How to Care for Blackheads and Whiteheads, as Explained by Imisuk Theme Dermatology

How to Care for Blackheads and Whiteheads

Hello. This is Imisuk Theme Dermatology.

Because of the virus, many people are worried, and with the chilly weather in the mornings and evenings, please take extra care of your health. Our clinic is paying close attention to COVID-19 management to provide patients with comfortable treatment.

Today, we would like to tell you about blackheads and whiteheads, which cannot simply be squeezed out or left alone, as well as the proper way to care for them. Many of you probably feel stressed when your skin feels tight in dry weather and your face looks dull because of excess dead skin cells.

We will take a look at what those tiny blackheads and whiteheads on your face are, and also share the proper way to manage them.

Blackheads and Whiteheads

■ What are blackheads?

Blackheads (black comedones) refer to sebum that has oxidized and turned black, usually around the nose and other areas where it is excessively secreted. They make the skin around the nose look dull and dark, and because they appear blackish, many people feel stressed when they cannot be hidden well even with makeup. Blackheads are difficult to conceal even with makeup and can easily give a dirty impression, making them a major cosmetic concern. However, many people try to squeeze them out with their hands or cotton swabs, but if done improperly, it can widen the pores further or cause secondary infection, so you should never squeeze them carelessly. The first step in removing blackheads is to keep the skin on your face and your hands clean.

They form when a mixture of skin cells and dead skin cells inside the hair follicle, oxidized by reactive oxygen species produced by acne-causing bacteria, blocks the follicle opening. As they grow larger, the pores widen, and improper removal can leave scars.

■ What are whiteheads?

Whiteheads are the most common early symptom of acne, in which pores become blocked due to keratinization and sebum fills the follicle like tiny grain-like bumps. They are described as small acne lesions that form when the stratum corneum of the follicle wall thickens, causing sebum to block the follicle opening and preventing it from being discharged normally, leaving it trapped inside. Because the opening is blocked, removal requires artificially creating a hole. Most acne patients progress from whiteheads to more severe acne.

Blackheads and whiteheads are early stages of acne, so they can be easily managed with appropriate care suited to your skin condition. However, if care is done incorrectly or treatment is delayed, acne-causing bacteria can trigger inflammation, worsening acne and potentially leaving enlarged pores, acne marks, or scars, so caution is needed.

How to Remove Blackheads and Whiteheads

After thoroughly washing your face to remove skin impurities, the most important thing is to open up the pores so that blackheads can come out more easily. After opening the pores well with lukewarm water or a steam towel massage, blackheads can be removed easily by gently pressing with a cotton swab. If you use a nose pack or a mild peeling product instead of a cotton swab, you can remove blackheads more thoroughly while minimizing irritation to the skin. If you remove them with a cotton swab, apply petroleum jelly, cover with plastic wrap, place a steam towel on top, leave it for about 10 minutes, remove the wrap, and then gently roll the cotton swab over the area to help squeeze out the blackheads.

After removing blackheads, do not forget to tighten the pore openings with a cold toner or skin toner. Even if you have removed blackheads cleanly, if the pores remain open, impurities can build up again and outside bacteria can enter, causing inflammation and skin trouble. Therefore, if home care is difficult, it is best to visit a specialist for treatment. Acne treatment methods offered at Imisuk Theme Dermatology include laser treatment and micro-insulated needle treatment that destroys the sebaceous glands.

The laser treatment is Newsmooth Beam, which destroys the sebaceous glands themselves.

The Newsmooth Beam laser activates a cooling system that protects the epidermis just before the laser beam is delivered, protecting the epidermis as much as possible while applying appropriate heat to the sebaceous glands in the dermis and to collagen, the elastic fibers, thereby destroying the sebaceous glands and promoting collagen synthesis. As a result, it is highly effective not only for blackheads but also for improving acne, scars, and fine wrinkles.

The treatment using a micro-insulated needle is the Kobayashi insulated needle procedure, which fundamentally destroys only the sebaceous glands to improve blackheads. This treatment involves inserting a tiny insulated needle into the subcutaneous fat layer and passing an electric current through it, selectively destroying only the sebaceous glands without damaging the skin.

Since both procedures destroy the sebaceous glands themselves, they have the major advantage of not only improving blackheads but also providing an excellent effect in preventing recurrence. There is no trace left after the procedure, and there are no restrictions on daily activities such as makeup or showering, so busy office workers can easily receive treatment. In addition, blackheads can be effectively removed by combining various methods such as peeling, laser treatment, and medical skin care, or by selecting a specific treatment depending on the patient’s skin condition through an accurate skin diagnosis.

Blackhead and Whitehead Care

To prevent the onset and worsening of acne, daily care is important.

After going बाहर, always wash your face thoroughly, avoid letting your hair touch your face, and avoid the habit of touching your face or squeezing acne. However, trying to cleanse perfectly with a harsh cleanser and aggressive cleansing is not good. It is better to use a cleanser that suits your skin, such as a gel or lotion type for oily skin, and an oil or cream type for dry or sensitive skin, so that you can maintain healthier skin. However, if blackheads are severe, using a scrub specifically for blackheads is also a good option. Still, using it too often can irritate the skin, so it is best to use it once or twice a week, and it is more effective if you first open the pores with a steam towel before using the scrub.

Food management is also important. Foods with a higher glycemic index promote the onset of acne, so it is best to avoid fast food and greasy foods, as well as chocolate and meat, and to eat a low-glycemic diet with plenty of fiber-rich vegetables and fruits.

Today, we explained what those tiny blackheads and whiteheads on the face are, and also shared the proper way to care for them. If it is difficult to manage blackheads and whiteheads, or if they have already developed into acne, do not squeeze them—visit a specialist and get treated.

Imisuk Theme Dermatology Clinic has extensive clinical experience of more than 600,000 cases. Based on the clinical experience accumulated through numerous dermatological treatments, we improve skin concerns and provide customized treatment suited to each patient’s condition and symptoms through more than 60 premium treatment devices. We are not limited to simple cosmetic skin improvement; we can also provide skin disease treatment, lifting, and anti-aging care all at once, increasing treatment satisfaction. If you have any questions, please contact us.