Whiteheads, closed comdeones type of acne, are the non-inflammatory lesions which appear as a small white bump on your skin when your hair follicles are clogged with oil, dead skin cells or bacteria. The white color of these types of acne is because of the closed ends of these small bumps which prevent oxidation of melanin present in your skin unlike blackheads where oxidation takes place because of the open ends of these bumps changing its color to black.
We are going to keep this article direct and simple to help you prevent and get rid of whiteheads, however if you are interested in going deeper into acne, its types, causes and treatment. I personally recommend this article Acne Vulgaris: Types, Causes & Treatment and if you are interested in understanding your skin because that’s what clears the fundamentals and helps you better understand acne or any type of skin related conditions, I suggest you read this article Skin & Skin Types: A Comprehensive Study Backed By Science.
Below I’ve shared a list of possible treatments and preventions to help you prevent and get rid of whiteheads, which are also beneficial for what is commonly known as Acne.
Top 5 Ingredients To Help You Prevent and Get Rid Of Whiteheads
The treatment relies on OTC products available in the market for which you do not require any prescription from your doctor and, therefore you can purchase them over-the-counter and apply on your skin or add to your personal care routine which can help you get a clear skin.
1. Retinoids
This is one of the best ingredients you should look for while adding a new personal care product to your bucket. It is highly effective when it comes to treating acne and derived from Vitamin-A. it has anti-inflammatory properties which help reduce the redness and inflammation associated with acne. it also unclogs the pores while promoting the formation of new skin cells and eventually helping prevent the formation of whiteheads.
Studies suggest that adding Retinoids to your skin care routine likely to decrease the number of comdeones and inflammatory lesions by 40% to 70%.
2. Benzoyl Peroxide
Benzoyl Peroxide is an antibiotic which is very effective in treating anti-inflammatory diseases. It helps in the treatment of whiteheads by weakening the resistance of P. acnes,a bacteria responsible for causing acne.
You can find this in the market in strength ranging from 2.5% to 10%.
Commonly, higher concentration perceived to be more effective but it is advisable to start with the lowest concentration possible and gradually increase as your skin builds tolerance against it while ensuring its suitability to your skin type.
3. Erythromycin (Topical)
Erythromycin also fall under the category of antibiotics which is similar to benzoyl peroxide, treats acne by inhibiting the growth of P. acne while weakening its resistance. However, it is not recommended to be used be used routinely because P. acnes may become resistant and you may not be able to see any benefit from it.
Talking about its effectiveness, it is likely to reduce inflammatory lesions by 46% to 70%, study suggests and it only be used as a topical preparation.
4. Azelaic Acid
A magic ingredient which can be easily found naturally in wheat, rye, and barley. This is an anti-microbial agent which treats acne by inhibiting the growth or killing P. acnes, a bacteria responsible for causing acne.
Study suggests that this acid can be topically used in an effective treatment of acne for all skin types. It is also non-irritant so; it does not cause any irritation when applied on the skin. More importantly, it can be used for spot treatment as well for a long period.
5. Salicylic Acid
It’s not as effective as retinoid but its topical application does help in the treatment of whiteheads. Since it has anti-inflammatory properties, it helps reducing the redness and inflammation while removing the top layer of damaged skin and dissolving dead skin cells to prevent hair follicle from clogging. It is naturally present in wintergreen leaves and the bark of white willow.
As suggested earlier, it should be used in a low concentration initially and gradually increase the concentration ensuring its suitability for your skin because it may also cause an itch, skin tangling and hives etc.
Top 5 Tips To Help To Prevent Whiteheads
It’s not just the ingredients that work but what you do on regular basis, how you take care of your skin and what habits you bow to are equally important. Below, I’ve shared a list of only 5 tips but effective, check these out.
1. Exfoliate your skin regularly.
Make a habit of exfoliating your skin, specifically right before going to bed. There’s no evidence that suggest acne is caused by poor hygiene or dirt but there’s solid evidence that suggest that acne is caused by overproduction of sebum and when that sebum clogs the pores of your skin therefore, it’s important, specifically for oil skin type people to wash your face gently with a scrub to remove the excess oil. This is can not only help you avoid acne naturally, but also remove tan from your face.
2. Avoid make up while you are sleep.
Make sure that the make-up you were wearing all day is removed. These products are known to have certain chemicals which may be harmful for your skin and may even cause irritation and redness etc. Use a micellar water to effectively remove the makeup and sleep with a clean skin.
3. Don’t ignore beauty sleep.
While you are asleep, your body goes into recovery mode. It regenerates skin cells, promote collagen production, reduce inflammation and improve skin barrier function and more importantly increases the blood flow which nourishes your skin and promote overall skin health. When it comes achieving a heathy skin, Beauty Sleep Is A God Made Product suitable for all skin type and unlike traditional production, it actually works!
4. Be conscious of what you apply on your skin.
Consciously read labels of the product you apply on your skin. Some of these products contains harmful chemicals which may negatively affect your skin. Look for chemicals such as Butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), Diethanolamine (DEA), Formaldehyde, Parabens, Phthalates etc. and avoid products which contains one of these.
5. Make sure you that are drinking enough water everyday.
It’s no secret that our body consist of 60% water and there are hundreds and thousands of studies which emphasis on the importance of drinking water and how beneficial it is for your skin so, drink up! Keep track of how much water you are drinking a day while making sure the water you drink is clean.
When our skin is hydrated, it can help to avoid dryness and the problems associated with it, it can keep your skin moist which further promotes skin elasticity and ultimately helping you achieve a healthy skin. Staying Hydrated is also one of the 6 principles of Korean Skin Care Routine.
Conclusion
In a word that is driven by technology and backed by science, there is no limit to options available out there for treatment of a single disease or condition, there no limitation to accessibility to knowledge that is out there, ready to be acquired and implemented, but it’s the number of people which are limited who are unable to take advantage and leverage it. The point is, curate a routine for your skin, and stick to it. Changing path impatiently, doesn’t get you to the destination faster.
