The first few times you get a pimple, you might feel that something terrible is happening to you. Instead of getting overly worried about a few zits, keep in mind that everyone gets pimples from time to time. It happens. It’s nothing to be ashamed of. Instead of hiding in your room or trying to cover the blemish with makeup, it is best to learn about the type of acne that you have so that you can choose an effective treatment to clear your skin quickly.

What are Whiteheads?

Whiteheads are one of the most common types of acne. Even if you don’t have a problem with acne, you have probably gotten a few whiteheads in your life. Essentially, these are just pimples that have formed in completely blocked pores. Pimples form when your sebaceous glands become overactive and start producing too much skin oil. The oil then mixes with dead skin cells, forming a nasty mixture that is almost impossible to remove with soap and water alone. If there is so much of the mixture that it blocks your pore completely, then you get a whitehead.

This is almost the same way that blackheads are formed. The difference is that blackheads aren’t completely blocked from the air. The darkly colored head is the result of oil, dead skin cells, and pus interacting with the air.

Treating Whiteheads with OTC Treatments

There are many acne treatments used to prevent whiteheads. Not all of them, however, work as well as others.

Teenagers and adults with mild to medium acne can usually eliminate whiteheads by using OTC products. You want to make sure you choose an option that can really cleanse your pores. That way you eliminate the oil and dead skin cells that cause your whiteheads.

Good OTC options are those that contain mild concentrations of salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide. Proactiv’s cleansers, for example, contain a 2.5 percent concentration of benzoyl peroxide and that works well for most people. It’s strong enough to clean out pores and kill acne-causing bacteria, but it’s mild enough that you probably won’t experience significant side effects.

Keeping your skin clean throughout the day will help prevent future breakouts. Consider buying portable treatments that you can use at any time of day to reduce the presence of oil in your skin.

Treating Whiteheads with Prescription Medications

If you have a severe case of acne, then you might want to visit a dermatologist to learn about the most effective prescription medications. Accutane, for instance, is a commonly prescribed medication that has helped many people get their whiteheads, blackheads, and other types of acne under control.

Beware when using prescription acne medication such as Accutane when treating whiteheads, though. Several of these medications have been linked to serious side effects that can disrupt your life. Some reports have even linked them to suicidal ideation in teenagers. Not everyone experiences nasty side effects when using these drugs, but they tend to cause bigger problems than OTC treatments. You should, therefore, avoid them for mild cases of acne. The potential benefits just aren’t worth the risks.