A whitehead is a part of the acne family, which is opposite of a blackhead and is a closed comedome. It has sebum and dead skin like acne, but as air does not reach its follicle, it does not oxidize.

Whiteheads are generally more prominent than blackheads as they are filled with pus and tends to protrude from the skin. This is why people suffering from this conditionare always on the lookout of means to get rid of whiteheads.

Whiteheads usually develop with an increased activity of the oil glands and are usually found on eye-lids, forehead and cheeks. There are different treatments to consider to remove whiteheads; whichever methods you use, the first thing to remember is to ensure that the area is clean.

Some herbal acne treatments are very effective at clearing the skin pore, preventing dirt, bacteria and foreign debris from clogging the pore and causing whiteheads. A good example of two products that do this well are Exposed acne and ZenMed.

The best medicine for whiteheads is maintaining a clean skin surface. This is because whatever other medicine you may consider for treating whiteheads, it does not replace the glow of healthy skin at all. Make it a point to wash your face twice a day with warm water and mild soap. Steaming of the face every three days helps in unclogging pores.

In fact, if you suffer from whiteheads it is better to avoid using cold creams and other greasy applications and cosmetics. This is because this only worsens the condition as they stimulate the oil glands to cause over activity in the oil glands.

If you want to use a cream for your whiteheads, use a topical acne cream or lotion that has retinoid which comes from vitamin A. this helps open clogged pores and to get rid of whiteheads.

You can also try over the counter medication like benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid to remove whiteheads. However if this is your choice, be ready for the possibility of your skin drying, which in turn may worsen your whiteheads.

A hot compress works wonders for whiteheads

This is an age old method of getting rid of whiteheads on your own. You will need some yogurt, acne lotion, hot compressor, sterile scrub and oatmeal to do this. The first thing to do is to wash your hands and face to avoid infection.

Then you have to apply a hot and wet compressor on the whitehead to open its pore. This done, the whitehead has to be popped by using a sterile needle to squeeze it.

Next you have to exfoliate with a good and natural exfoliate twice or thrice a week. Mix oatmeal with yogurt if you have oily skin and with milk if you have dry skin. This paste has to be applied on the face, left for a few minutes and then massaged with fingertips.

Visit the dermatologist

If all this does not work, it is better to seek the help of a dermatologist, who will use a sterile, pen like instrument to open the pores. This instrument is a blackhead remover which is then used to remove plugged skin cells and sebum. However this instrument has to be used correctly for it can cause scars.