This article will go over the key differences between blackheads and pimples, including why they happen, how they’re treated, and what you can do to prevent them.
Some pimples stay small, but others can get fairly large. Pimples can appear on the:
Face Neck Shoulders Upper torso area Butt
You can get blackheads in the same places pimples appear, but they’re most common on the nose, chin, around the lips, and in the ears.
Some blackheads can get quite large and obvious, while others are so tiny you can barely see them with the naked eye.
A pimple with a red head, or just a red bump on the skin, is called an acne papule.
As it progresses, a papule may develop a white or yellow pus-filled top. If it does, it’s now called an acne pustule. Not all papules turn into pustules, though.
Pustules are sometimes called “whiteheads.” Just to make things more interesting (or confusing) there is another type of blemish that is also called a whitehead: milia.
Blackheads look like well-defined dark dots on the skin. Have a “freckle” appear that has never been there before? Look closely; it’s probably a blackhead.
Some blackheads are super tiny, so small you can barely see them. Other blackheads can get quite large, several millimeters in diameter.
The technical name for a blackhead is open comedo.
Your skin’s sebaceous glands continue to do what they’re designed to do: create oil for your skin. The oil is pumped into the pore.
However, instead of being able to flow up and out of the pore, it becomes trapped in the pore by the plug. Add in some normal skin bacteria (Propionibacteria acnes) and the follicle becomes irritated and engorged.
With nowhere else to go, this glut of oil, skin cells, and bacteria swells and breaks the follicle wall. White blood cells rush in, and the pore becomes red and swollen.
Voila! A pimple has formed.
Although it may look like dirt has become trapped in your pore, that black spot isn’t dirt at all. It’s actually the plug of your skin’s oil that you’re seeing.
The top of the plug oxidizes because it’s exposed to air, and turns into that dark blackish-brown spot your see. (Think about what happens to an apple when it’s cut and exposed to air; it turns brown. The same thing happens with blackheads.)
Blackheads typically don’t become red and swollen because they rarely lead to a break in the follicle wall.
More stubborn or widespread acne can be treated with prescription acne medications that you get from your healthcare provider.
Some of the most common treatments for inflamed breakouts are:
Benzoyl peroxide Topical retinoids Topical antibiotics and oral antibiotics Salicylic acid Oral medications like isotretinoin and birth control pills (for biological females only)
Pore strips are another way to treat blackheads, although the results are temporary. They just get the top portion rather than the entire blackhead. For quick results, say just before a big event or a photo op, they’re a good option.
Mild blackheads can be treated with OTC products. If you have lots of blackheads and bumpy skin, you have a type of non-inflamed acne called comedonal acne. Prescription medications are best to treat more entrenched comedonal acne.
Options for treating blackheads include:
Salicylic acid Benzoyl peroxide Topical retinoids Alpha hydroxy acids, including glycolic acid, lactic acid, and mandelic acid
Everyone gets occasional pimples and blackheads. These random blemishes generally heal quickly and aren’t a big concern.
If you’re dealing with constant pimples and blackheads, give your healthcare provider a call. They can help you find treatment options for getting breakouts under control.
