The Differences Between Blackheads And Pimples
Kerri Stalton

Blackheads and whiteheads are a unique kind of acne that have different causes and require different treatment than red, inflamed blemishes. The large, raised bumps that most people think of when they think of acne are pimples that occur when dirt, oil, or makeup get trapped under the skin in a closed pore. The skin then becomes irritated and inflamed, creating a raised bump filled with a whitish puss that the skin cells produce in an attempt to deal with the trapped toxins. To treat a pimple, it is necessary to purify the pores by sloughing out the trapped toxins, and to dry up the sticky white liquid that causes the bump. A blackhead, however, is a symptom of a somewhat different kind of problem with a different kind of solution.

Blackheads and whiteheads are known as open comedones. They are flat to the touch, and unlike pimples are not infections of any sort. Pimples can happen anywhere on the skin, but blackheads and other comedone-type skin problems only occur in hair follicles that have especially wide openings. Follicles where a blackhead is visible have become clogged with a combination of the skin's natural oil, known as sebum, and dead skin cells. These materials sometimes undergo a chemical reaction caused by a combination of their contents that oxides the melanin in the skin cells. Oxidized melanin takes on a distinct dark color and these plugged follicles take on the appearance of small black dots on the skin, which gives rise to the term blackhead.

To get rid of blackheads, a cleansing regimen that includes products containing benzoyl peroxide and Retin-A will provide effective results. The peroxide fights bacteria, which is usually a cause of clogged pores, and the introduction of this agent into follicles sometimes helps to take the potency out of the reaction that turns clogs dark and visible. Retin-A makes skin cells re-grow more quickly and also decreases cells' tendency to stick in place. The faster your cells are replenishing the less likely your pores will be to trap materials, which helps stop plugged comedones. Once the right skin care regimen has been put into practice, blackheads will decrease in number and eventually disappear, usually over a period of a few months. For instant results, see a dermatologist, who may be able to make use of a tool called a blackhead extractor. This finely pointed instrument is similar in some ways to a pair of tweezers, and allows a doctor to reach into the clogged follicle to extract the material that is causing the visible spot. A blackhead remover can get rid of a clog in a matter of a few seconds, but unless the correct cleansing regimen is practiced, the blackheads will return fairly quickly.