Blackheads & Whiteheads
Treatments For Blackheads, Whiteheads and Mild Inflammatory
Acne
As the name suggests, blackheads are called so because they
are typically black in colour. But, it is not dirt that causes
the coloration but the accumulation of the dark pigment called
melanin, skin particles and excess skin debris.
Blackhead is also one of the types of acne. The other two
are whitehead and mild inflammatory acne known as popules,
postules nodules and cysts.
Basically, blackheads are caused by excess sebum, which is
an oily substance produced by the sebaceous glands, trapped
in the skin pores. If sebum becomes harden near the upper
layers of the skin, it will then clog the skin openings and
form a plug. Whitehead are also formed in the same way, the
only difference is the plugs are rooted much deeper under
the skin.
When an infection under the plug begins due to the overproduction
of white blood cells battling against the Propionibacterium
acnes or P. acnes, then, it will cause mild inflammatory.
The area will then become red and inflamed.
Basically, there are two forms of mild inflammatory acne.
There is the popules, these are red, inflamed acne and the
other type is the pustules. It can be identified by the white
substance in the center of the pus.
There are some simple treatments as pre-treatment medications
for blackheads, whiteheads and mild inflammatory acnes. Since
they are not prescribed by dermatologists, they have yet to
be proven to be effective. Some of these are home remedies
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.
These types of treatments may be used individually or combined,
it is the same as the salicylic acid which must always be
combined with either alcohol or acetone to get rid the smell.
Benzoyl peroxide and the plain soap and water are the most
basic homeopathic which may be used even without a doctor’s
prescription. As for the more severe cases, topical antibiotics,
oral antibiotics, contraceptive antibiotics and acne surgery
may have to be performed.
An acne-inflicted person must not touch, or attempt to force
the whiteheads, blackheads or the forms of mild inflammatory
acne to burst without the professional equipment and skill
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 which may cause scarring.
Oral and topical medications cannot be applied without the
supervision of a physician. Topical medications mainly help
in neutralizing the bacteria found in the skin and when combined
with other chemical agents, may help reduce the overproduced
sebum, hence improving the acne effected area.
The last treatment is probably an acne surgery which may
be applied to whiteheads, blackheads and mild inflammatory
acne, it must be performed only by an expert in the field
though. This treatment is uncommon for mild cases of acne,
however, it 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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