What to do about Blackheads and Whiteheads
Blackheads are named as such because they are typically black
in color. Despite the name, it is not dirt that provides for
the coloration but the accumulation of the dark pigment called
melanin, skin particles and excess skin debris.
Blackhead is one type of acne. The other two are whitehead
and mild inflammatory acne known as popules, postules nodules
and cysts.
Fundamentally, blackhead formations are done mainly due to
excess sebum (an oily substance) production by the sebaceous
glands, trapped in the pores of the skin. If sebum hardens near
the upper layers of the skin, it will clog the skin openings
and form a plug. Whitehead are formed in the same manner, the
only difference is the plugs are seated much deeper in to the
skin.
When an infection under the plug starts due to the overproduction
of white blood cells battling against the Propionibacterium
acnes or P. acnes, mild inflammatory acne is formed. The area
then becomes red and inflamed.
There are two forms of mild inflammatory acne. There is the
popules, which are red, inflamed acne and the other type is
the pustules. It is characterized by the collection of white
matter in the center of the pus.
A simple set of treatments may prove useful as initial pre-treatment
medications for blackheads, whiteheads and mild inflammatory
acnes. These are typically not prescribed by dermatologists
and physicians and are not yet proven medically. Some of these
are “Acneopathics” or those that are generally bought over the
counter, or the safer alternative through using organic chemicals
that are found in fruits and certain seeds.
Treatments such as these may be used individually or combined
like in the case of the salicylic acid which must always be
combined with either alcohol or acetone if you would not want
to be bothered with the smell.
Benzoyl peroxide and the plain soap and water are the most
basic Acneopathic methods which may be used even without a doctor’s
prescription. In most severe cases though; topical antibiotics,
oral antibiotics, contraceptive antibiotics and acne surgery
may be performed. Prior to this, the health condition of the
patient must be tested and approved by the physician. Otherwise,
the schedule for the treatment may be delayed and re-scheduled
until the pre-existing skin condition subsides.
Under any condition, an acne-inflicted person must not try
to force the whiteheads, blackheads or the forms of mild inflammatory
acne to burst without the regulation of the doctor as this action
may infect the skin and may worsen the state of the skin disorder.
Popping out the pustule of the acne or the plugs in whiteheads
and blackheads may leave the skin open to bacterial attack that
may lead to scarring.
Oral and topical medications must not be used without the
supervision of a physician. Principally, topical medications
are aids in neutralizing the bacteria found in the skin and
when combined with other chemical agents, may help deplete the
overproduced sebum, making an allowance for acne spots to eventually
heal.
The last treatment that may be applied to whiteheads, blackheads
and mild inflammatory acne is the acne surgery which must be
performed by an expert in the field. This form of treatment
is seldom sought by acne-inflicted persons with mild cases;
surgical procedures however may provide great improvements in
the skin’s appearance and may later save the patient for succeeding
surgeries which may be caused by scarring.
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