How to Treat White Head Pimples the Right Way

White head pimples are annoying BUT they are the easiest type to treat!

Basically they are a blocked pore with a layer of dead skin over the opening…

The tips on this page will help you get rid of white head pimples faster and prevent new ones from forming.

How To Treat White Head Pimples

• When you first see one appear there is usually a small amount of inflammation. Don’t try to squeeze it now while it’s still forming. It will stick around for a lot longer and become a larger, uglier mess!
• Apply a clay mask to the spot. This can dry pimples out completely—especially if you can leave it on overnight—so you’ll just need a bit of concealer to cover any remains
• If there is no inflammation (no redness or tenderness) you can pop. Some are formed this way, and others lose all inflammation after the first day.
• The best way to get rid of a small whitehead is to pop it (believe it or not). There’s always advice against doing this but if squeezed right that spot can disappear faster.

See also: How to Really Use Toothpaste on Pimples

How to Prevent White Head Pimples

If you deal with whiteheads often, there’s something in your skin care routine or lifestyle that is causing them.

Treat the ones already on your face with the options above. Then implement some of the points below to prevent more from forming:

• Assess your skin care: eliminate too-rich moisturizers, heavy sunscreens and thick makeup as these can clog pores.
• Choose a sunscreen  that is non-comedogenic (usually the ones without physical blockers like zinc)
• Do a double cleanse every night to thoroughly clean skin.
• Follow your cleanse in the evening with an exfoliant to dissolve oil and dead skin cells. This takes care of existing whiteheads and prevents new blockages from developing.
• Use our Glycolic Acid Exfoliator 7.5%. Wipe this over your face until the cotton comes away clean so you can be sure there’s no dirt left
• If your skin isn’t properly hydrated it will produce more oil to compensate – make sure your cleanser isn’t too harsh (better to do a double cleanse with a gentler one). And always follow with with a light hydrating moisturizer
• At least twice a week, apply a clay mask for 20mins to detoxify and exfoliate skin, control oil, help get rid of acne and unclog pores

Where on your face are they forming? This can be important…

Take note of where most whiteheads are appearing on your face:

• Around the hair line can be from not rinsing shampoo thoroughly.
• Sides of the face can be from using a phone or not changing your pillowcase regularly.
• Breakouts on your cheeks are generally from too-rich creams and insufficient cleansing. Sometimes exercising in the evening with the day’s make up still on
• Try a daily application of glycolic acid to keep your pores unblocked and skin clear
• Working up a good sweat at least twice a week is a great way to clean out pores and increase circulation to skin. Try a sauna if exercise isn’t your thing.

YOU MIGHT LIKE: What to Do When You Feel a Pimple Coming!

What Are Whiteheads?

The “white” pustule is caused by a build up of dead skin cells and oil inside a pore. That’s the gunk that comes out when you squeeze a pimple, which is often accompanied by blood as it is a skin wound.

Good bacteria normally on the skin’s surface turns “bad” and multiplies.

(For more details about how pimples form see this page)

These spots aren’t formed deep in the skin like blind pimples. They usually start out as a blackhead-type blockage and turn white when the pore opening is covered.

But whiteheads will go away on their own (if you can withstand the temptation to disturb them!) because the body always eliminates an infection no matter how small… either by erupting onto the skin’s surface or dissolving inside the pore.