Whiteheads

A whitehead is a non-inflamed, clogged pore. It forms when excess oil (sebum) and dead skin cells block a hair follicle beneath the skin’s surface. Despite the name, whiteheads may appear as small white, pale, or skin-coloured bumps. They are usually not sore or tender.

In some cases, a whitehead becomes inflamed as the immune system responds to changes within the blocked follicle. The lesion may then develop into a papule or a pus-filled pustule. However, not every whitehead progresses into an inflammatory acne lesion.