Pimples aren’t always so black and white

As with all issues in life, knowing what you’re dealing with when it comes to skin issues is the first step towards understanding why it happens.

Blackheads and whiteheads are the most common kinds of spots, and the root causes of both are pretty similar. Both are the result of a blocked pore; an opening in your skin that has become blocked by excess oil from your sebaceous glands, dirt, bacteria, dead skin cells, or even by overzealous use of cosmetic products.

The blockage expands the pore, and you end up with a spot, a zit, a pimple, or whatever else you would like to call it. The difference between blackheads and whiteheads is the location of the blockage. In a blackhead the material blocking the pore is near the surface, and the exposure to air causes the material to oxidise, harden, and turn the blackish grey colour we’re all familiar with. In a whitehead the blockage is further down inside the pore where air can’t reach it, and as a result the colour change never happens.

A word of caution when you’re checking your skin though- not every enlarged pore is a blackhead or a whitehead, and some pores are just naturally larger. This is particularly true on and around the nose, and frankly there’s not much you can do about it. If you’ve ever squeezed an enlarged pore and a white, kind of cylindrical solid came out, what you’re extracting is semi-solidified oil from the sebaceous glands, and the pore isn’t actually blocked. The material you’re removing is known as a sebaceous filament, and it can form in a pore that’s perfectly healthy.

When it comes to actual blocked pores however, by which we mean actual whiteheads and blackheads, prevention is usually better than cure. Good hygiene and a proper routine consisting of regular washing, moisturising and exfoliation is your best bet when it comes to preventing outbreaks, and you can find skincare routine advice right here on the app.

When blackheads or whiteheads do occur, it can be tempting to give it a squeeze for that moment of instant gratification. Keep in mind though that bacteria form a big part of the blockage, and spreading it all over your face by squeezing the spot will only increase the chance of those bacteria getting inside other pores. Squeezing can also cause inflammation, swelling and redness, which will likely be more noticeable than the spot was in the first place, not to mention the fact that squeezing makes scarring more likely too.

Extraction kits, strips, pads and other products are widely available. So if you’re in a hurry to unblock a pore and cleansing isn’t helping, do your research and choose a reputable product to help you get the desired results without damaging your skin.