Medical Encyclopedia

Blackheads are also known as open comedones or pimples. Blackheads are follicles that have a wider than normal opening. Due to the overactiveness of sebaceous glands much oil is secreted which further expands and thickens the pores of the skin clogging them. The pores remain open for the tip of the clogged grease to be exposed to air and dirt. The follicles undergo a chemical reaction resulting in the oxidation of melanin that gives the instance inside the follicles the typical black color.
Being present in every type of the skin blackheads are likely to develop in people with very oily skin. Pregnancy is considered to be a period favorable for the formation of whiteheads and blackheads acne as the female body goes through a great deal of hormone change during this period. Many women experience acne starting or stopping birth control pills.

Whiteheads are closed comedones. They also occur due to sebum, oil and cellular fragments which combine and become rigid to form unbreakable plugs inside the follicles. But due to the closed surface whiteheads are not exposed to oxygen and do not undergo any chemical reaction to cause a black center in them like in the case of blackheads. They appear slight yellow in color. Whiteheads can cause acne and in severe cases lead to cystic acne. Whiteheads are likely to turn up on the skin around the eyes, cheeks and areas with fine skin.

The exact cause of whiteheads and blackheads is unknown. Many doctors and scientists believe that they result from the increased production of androgens (male hormones) in both boys and girls during puberty. Androgens cause sebaceous glands to produce more oil or sebum which, in its turn, is secreted to the surface of the skin through tiny pores, consequently leading to whiteheads and blackheads.

The treatment for whiteheads and blackheads is various. There are a number of acne treatments available on the market today, like Retin-A. But one can safely do without any drugs in order to cure themselves of whiteheads and blackheads acne. One can use gentle exfoliating scrubs or gentle peels which would contribute to the reduced formation of whiteheads and blackheads. But in case the skin condition does not seem to get better, it will be beneficial to apply to topical agents like Retin-A, specifically designed to fight any types of acne including whiteheads and blackheads. Being a derivative of Vitamin A Retin-A works by increasing cell turnover and reducing the stickiness of the sloughed cells. It helps expel the plugged material returning the pore to the normal condition. Retin-A removes keratin plugs that form blackheads and decreases the number of small inflammatory papules. The drug must be applied to the washed and after dried skin otherwise the application to the wet skin may cause skin irritation. After putting a thin layer of the topical medication on the skin the treated area should not be washed off for an hour.