Posts
Hi!
Ever noticed tiny spots on your nose? Those bad boys not only ruin a great picture, they can make you squirm when you look at them up-close with a microscope. Commonly recognized as blackheads or whiteheads, those tiny spots can do wonders on your self-esteem. They're very much like pesky on your nose. You can shoo them away but they will always come back. Likewise, blackheads or whiteheads are always present and need great treatment to remove them.
Before we discuss different treatment methods, let's find out more about blackheads and whiteheads:
 |
| Blackheads Before & After |
What are Blackheads?
Dr. Zoe Draelos, a dermatologist from North Carolina, states, "A blackhead is a wax plug in a pore made up of dead skin cells, debris and bacteria. What causes them is a blockage in the pore that prevents the gland from secreting and shedding what it needs to (oil, dead skin cells, etc.) Then, as the wax plug slowly gets pushed towards the skin's surface, it comes in contact with the air, which oxidizes it and turns black."
What are Whiteheads?
Dr. Dendy Engelmann, board certified dermatologist for Clearasil, explains "In those who are acne prone, the cells lining the follicle (or pore) are stickier. This can cause the opening of the follicle to get clogged. When this happens dead skin cells, sebum (or oil), and bacteria become trapped leading to a closed comedone (AKA whitehead)."
Although, whiteheads are similar to blackheads, they differ by having a microscopic opening to the skin surface. As air cannot reach the follicle, the material isn't oxidized and hence remains white.
