The Difference Between Blackheads and Whiteheads

The first step to clear, flawless skin? Getting to know your enemy. Two of our skin’s greatest enemies are whiteheads and blackheads, and while both are clogged pores, they appear differently on our skin and require different types of treatments. Let’s find out what’s the difference between whiteheads and blackheads, and how to get rid of them!

What are whiteheads?

Whiteheads are the small, white-ish, flesh-colored bumps that appear on the skin’s surface. They are fully blocked pores that are caused by the accumulation of dead skin cells, excess sebum and other gunks like dirt and bacteria.

While these whiteheads are annoying, it is advisable not to pop them with your hands. The best way to treat whiteheads is through chemical exfoliants, or AHAs and BHAs. Alpha-Hydroxy Acid (AHA) products, such as COSRX AHA 7 Whitehead Power Liquid, is a popular choice to treat whiteheads as it effectively exfoliates dead skin cells and encourage faster cell turnover to reveal clearer and brighter skin. One important thing to know about using AHAs is that they temporarily make your skin more sensitive to the sun, so don't forget to apply some SPF afterwards, especially if you're going out!

What are blackheads?

While blackheads are also clogged pores, the difference is that the pore is stretched open at the skin’s surface. So when it gets exposed to air and oxidizes, it turns into its infamous dark color.

I’m sure many of you have tried nose strips at least once in your life to remove these pesky black dots on your face, but bottom line is: they just don’t work. The most effective way to remove blackheads is through chemical exfoliation, but AHA alone won’t be able to do much. Try COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid, a chemical exfoliant that deep cleans your pores from the inside out using 4% BHA. Beta-Hydroxy Acid (BHA) products are capable of penetrating into the deeper layers of your skin to clear out all the gunks and prevent your skin from future breakouts.

How to prevent blackheads and whiteheads?

Obviously, prevention is better than cure. If your skin is prone to blackheads and whiteheads, you might want to exfoliate your skin more regularly. A gentle exfoliator you can try is the Neogen Bio-Peel Gauze Peeling Wine, which has a unique design that allows for physical exfoliation, while also delivering AHAs deeper into the skin to dissolve all the dirt and oil.

In order to stop whiteheads and blackheads from reappearing, make sure you also always double cleanse and cut out on those junk foods!