, 2023

Published By:

Este Medical Group

Whiteheads may be a mild and common type of acne, but you don’t have to live with them if you don’t want to. Let us help you discover how to get rid of whiteheads with proven and effective acne treatments that work!

Knowing what are whiteheads can help you prevent and treat them in a way that is safe for your skin — the number one rule of dealing with whiteheads is don’t pop them! 

Read on to find out how to remove whiteheads without damaging or scarring your skin.

Three recommended treatments for whiteheads available at Este Medical in the UK are: 

What Causes Whiteheads?

Whiteheads on the face or body occur when pores are badly clogged and sebum (i.e., an oily substance produced by the sebaceous glands) accumulates causing white bumps on the skin’s surface. 

Essentially, acne whiteheads are a type of skin inflammation that form as a result of:

  • Too much sebum build up 
  • Keratin trapped beneath surface of skin
  • Increase in skin bacteria 
  • Changes in hormones 

Do whiteheads go away on their own? They can go away on their own, but over time they may return if you have not dealt with the root cause of your skin acne. As skincare experts, we strongly recommend you see a healthcare provider to assess your whiteheads and follow their treatment advice. 

Why am I suddenly breaking out with whiteheads? That could depend on your age, as whiteheads are more common among adolescents; however, 10% to 30% of adults can break out with whiteheads. As mentioned above, acne can be caused by the skin producing too much sebum, which, along with dead skin cells, clogs the pores. Clogged pores are the ideal place for acne bacteria to grow. 

Amazing Acne Removal Success Stories! 

Acne before and after results
Anmol Had problematic face acne that had been bothering him for a year when he found Este on social media.
Acne before and after
Adam's face dramatically transformed after Este Medical treatments for severe acne.

Este Medical has helped thousands of youth and adults across the UK overcome their struggle with acne. Contact us to book your acne skincare consultation and get ready to put your best face forward in life!  

The White Elephant In The Room 

Before we go any further sharing tips on how to get rid of whiteheads, let’s address the elephant in the room: Should you pop whiteheads? The answer is no, never pop spots! 

If you have white spots, we recommend that you do not:

  • Pick, poke or squeeze whiteheads
  • Use skin products containing paraffin or petroleum

Unsure if you have whiteheads or milia bumps, then send us a message through our website to book an acne skin assessment with Este Medical. 

How To Get Rid Of Whitehead Bumps! 

As we said, no squeezing! Let’s go over how to remove a whitehead safely and effectively. 

First of all, you can try drugstore products to get rid of whiteheads on your face. Look for skincare products that contain: salicylic acid, azelaic acid, benzoyl peroxide, and retinoids. The goal when choosing drugstore acne products is to get washes, scrubs, or creams that target surface bacteria and exfoliate the pores. Another top tip to prevent whiteheads is to use noncomedogenic products and makeup, and to remove makeup when you become sweaty and before you go to bed. 

If pharmacy acne products for whiteheads don’t work, or your whiteheads keep coming back then it is time to consider a professional cosmetic skincare treatment for acne, or you can ask your doctor about prescription-strength retinoids or oral antibiotics.

Top whitehead treatments your doctor or a medical aesthetician may recommend include: microdermabrasion, chemical peels, laser light energy therapy, and microneedling

How to get rid of hard whiteheads on face? In the case of hard white bumps you may now be dealing with milia. Hard bumps on the face may be a result of trapped dead skin cells that form cysts. HydraFacial and microneedling could help with this skin condition; however, if the white spots or bumps are stubborn to remove, then we recommend you have a Lamprobe treatment for milia removal, which we do offer at UK Este Medical clinics.  

How To Remove Blackheads And Whiteheads Permanently?

We have mainly been focusing on whiteheads in this guide, but blackheads are also another form of unwanted acne that can be treated with similar professional skin treatments. Here are the best treatments to remove whiteheads and blackheads, as well as address acne scarring and skin discolouration

Este Medical in the UK has a variety of treatments to best address your problem with whiteheads, blackheads, and other types of acne including papules, pustules, nodules, and acne cysts

How To Prevent Whiteheads With Este Medical Professional Acne Treatments 

Este Medical’s HydraFacial is one of the best immediate treatments to get rid of whiteheads, combined with regular microneedling treatments to prevent future whitehead breakouts and maintain optimal skin health. 

Because everyone has different skincare concerns and goals, we recommend that to determine which whitehead acne treatments are best suited to your skin type and age, you book a skin assessment at an Este clinic near you as soon as possible.

Last Updated:

June 27, 2023

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